Canterwood Golf and Country Club has its own real estate company.

It also has a development company and is one of the Peninsula’s most exclusive golf courses, within a gated perimeter.

Carl Turpin has been general manager there for as long as it’s important for anyone to know. He likes to say he treats every inch as if it was his backyard.

Homes around the 18 holes rest on undulating hills and along roads. Someone with an imagination might see this expanse as an extension of the challenging golf course, which sits as the centerpiece.

Russell Tanner oversees the construction and completion of the development plan. As president of Canterwood Development he sees the growth in size of Canterwood as close to complete. Originally the master plan called for 800 homes. The next four years will see 140 homes added to the 520 already built.

“And at that we’ll be tapped out,” Tanner has said in the past. “We’ll have to stop at around 775 houses.”

Tanner said as a result, the window is closing on opportunities to buy a new home at Canterwood. though about 5 percent of the currently existing homes are up for sale at any one time. They will max out of useable acreage.

As befits the name, Canterwood started out in 1986 as an equestrian park. Then the golf course, designed by Robert Muir Graves, came to be the centerpiece and the master plan grew. A horse trail still goes around the perimeter of the Canterwood development.

Land is often sold separately if people want to design their own homes, following the covenants, rules and regulations of the Homeowner’s Association; an association that has an active voice.

The clubhouse is a favorite spot for community fundraisers, from the Gig Harbor Key Peninsula Arts Commission to Rotary Club. The course is also the practice stomping grounds and “home field” for the high school golf teams of the Peninsula School District.

Though chances for residence at Canterwood are dwindling, though by no means at a close, the golf course remains open for business.

Social Memberships are available to residents and non-residents. Golfers may use the clubhouse, outdoor pool, tennis courts, and limited golf upon payment of guest fees. There are also Resident Equity Memberships and limited Non-Resident Full Memberships that allow full use of the facilities, without green fees. Only a limited number of non-Canterwood residents may purchase a permanent, equity family membership. This membership allows the use all of the club facilities including golf without payment of green fees.

(Editor’s Note: Temple A. Stark is a free-lance writer living in Kent.
Reach him at writer@templestark.com)

Some helpful golf links
 United States Golf Association — http://www.usga.org
 Sports Illustrated Golf — http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/golfonline
 Golf Courses from around the world — http://www.worldgolf.com
 Golf Link Network, All kinds of golf info — http://www.golflink.com
 ESPN Golf, All the latest info — http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/index
 Golf Magazine’s directory of courses — http://www.golfcourse.com
 All things golf you can buy online — http://www.internetsupershop.com