Pondside on the 3rd Hole • The Peninsula Resort - Millsboro

🏠 THE HOME

Welcome to our serene, light-filled townhome in The Conservancy — The Peninsula's nature-oriented neighborhood. Set at the end of a quiet no-through-traffic street, the home sits directly on the 3rd hole of Delaware's only Jack Nicklaus Signature course, with a backyard pond view that puts you inside the course rather than just near it. The Peninsula's nature trail and preserve are a half-block away at the end of Dune Circle.

Two floors, approximately 2,600 sqft, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and a second-floor bonus room with its own balcony. Sleeps eight comfortably across four queen beds, with flexible arrangements for up to ten guests total.


🌿 OUTDOOR SPACES

Two distinct areas give guests flexibility in how they use the outdoors.

The ground-floor paver patio — just off the back door — is a relaxed spot with a modular picnic table that seats four or separates into two benches.

The rear second-floor covered balcony is the showpiece. Accessed through the bonus room, it seats four on cushioned lounge furniture and opens up a full view of the pond and 3rd green at elevation — tree line beyond, golfers visible on the course, southeast-facing for morning light.


🛋️ LIVING ROOM

The main living area is anchored by an oversized sectional, an electric linear fireplace, and a 65" Smart TV. Two wicker accent chairs face the rear picture window — a natural spot to sit and watch the course.

The open floor plan connects the living room, dining area, and kitchen as one continuous space. The primary suite is the only enclosed room on the first floor.


🍳 KITCHEN & DINING

A large quartz island with counter-height seating for four is the gathering point — morning coffee, casual lunch, or pre-dinner drinks. The full kitchen includes a gas range, wall oven, built-in microwave, French door refrigerator with water and ice dispenser, and a porcelain farmhouse apron sink. Full cookware, dinnerware, and glassware provided.

The dining table seats eight, giving ample seating options for our maximum capacity of 10 guests.


🛏️ SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

All four bedrooms have queen beds. Three have walk-in closets.

The first-floor primary suite is set apart from the open living areas and fully private — large walk-in closet, double vanity, and glass-enclosed walk-in shower with large-format tile.

The three second-floor bedrooms each have their own character:

★ The nautical room — queen bed, surfboard wall art, walk-in closet
★ The botanical room — queen bed, golf course views, walk-in closet
★ The coastal room — queen bed, private balcony access, en-suite bathroom with tub/shower

A shared full bathroom with tub/shower serves the other two upstairs bedrooms. Powder room on the first floor.


🎮 BONUS ROOM & REAR BALCONY

The second-floor bonus room is where the home earns its flexibility. Air hockey table, 55" Smart TV, and a large modular sleeper sofa that comfortably sleeps up to 4 adults or 6 kids. For groups where solo travelers or couples each take a bedroom, the bonus room absorbs the overflow without crowding anyone. Opens directly onto the rear balcony overlooking the pond and 3rd green.


🧺 PRACTICAL DETAILS / WHAT TO EXPECT

★ Bed linens and bath towels provided
★ Bring your own beach and pool towels
★ Boogie boards available for guest use
★ Stacked washer/dryer — high-end front loaders
★ Keyless entry with personalized door code
★ Two-zone smart thermostats (upstairs/downstairs)
★ High-speed Wi-Fi included
★ 2 beach cruiser bikes and 2 Razor scooters
★ Golf clubs available for guest use (1 set)
★ Two Smart TVs (65" living room, 55" bonus room)

TV programming: Streaming only, no cable. TV access requires your own streaming subscriptions; no accounts are provided, but we're happy to help you get set up under your own account(s) after check-in.


⛳ GOLF

Delaware's first and only private Jack Nicklaus Signature course — 18 holes, 7200 yards, Par 72, with holes running along the Indian River Bay and Lingo Creek. Ranked among the top courses in the state. Full practice facility with driving range and practice green, award-winning pro shop, and golf professionals available for lessons and clinics. Tee times can be reserved up to 5 days in advance; twilight golf is available.

Golf fees are separate from amenity passes and purchased directly through the Golf Shop on property.

★ In-season (Memorial Day–Labor Day):
$225 for 18 holes or $145 for 9 holes

★ Off-season (Labor Day–Memorial Day):
$152 for 18 holes or $110 for 9 holes


🏊 POOLS & WATER

The Athletic Center at Lakeside Village features four distinct water experiences:

★ Junior Olympic indoor pool & hot tub — open year-round
★ Adult outdoor pool & hot tub — seasonal
★ Wave pool with sandy beach lounge area — seasonal
★ Splash zone — a dedicated kids water park with water slides, playground equipment, and a giant fill-and-dump bucket — seasonal

The seasonal pools operate Memorial Day through Labor Day. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available on the Indian River Bay through the concierge; minimum age 16, reservations recommended.

The community's Indian River Bay Beach and pier are also accessible to rental guests.


💪 FITNESS, SPORTS & SPA

★ 2500 sqft fitness center — cardio equipment, free weights, cable machines, two Peloton bikes, and sauna
★ Aerobics room with yoga mats, blocks, and resistance bands
★ Fitness classes including aqua, cardio, yoga, and pilates (additional fee)
★ 8 tennis courts (2 Har-Tru, 6 Premier Surface) — lit for day and night play; reservation required
★ 6 pickleball courts — reservation required
★ Basketball court
★ Volleyball courts
★ 9-hole miniature golf
★ 2 bocce courts
★ Calmwater Spa — massage, facials, and aesthetician services; reservations required

Court reservations and fitness classes carry additional fees; see amenity pass section below for current pricing.


🍽️ DINING OPTIONS

The Peninsula has four on-site dining venues. Three are seasonal (Memorial Day–Labor Day); one is open year-round.

★ Clubhouse Restaurant (Year-Round) — Full-service restaurant in the 33,000 sqft clubhouse, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Golf course views, wood-burning fireplaces, wrap-around veranda, and a menu featuring fresh seafood, steaks, brick oven pizza, and locally inspired dishes. Reservations recommended; dress code in effect. Available to rental guests Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday; not available to rental guests Friday or Saturday evenings.

★ Terrace Grille (Seasonal) — Casual dining overlooking the adult pool. Breakfast through dinner — omelets, burgers, salads, soups, beer, wine, and cocktails.

★ Cabana Bar (Seasonal) — Outdoor bar adjacent to the adult pool. Beer, wine, and cocktails.

★ Snack Bar (Seasonal) — Quick bites and drinks, conveniently located next to the wave pool.


🏖️ RESORT ACCESS

The Peninsula is a private, gated resort community. Note that inclusion of an amenity in the listing photos, listing description, or amenities checklist does not necessarily imply that those amenities are free. These next sections go into detail about what's included, and what's extra.

The following amenities are open to rental guests at no additional cost:

★ Indian River Bay Beach and fishing pier
★ Nature trails, preserve, and nature center (~225 protected acres)
★ Lakeside Village Playground — multi-level structure with slides and climbing elements; main family play area near the lake and walking trails
★ Clubhouse tot-lot — smaller, toddler-friendly structure near the Clubhouse
★ Community fire pit — Clubhouse Terrace; available when in operation (seasonal, weather-permitting)


🎟️ AMENITY PASSES & COST

Access to pools, fitness center, and sport courts requires a separate amenity pass, purchased at the Athletic Club desk on arrival. Passes are non-refundable and priced per person.

★ Indoor pool and hot tub (year-round)
★ Outdoor pools, hot tubs, and wave pool (seasonal: Memorial Day–Labor Day)
★ Sun loungers
★ Fitness center, gym equipment, and sauna
★ Tennis and pickleball courts (court reservation fee also applies — see below)
★ Basketball court
★ Miniature golf
★ Game room (ping-pong, air hockey and more)
★ Pool tables / billiards & bar shuffleboard — Clubhouse (Wed, Thu & Sun only)

Amenity Pass Cost: In-Season (Memorial Day–Labor Day):
★ Adults 16+: $30/day or $125/week
★ Children 6–15: $20/day or $85/week
★ Kids 5 & under: Free

Amenity Pass Cost: Off-Season (Labor Day–Memorial Day):
★ Adults 16+: $10/day or $51/week
★ Children 6–15: $5/day or $30/week
★ Kids 5 & under: Free

💳 ACTIVITY FEES

Some experiences carry their own fees, separate from the amenity pass:

★ Tennis and pickleball court reservations (90–120 min per reservation; max 2 per day)
$10/person in-season, $5/person off-season
★ Kayak and paddleboard rentals — $15/person, includes life jacket
★ Fitness classes — approximately $10/person per class
★ Golf — see Golf section above for current pricing


📅 IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SATURDAYS

Community amenities are not available to rental guests on Saturdays during the summer season (Memorial Day–Labor Day). Rehoboth Beach is only 15 miles away and definitely worth the trip.

Guests have exclusive use of the entire home, with the exception of one closet that is reserved for the owner's personal belongings and supplies. The home has a private entrance with keyless entry.

Tom and Melena are your hosts and will respond to your questions quickly. You'll be given their contact information after booking.

🏡 THE PENINSULA

The immediate neighborhood is The Peninsula — a private, gated resort community on the north shore of the Indian River Bay in Millsboro, Delaware. At roughly 800 acres, it's large enough that you genuinely don't need to leave if you don't want to. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course winds through the property, the bay is accessible at multiple points, and the Lakeside Village Athletic Center puts pools, courts, a spa, a fitness center, and dining all within a short walk or golf cart ride. There are miles of walking and biking trails, a nature conservancy, a fishing pier, and a private sandy beach on the bay. It has the feel of a self-contained resort that happens to also be a residential neighborhood — quiet streets, professionally maintained landscaping, and a pace that encourages you to slow down.

The community sits five miles west of the Atlantic coast, which means ocean breezes without ocean-town congestion. Indian River Bay is a broad, calm body of water — better for kayaking, paddleboarding, and watching the boats go by than for surfing, which suits most guests just fine.

🏖️ THE DELAWARE BEACHES

The broader region is Delaware's lower shore, one of the East Coast's most beloved and underrated beach destinations. Within 15 miles you have three distinct beach towns, each with its own personality.

★ Rehoboth Beach — A classic American boardwalk town that draws visitors from DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and beyond. The mile-long boardwalk is lined with shops, restaurants, and the kind of old-school beach food that people drive hours for. Downtown Rehoboth has quietly become one of the better dining destinations on the mid-Atlantic coast. Lively without being overwhelming, and the beach itself is wide and well-maintained. About 15 miles.

★ Lewes — More historic, more laid-back, with a charming downtown of independent shops, galleries, and excellent restaurants. Cape Henlopen State Park is on its doorstep, offering some of the most beautiful undeveloped coastline in the region along with fishing, birding, and miles of trails. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry departs from here if you want a scenic detour into New Jersey. About 13 miles.

★ Dewey Beach — The lively one. Smaller and younger in feel, known for its bars and beach scene. Worth a visit if the mood strikes, easy to skip if it doesn't.

⛳ GOLF

Delaware's only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course is right on property — 18 holes, 7,200 yards, Par 72, and consistently ranked among the finest courses in the region. For those who want more, Baywood Greens is two miles from the gates and routinely cited as one of the best public courses in Delaware. Plantation Lakes is about 10 miles out. A serious golfer can fill a week without much effort.

🌿 BEYOND THE SHORELINE

The region rewards exploration beyond the beach. Cape Henlopen State Park alone justifies a half-day — the WWII observation towers, the walking dunes, and the fishing pier are all worth the trip. Assateague Island, home to the famous wild ponies, is about 36 miles south. The town of Lewes has a small maritime museum and a history that predates American independence — it was the first settlement in the first state. Friends with a boat can pick you up at The Peninsula's floating dock and take you across the bay to Paradise Grill in Long Neck, or ride all the way up to Dewey.

🍽️ DINING & SHOPPING

On-site dining options include the Clubhouse Restaurant (open year-round), the Terrace Grille, the Cabana Bar, and a seasonal Snack Bar — so you're never far from a good meal without leaving the community. When you do venture out, the Tanger Outlets are about 12 miles away, and Harris Teeter and Giant grocery stores are just a couple of miles from the gates — which matters more than people expect on a vacation week.

✦ THE BIGGER PICTURE

This is a drive-market destination — guests come primarily from the DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York corridors, typically for a week in summer or a long weekend in the shoulder seasons. It has the easy familiarity of a place people return to year after year, combined with enough to do that first-timers never run out of reasons to come back. The Peninsula specifically draws guests who want the beach experience without the chaos of being directly on the boardwalk — close enough to everything, removed enough to actually relax.

🚗 A CAR IS ESSENTIAL

This is rural coastal Delaware — there is no meaningful public transportation serving the area, and rideshare coverage (Uber and Lyft) is thin outside of peak season. A car isn't just convenient here; it's effectively required for anything beyond the community gates. Most guests drive in from the DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, or New York corridors, and the drive is straightforward from any of those directions via Route 1 south into Sussex County.

Plan to arrive with groceries and anything else you need for the first day — Harris Teeter and Giant are two miles from the gates and easy to hit on the way in.

🚴 WITHIN THE PENINSULA

Inside the community, the pace slows considerably. The Peninsula has miles of walking and biking trails, and bikes are available to rent at the Concierge Desk at the Athletic Center. The Lakeside Village amenity center, the Clubhouse, and most of the community's key destinations are reachable on foot or by bike from most neighborhoods.

Personal golf carts are not permitted in The Peninsula. Club-arranged rental options may be available — worth asking the concierge desk if that's of interest.

🏖️ GETTING TO THE BEACHES

Rehoboth Beach runs a free seasonal trolley within town during the summer months, which is useful once you've parked — but getting there still requires a car. Cape Henlopen State Park charges a vehicle entry fee in season; it's worth knowing in advance. Lewes and Dewey are similarly drive-to destinations with limited or no transit options.

🛳️ BY WATER

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry connects Lewes to Cape May, New Jersey — a scenic 85-minute crossing that's worth building into the trip if you're inclined. Reservations are recommended in season. From The Peninsula's own floating dock, friends with a boat can take you across Indian River Bay to Paradise Grill in Long Neck, or up the waterway toward Dewey Beach.

Thank you for choosing our home. Please read the house rules below carefully; they help us protect the space, follow community policies, and ensure a comfortable stay for everyone. If you cannot agree to these rules, contact us within 24 hours of booking and we will cancel your reservation at no charge.


🤝 RESPECTFUL STAY

★ Our goal is a safe, clean, and peaceful stay for you and our neighbors. Please treat our home with care and report any accidental damage right away.

★ Violation of these house rules may result in immediate cancellation of your stay without refund, and/or additional charges (e.g. for bringing pets or for smoking).


👥 OCCUPANCY & GUESTS

★ Maximum 10 guests, including children. We define an occupant as anyone on the property between 11 pm and 7 am.

★ The primary guest must be 25 or older and present for the duration of the stay. You may not book our home for anyone other than yourself and your own travel companions.

★ We may request a valid photo ID after booking for verification. The ID must match the information on your reservation.


🐾 NO PETS or ESAs

★ Pets and emotional support animals (ESAs) are not permitted under any circumstances. This is a strict community-wide rule for all vacation rental guests. We also have children with severe pet allergies, and we deeply appreciate your understanding.


🚬 NO SMOKING, VAPING, ETC.

★ Smoking of any kind is not permitted anywhere on the property, including the balconies and patio. This includes cigarettes, vaping, and cannabis — even with a medical card.


🎉 No EVENTS, PARTIES, OR GATHERINGS

★ Please do not host gatherings, events, or parties at our home. If you plan to have a small, quiet visit from non-overnight guests, message us in advance.


🅿️ PARKING & VEHICLES

★ Maximum 4 vehicles. Street parking is not permitted by the community. Our driveway holds 2-3 cars (depending on size). There is a 1-car garage, but it is used to store various items and can only be opened and closed from inside the house. There is first-come, first-serve overflow parking at the end of Dune Circle that you are also welcome to use.


🔇 COMMUNITY-WIDE QUIET HOURS

★ Quiet hours are 10 pm–7 am Monday through Saturday, and all day on Sundays and holidays (per community ordinance).


🛎️ AIRBNB "SERVICES & EXPERIENCES"

★ Hosting or bringing any Airbnb Service or Experience onto the premises is not permitted without our prior written approval. Unauthorized attempts will result in reservation cancellation with no refund.


📹 SECURITY & PRIVACY

★ A Ring video doorbell at the front door faces the street and records audio and video when motion is detected. There are no cameras or microphones anywhere inside the home.


🛏️ LINENS, TOWELS, & HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES

★ Bed linens and bath towels are included — bring your own beach and pool towels.
★ We provide a starter/courtesy supply of paper towels, toilet paper, hand soap, dish soap, laundry soap, dishwasher detergent and trash bags. Bring extra for larger groups and/or longer stays.


🗑️ TRASH DAY & CURB APPEAL

★ Community trash day is Monday. Sunday guests are asked to wheel the trash totes from the garage to the curb, and Monday guests are requested to bring them back into the garage. Totes must be kept in the garage at all other times. We appreciate your help in keeping our community looking its best.

★ Nothing may be hung from balcony or deck railings — no towels, beach items, laundry, or rugs.


📋 PRE-ARRIVAL REQUIREMENTS

★ A signed lease agreement and completed community rental registration are required before check-in details are released. We'll reach out after booking to handle both — please respond promptly as the community requires registration well in advance of your arrival.

If anything here is unclear, message us and we'll clarify. We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to hosting you.