Woodside Plantation

Woodside is a private, gated master-planned golf and lifestyle community spanning approximately 2,900+ acres of rolling hardwood forest on the south side of Aiken, South Carolina. Developed by Woodside Development beginning in 1986, 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 — from walkable cottages and townhomes in The Village at Woodside to estate homesites on the fairways of The Reserve. Woodside is widely regarded as Aiken's premier gated community and has been recognized by ideal-LIVING Magazine as one of America's 100 Best Planned Communities and by Private Communities Registry with a Top Community Award. 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), 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 experience. Two clubhouses anchor the social scene: Woodside Country Club (semi-private, membership open to residents and non-residents) and The Reserve Club (mandatory membership tied to home/lot purchase), 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, USTA-certified tennis and pickleball pavilions, 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 Certified Bluebird Sanctuary and more than 100 acres of neighborhood lakes used for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Neighborhoods include Summer Hill (golf-course views on Hollow Creek), Highpoint (low-maintenance villas), Anderson Farm (equestrian-friendly with a shared chicken coop, garden, and orchard), and Danbrooke Village (townhomes), among others. Social clubs span the spectrum: backgammon, biking, bird watching, bocce, book club, bridge, bunco, car club, card making, comedy nights, and dozens more. 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 town center with Publix, the new Village Café and other restaurants, boutique shops, a salon and spa, and a full Health and Wellness Center staffed by six major medical providers — including primary care, orthopedists, oncologists, and cardiologists — three with on-site offices. Downtown Aiken, known locally as 'where Mayberry meets the Hamptons,' is a short drive and offers a vibrant cultural arts scene, galleries, and locally-owned dining. Augusta, Georgia — home of the Masters Tournament — is roughly 30 minutes away, and Columbia, SC is about an hour. 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 in the mid-$200s to $300s, 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. Preferred and active builders include Eastwood Homes (True Cedar and other enclaves), Woodside Development, Designer Builders, Carolina Signature Homes, Great Southern Homes, and D.R. Horton, with pre-priced home collections and fully custom options available. 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.