The Southworth Story

Southworth Development specializes in the creation of residential resort and hospitality-branded real estate communities. 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 and consistency.

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 Machrihanish Dunes on the west coast of Scotland. Opening in the summer of 2009, Machrihanish Dunes, which has already been called “A Future Classic” and “Future Top 100 in the World” consists of a new David McLay Kidd-designed seaside links course, the restoration of two classic Scottish hotels and the creation of single-family residential home sites and 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 a co-owner 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 $50 billion in management, Joe’s financial acumen is well known. His expertise has strengthened the Southworth company 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 in Meredith Bay, a remarkable new 600-unit gated community and marina on New Hampshire's famed Lake Winnipesaukee, and assumed the role of developer and managing partner.

In 2008, PGA Village - The Bahamas was announced. The community sits on a 1,906-acre oceanfront site and when completed will consist of 36 holes of oceanfront championship golf designed by Rees Jones, a PGA Learning Center and Historical Center, a five-star boutique hotel, casino, residential/retail village and over 1,500 residential units.

Also in 2008, Southworth purchased Renaissance Golf Club, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, the first Brian Silva Signature Golf Course, and the 2006 Runner Up as 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.