Southworth Development specializes in the creation of residential resort and hospitality-branded real estate communities and clubs. Founded by David Southworth, the company has grown to become one of the industry’s great success stories. During his career, David has developed over $1 billion in golf and hospitality projects. Today, Southworth Development is recognized as a leader in the field, known for its dedication to quality, consistency, and offering great value.

In 1992, David was one of the founders of Willowbend Development and served as its President & CEO. Over the ensuing fourteen years, Willowbend developed its namesake community located on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts, as well as The Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort & Country Club in Puerto Rico, the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort in Tucson, Arizona, and Liberty National, an exclusive golf club and residential community located adjacent to the Statue of Liberty on New York Bay in Jersey City, New Jersey.

In 2005, Southworth Development was formed, and David continued to develop award-winning golf and resort communities, beginning with The Village at Machrihanish Dunes on the west coast of Scotland. Opened in 2009 and designed by David McLay Kidd, the seaside links course at Machrihanish Dunes is a perennial favorite among the ‘Top 100 Courses in the UK and Ireland.’ In addition to golf, the village consists of two historic seaside Scottish hotels, which were lovingly restored to their former glory and reopened in 2012, along with award-winning fractional ownership golf cottages.

In 2006, Southworth Development took a quantum leap forward when Joe Deitch, a longtime close friend of David Southworth, joined the company as Chairman and visionary partner. Along with David, Joe has helped position the company to succeed in the dramatically changing world of real estate and resort development.

Joe’s passion for the business and his many talents have helped create an organization that’s unique in the real estate development world – a veritable “dream team” of professionals from many different disciplines. As the Founder and Chairman of Commonwealth Financial Network, the nation’s largest privately owned, independent broker/dealer firm with over $100 billion in management, Joe’s financial acumen is well known. His expertise has strengthened Southworth Development on many levels. But Joe is much more than just a numbers guy. He’s a true visionary with an innate ability to spot, and capitalize on, the trends that shape our industry. His marketing savvy helps steer the company on a regular basis. And his personal commitment to the ideals of quality, community, and integrity reinforces all that Southworth stands for.

Also in 2006, Southworth purchased a controlling interest and assumed the role of developer and managing partner of Meredith Bay, a remarkable new 600-unit gated community on New Hampshire’s famed Lake Winnipesaukee. The resort community features Adirondack-style single-family homes, homesites, townhome,s and condominiums with enviable views of the lake along with a list of amenities that includes tennis, swimming, hiking and walking trails, a marina, and private beach club.

In 2008, Southworth purchased Renaissance, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, the first Brian Silva Signature Golf Course, which was named New England’s “Golf Course of the Year” by the New England Golf Course Owners Association and a finalist for the “National Golf Course of the Year” in 2012, as well as the 2006 Runner-Up in Golf Inc.’s Private Club “Development of the Year.” The Club’s beautiful 30,000 square-foot clubhouse opened in 2009.

In March of 2009, the company acquired Creighton Farms, a 964-acre, luxury residential golf community located just outside of Washington D.C. in Aldie, Virginia. Creighton Farms features a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, recognized as one of the ‘Best New Courses in 2008’ by Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Travel + Leisure Golf – one of only two private courses in the world to be recognized by all three publications that year. It was also recognized by Golfweek as one of the nations “Best New Courses” for 2009. The club’s stunning 34,000-square-foot American Vernacular-style clubhouse featuring 9 luxury overnight club rooms opened in 2012 and saw it play host to the first-annual Jack Nicklaus Invitational charity golf tournament.

In March of 2012, Southworth Development announced it had come to an agreement with David’s long-time friend and former business partner, Paul Fireman, to purchase Willowbend on Cape Cod. As the club where David began his development career, serving as President and CEO of Willowbend Development from 1992 to 2005, this was a unique opportunity to take over stewardship of the club and community that had always been like a second home to him. Featuring 27 holes of championship golf, luxurious estate homes and guest villas, a world-class tennis facility, an Olympic-sized pool, and a state-of-the-art fitness facility and spa, Willowbend has long been considered Cape Cod’s most prestigious and exclusive private enclave, playing host not only to the rich and famous, but to celebrities and professional athletes from around the globe.

In 2014, Southworth returned to the Tropics when it partnered with a consortium of club members and residents to acquire The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, located on Great Abaco Island in The Bahamas. The Abaco Club is one of the world’s great sporting clubs, with amenities rivalling the finest in the world. The Club features over 2 miles of pristine, white-sand beach; an acclaimed “tropical links” golf course, which has consistently been ranked No. 1 in The Bahamas; a luxurious spa; fine dining; tennis; a wide range of water sports; world-class bonefishing and deep-sea fishing; and much more. Residences range from cozy cabanas to ocean-view cottages to grand beachfront estate homes. Southworth is currently implementing a multi-million-dollar renovation and facilities enhancement plan, which will include the addition of a world-class golf practice facility.

Click here to visit the Southworth Development website to learn more about Southworth and our other clubs and communities.