David Southworth began his master planned community development career in 1992 as the President & CEO of Willowbend Development LLC. Willowbend became a partnership owned by Paul Fireman of Reebok fame and David Southworth. From 1992 until 2005, the partners developed the communities of Willowbend on Cape Cod, The Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort & Country Club in Puerto Rico, the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort in Tucson, Arizona, Coco Beach Golf & Country Club in Puerto Rico and Liberty National, a PGA TOUR stop overlooking the Statue of Liberty on New York Bay.

In 2005, Southworth Development was formed, and David continued to develop master planned communities, beginning with a project on the west coast of Scotland called Machrihanish Dunes. The spectacular Village at Machrihanish Dunes consists of a new David McLay Kidd-designed links golf course, the restoration of two beautiful old Scottish hotels and the creation of single-family residential lots and seaside golf cottages. In 2006, Southworth purchased a substantial portion of what was then called Akwa Soleil, which led to the rebranding and eventual purchase of half interest in Meredith Bay, where the company has assumed the role of developer and managing partner.

In 2007, David’s long time friend and one of the most respected names in the financial services industry, Joe Deitch, became his business partner and Chairman at Southworth. Joe founded Commonwealth Financial Network in 1979, and the company has since grown to become the largest privately owned broker/dealer firm in the country, with over $100 billion under management.

In 2008, Southworth purchased Renaissance, 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 early 2009, Southworth acquired a 964-acre community outside of Washington, D.C. called Creighton Farms. Creighton Farms is a stunning estate community in Virginia’s famed horse country centered around an award-winning Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.

In March of 2012, Southworth announced it had come to an agreement with David’s long-term friend and former business partner, Paul Fireman, to purchase Willowbend on Cape Cod. Being 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.  Featuring 27 holes of championship golf, luxurious estate homes and villas, a world-class tennis facility, Olympic-sized pool, state-of-the-art fitness facility and spa, Willowbend has long been considered Cape Cod’s most prestigious and exclusive private enclave.

In December 2014, Southworth acquired The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, an international, private and secluded 534-acre island-oasis. Known as one of the world’s great sporting clubs, The Abaco Club is home to residences that rival the finest in any island setting.  The Club features over 2 miles of white-sand beach; an acclaimed tropical links golf course, which has been consistently ranked as the #1 course in The Bahamas by Golfweek Magazine; tennis; a wide range of water sports, world-class bone fishing, deep-sea fishing and boating off Abaco’s famed shores and surrounding islands.