If you are drawn to the idea of living near fairways, club amenities, and mature Cary neighborhoods, you are not alone. Cary offers several well-known golf and country club communities, but they do not all feel the same or fit the same lifestyle. When you understand how Preston, MacGregor Downs, and Lochmere differ, you can focus your search with much more confidence. Let’s take a closer look.
Why Cary golf communities stand out
Cary’s overall median home sale price is about $600,000, but its best-known golf-oriented communities often sit well above that level. Recent median sale prices are about $1.235 million in Preston, about $1.2475 million in MacGregor Downs, and about $762,000 in Lochmere.
Those price differences reflect more than prestige alone. These neighborhoods were developed in different decades, which influences lot sizes, home styles, landscaping, and how each community lives day to day. MacGregor Downs dates to the 1960s, Lochmere took shape in the 1980s and early 1990s, and Preston is largely a 1990s community.
Preston at a glance
Preston is often the broadest luxury golf community option in Cary. It includes golf villas, condos, townhomes, estate homes, and homes both on and off the course, which gives buyers a wider range of housing choices than many people expect.
Current market data shows a median sale price of about $1.235 million, an average value near $1.127 million, and an average price per square foot around $362. The median year built is 1996, and many homes offer larger yards and four-bedroom-plus layouts.
What the neighborhood feels like
Preston reads as the most amenity-rich and club-centric of Cary’s golf communities. It is a practical option if you want a Cary address with a central or north Cary location and convenient access toward RTP and northern employment areas.
The housing mix also makes Preston more flexible than some buyers assume. You can find attached homes and lower-maintenance options alongside larger estate-style properties, which can help if you want the community setting without necessarily seeking the largest home in the neighborhood.
Prestonwood Country Club amenities
Prestonwood Country Club anchors the community and serves more than 1,800 Triangle families. According to the club, amenities include:
- 54 holes of golf
- 15 tennis courts
- A 14,000-square-foot fitness facility
- An aquatics center
- Kids Club programming
- Dining six days per week
Membership categories include Full Golf, Tennis, Social, and Dining. It is also important to know that homeownership in Preston is not required for membership, and the club is currently not accepting new members because it is on a multi-year wait list.
Who Preston may suit best
Preston is often a strong fit if you want:
- A polished, country-club-centered setting
- A wider range of home types
- Extensive sports and family-oriented amenities
- A Cary location that supports commuting toward RTP
MacGregor Downs at a glance
MacGregor Downs offers a more established private-club setting with deep roots in Cary. The Town of Cary identifies it as a 1960s development, and the club opened in 1967, giving the community a longer history than Preston or Lochmere.
Recent market data places the median sale price at about $1.2475 million, with an average value around $1.318 million and an average price per square foot near $309. Homes are more custom and variable here, which is part of the appeal.
What the neighborhood feels like
MacGregor Downs is best known for custom-built homes, mature landscaping, and a more private-feeling atmosphere. Many properties sit on larger wooded lots, and the neighborhood includes primarily single-family homes built from the 1970s through the 1990s.
Some homes overlook the golf course, while luxury townhomes appear in sections such as Balmoral. There are also newer custom builds and substantial renovations, with some larger homes reaching roughly 4,000 to 7,000 square feet and prices from about $3 million to $5 million.
MacGregor Downs Country Club amenities
The club describes itself as a private club on the shores of Lake MacGregor. Amenities include championship golf, tennis, a large pool area, private dining, and a year-round social calendar.
Membership is tiered. Premier Golf includes the fullest golf access along with dining, fitness, tennis, pickleball, swimming, and social events, while Lifestyle includes dining, fitness, tennis, pickleball, swimming, social events, and limited golf access.
Location and lifestyle fit
MacGregor Downs is in South Cary between Kildaire Farm Road and US 1/64 West. The club notes that it is about 15 minutes from downtown Raleigh, which can make it especially appealing if you want a Cary address with straightforward access toward Raleigh.
Who MacGregor Downs may suit best
MacGregor Downs may feel right if you want:
- An established private-club environment
- Custom architecture and mature trees
- Larger wooded lots
- A traditional club setting with a strong sense of heritage
Lochmere at a glance
Lochmere is the most flexible and accessible of Cary’s golf-lifestyle communities. The Town of Cary identifies it as a 1980s master-planned traditional neighborhood with a greater predominance of single-family homes, along with patio homes and multifamily housing.
Current market data shows a median sale price of about $762,000, an average value around $803,000, and an average price per square foot near $272. That places Lochmere at a lower entry point than Preston or MacGregor Downs, while still offering a strong lifestyle component.
What the neighborhood feels like
Lochmere’s appeal starts with variety. The neighborhood includes a mix of home types, and current listings data has shown condos and townhomes in the mid-$300,000s, while larger lake-view homes can reach roughly $1.2 million to $1.8 million.
The HOA describes mature landscaping, trails, two pool locations, tennis and pickleball courts, volleyball courts, and three lakes. That creates a neighborhood-first feel where golf is part of the picture, but not the only draw.
Lochmere Golf Club access
One important distinction is that the golf course is not part of the HOA. Residents have access to the semi-private Lochmere Golf Club, which offers both public and member tee times.
The club features an 18-hole Gene Hamm-designed course that opened in 1985. It also highlights junior golf and beginner-focused development programs, which can make Lochmere feel more approachable if you want golf nearby without the structure of a traditional private club.
Location and lifestyle fit
Lochmere is often the best match for buyers who want east Cary convenience, mature trees, trails, lakes, and nearby everyday retail. It tends to appeal to people who value neighborhood amenities and flexibility more than a formal private-club atmosphere.
Who Lochmere may suit best
Lochmere may be a good fit if you want:
- A broader price range
- Multiple housing types
- A neighborhood-centered lifestyle
- Golf access without depending on a private-club model
Comparing Cary’s top golf communities
The simplest way to think about these three communities is this:
- Preston offers the most amenity-rich and club-centered experience.
- MacGregor Downs offers the most established and private-club feel.
- Lochmere offers the most accessible and flexible golf-lifestyle setting.
That does not mean one is better than another. It means each serves a different kind of buyer, budget, and daily routine.
What buyers should confirm before they buy
In golf and country club communities, homeownership, HOA membership, and club membership are not always the same thing. That can affect your costs, your access to amenities, and your expectations after closing.
Before you move forward on any home, make sure you confirm:
- Whether club membership is required, optional, or separate
- What membership categories are currently available
- Whether there is a wait list
- Which amenities are included with each membership type
- What HOA dues cover versus club dues
This matters in Cary, especially because Prestonwood is currently on a multi-year wait list and because Lochmere’s golf club is separate from the HOA.
How to choose the right Cary club community
Start with your daily lifestyle, not just the golf course. If you want the deepest bench of amenities and a club-centered social environment, Preston may lead your list. If you are drawn to custom homes, mature wooded lots, and a more traditional private-club setting, MacGregor Downs may stand out. If you want flexibility, trails, lakes, and easier golf access at a broader range of price points, Lochmere may be the better fit.
It also helps to think in terms of location patterns within Cary. Preston is often the practical choice for buyers focused on RTP or north Cary access, MacGregor Downs aligns well with South Cary and downtown Raleigh access, and Lochmere works well for east Cary convenience and everyday errands around Kildaire Farm Road.
The right choice usually comes down to how you want to live, not just where you want to play. A thoughtful home search should weigh club culture, housing style, budget, and commute together so the neighborhood supports your life long after move-in day.
If you are considering a move in Cary and want help comparing golf and country club neighborhoods with a local, tailored perspective, Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty can help you evaluate lifestyle fit, market positioning, and available homes across the Triangle.
FAQs
What is the difference between Preston, MacGregor Downs, and Lochmere in Cary?
- Preston is the most amenity-rich and club-centric, MacGregor Downs is the most established and private-feeling, and Lochmere is the most flexible and accessible with a neighborhood-first feel.
What are home prices like in Cary golf communities?
- Recent median sale prices are about $1.235 million in Preston, about $1.2475 million in MacGregor Downs, and about $762,000 in Lochmere, compared with Cary’s overall median home sale price of about $600,000.
Is club membership required when buying a home in Preston?
- No. Prestonwood Country Club states that homeownership in Preston is not required for membership, and buyers should confirm current membership availability and rules directly with the club.
Does Lochmere HOA membership include the golf course?
- No. The Lochmere HOA states that the golf course is not part of the association, though residents have access to the semi-private Lochmere Golf Club.
Which Cary golf community may be best for RTP commuting?
- Preston is often the most practical fit for buyers focused on RTP and north Cary access, based on the community’s location and development pattern.
Which Cary club community has the most traditional private-club setting?
- MacGregor Downs is generally the strongest match if you want a more traditional private-club environment, custom homes, mature landscaping, and established neighborhood character.
