Golfer Davis Love III’s Georgia Mansion, On the Market Since 2013, Destroyed in Fire

Glynn County Fire Rescue

PGA star Davis Love III‘s St. Simons Island, GA, home was lost in a huge fire last Friday. The secluded 5-acre farm on the exclusive Southern coastal retreat burned to the ground.

Video from the scene showed the main house engulfed by flames. Love and his wife, Robin, were reportedly in the home at the time of the fire, but thankfully escaped without injury. 

“The fire was fairly alarming,” says Larry Hobbs, a reporter for the Brunswick News. “It’s way too early to tell what caused it. All the [Glynn County fire] chief could say … was that it started in the garage. A fire of this magnitude on St. Simons to a home of this size is rare in my experience. That it happened to a celebrity golfer, as well as a very popular local couple known for their philanthropy in the community, makes it all the more shocking.”

Davis Love’s estate before it was burned to the ground

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“Mr. Love was straightforward enough to reach out to us with a comment barely before the smoke cleared, to let the community know they plan to remain a part of this community,” Hobbs says. “Speaks to the kind of character that makes him so popular with the local folks.”

“On Friday, March 27, our family home was destroyed by an early morning fire,” Love posted on Twitter. “While everyone in our family is saddened at the loss of our home that was filled with so much laughter and incredible memories, we’re very blessed that everyone is safe and unharmed.

“We’re very thankful to the first responders who made a valiant effort to save our home,” he continued, “and we’re keeping things in perspective as people across our community and around the world are struggling with the current unprecedented health crisis.

“We’ve been proud members of the St Simons/Sea island community for many years and will continue to be for many more,” he said.

A long look for a buyer

Although the Loves were living in the house when the fire erupted, the property had been on the market for a long time.

Initially listed for $5.5 million in 2013, the golfer’s summer getaway on one of the Golden Isles had steadily dropped in price over the years. At the time of the fire, it was available for $4,475,000.

The plantation-style estate has 10,253 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms and 6.5 baths. It comes with horse stables and marsh frontage.

Last year, we looked at the reasons for the property’s lack of offers and cited its size as a potential roadblock for buyers. But the home’s size was a boon when it came to local civic life.

“The loss of the Loves’ St. Simons Island home is a significant loss felt by the entire community,” says local listing agent Cindy Jacobs. “Robin and Davis are longtime and much beloved residents of St. Simons, who have opened up their once-beautiful home and stables to numerous philanthropic events.”

Now, it faces different challenges.

Safety first

A property loss is a sobering reminder that safety issues, though easy to overlook, should be kept top of mind when going through a home purchase.

“Hard-wired home fire alarms, garage smoke detectors, and locations of municipal fire hydrants are rarely thought of when buyers first preview property or eventually purchase property, but clearly are game changers when it comes to personal safety and property preservation,” Jacobs says.

“Fire safety is an issue for any homeowner, [whether it’s] a primary residence or a second home. We are lucky to have exceptional access to both a paid and robust volunteer network of fire fighters on St. Simons and in Glynn County as well as significant resources provided by the county’s infrastructure,” Jacobs continues. “Both of these issues contributed to the two-minute response by local firefighters to the fire at the Loves’ property.”

Sadly, it wasn’t enough to save Love’s luxurious home. But if he’s true to his word, the golf legend will return to this exclusive enclave.

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