Woodside

Woodside (formerly and still officially known as Woodside Plantation) is a private, gated master-planned golf and lifestyle community spanning approximately 2,900 acres of rolling hardwood forest and longleaf pine on the south side of Aiken, South Carolina. Developed by Woodside Development beginning in 1986 — when buyers famously camped out for up to 48 hours to secure lots and 115 homesites sold on opening day alone — the community is still actively building toward a planned build-out of roughly 2,500 single-family homes across six distinct neighborhoods, each with its own architectural character. Woodside is widely regarded as Aiken's premier gated community, recognized as one of only 14 Southern Living Inspired Communities, an ideal-LIVING Magazine 100 Best Places to Live (2023), and a Private Communities Registry Top Community Award winner. Golf is the marquee amenity. Residents have access to four championship 18-hole courses designed by some of the biggest names in the game: the Wysteria Course (Rees Jones, 1987, par 72, 7,141 yards), the Cupp Course (Bob Cupp), the Reserve Course (Nicklaus Design, 2002 — named one of Golf Digest's Best New Private Courses), and the Hollow Creek Course (Fuzzy Zoeller and Clyde Johnston, 2007). A par-3 practice course, full-service golf shop, PGA instruction, driving ranges, and practice greens round out the golf experience. Two clubhouses anchor the social scene: Woodside Country Club (semi-private, owned and operated by Invited Clubs — formerly ClubCorp), and The Reserve Club (mandatory membership for homes/homesites in Reserve-designated neighborhoods), which serves as the community's social hub with fine dining at Dining at The Reserve and outdoor dining at Verandah, a state-of-the-art fitness center, resort-style pool, two USTA-certified racquet pavilions with 16 lighted Har-Tru tennis courts and 8 pickleball courts, bocce, croquet, and more than 60 member-led clubs and activity groups. Beyond golf, the community is built around its land. Over 21 miles of scenic walking and biking trails wind through a 110-acre Nature Preserve, a Certified Bluebird Sanctuary, and a Certified Monarch Garden, complemented by more than 100 acres of neighborhood lakes used for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Neighborhoods include Summer Hill (fairway views on Hollow Creek), Highpoint (association-managed low-maintenance villas), Anderson Farms (equestrian-friendly with a shared chicken coop, garden, and orchard, on 2–10-acre lots), Danbrooke Village (luxury townhomes built by Bill Beazley Homes and others), and The Peninsula (Woodside's newest neighborhood along Twin Ponds and the Hollow Creek fairways). Residents describe the vibe as 'Camp Disney' — a strong sense of community with dozens of clubs spanning backgammon, biking, bird watching, bocce, book club, bridge, bunco, car club, card making, comedy nights, wine tasting, and philanthropic groups. Residents include retired military, aerospace engineers, surgeons, and CEOs — jokingly nicknamed 'PIPs' (Previously Important People) — living alongside everyday neighbors. The community is securely accessed through five staffed gates (East Gate, Main Entrance, Anderson Pond Gate, South Gate, and Village Gate) with 24-hour security. Just outside the Village Gate, The Village at Woodside functions as a walkable neo-traditional town center with Publix, the Village Café, an Asian-fusion café, an authentic Italian restaurant, boutique shops, a salon and spa, and a full Health and Wellness Campus staffed by six major medical providers — including primary care, orthopedists, oncologists, and cardiologists — three with on-site offices. Downtown Aiken, roughly 5–10 minutes away, offers a vibrant cultural arts scene, galleries, and locally-owned dining. Augusta, Georgia — home of the Masters Tournament — is roughly 30 minutes west, and Columbia, SC is about an hour northeast. Aiken benefits from a mild four-season climate, favorable South Carolina tax treatment for retirees, and a cost of living 15–60% below many major metros. Home types range from row-style townhomes and patio homes starting in the high-$100s to low-$200s (Danbrooke Village, Pin Oak Farms), to charming cottages, villas, and single-family homes in the $300s–$600s, up to custom luxury estates well above $1M on premier golf and lake lots (a 3,200-sq-ft Ashby model home was recently priced around $1.1M). Preferred and active builders include Eastwood Homes, Woodside Development, Designer Builders, Carolina Signature Homes, Great Southern Homes, Bill Beazley Homes, and D.R. Horton, with pre-priced home collections and fully custom options available. Woodside offers a 3-Day / 2-Night Discovery Package starting around $284 that lets prospective buyers experience the community firsthand. Note that while marketed as an active-adult lifestyle community and listed on 55+ directories, Woodside is not a deed-restricted age-qualified community — families and residents of all ages live within the gates, and the community is zoned for Aiken County Public Schools (Chukker Creek Elementary, Kennedy Middle, South Aiken High).