On Wednesday afternoons, when Scott Mokoski gets home from work, he meets his father for a stroll through nine holes of golf. They play the Fox Hopyard in East Haddam where Mokoski and his wife bought a home three years ago. The beauty and the quiet of the golf course and surrounding woodlands offer more than a serene place to come home to, said Mokoski. It is a place to reconnect.

“I love it. For us, it’s perfect,” Mokoski said. “We particularly like how quiet it is. The neighbors are nice and the grounds are beautiful.”

Mokoski and his wife are among the first to move into the new homes being constructed at Fox Hopyard and, in many ways, are exactly the type of buyer that developers expect to see. They are empty-nesters, both in their early 50s, and they don’t anticipate buying another home. Nick Uccello, a principal with Uccello Development, the exclusive builder for Fox Hopyard, said many of the homes are designed for people aiming for retirement.

“The big push for us is modern finishes, right-sized houses and energy efficiency,” Uccello said.

That focus starts with the foundation and is carried through to the last eye-catching detail.

For starters, every home is built using a geothermal heating and cooling system. The concrete walls of the foundation contain a layer of foam paneling for additional insulation. Within the living space, a marble backsplash in the kitchen is played off a thick granite countertop. Dozens of windows allow an abundance of natural light. Trim pieces around the doorways, custom cabinetry and spacious floor plans give every home a modern touch that is both contemporary and inviting.

Uccello Development is using 13 different floor plans – 11 of which put the master suite on the first floor – to complete an anticipated 50 homes. Buyers also have the option of bringing in their own designer for a custom project. Roughly half of the 10 homes sold at Fox Hopyard so far are custom designs, said Uccello.

On the exterior, wood shingles are used for their added detail. Arching windows, stone work and meticulous landscaping combine for an atmosphere that is decidedly New England without relying on the Colonial style.

“One thing we take pride in is our flexibility and our ability to build custom,” Uccello said.

The homes, too, are built in small clusters of eight or fewer, and homeowners can choose whether they prefer views of one of Connecticut’s top golf courses or the wooded acreage that surrounds the Fox Hopyard.

“It’s great being across the street from one of the best golf courses in New England,” said Jeff Miller, another resident of Fox Hopyard.

Miller and his wife, Denise DiMare, also moved into their home about three years ago. Miller is a regular on the 18-hole course. On an afternoon when he finishes work early, he can step right onto the fairways and play before dinner. They can also take advantage of the club’s award-winning restaurant On the Rocks at Fox Hopyard. The outdoor tennis courts beckon, as well.

Plans for a swimming pool complete with a snack bar and exercise facility are in the works, according to Uccello.

“We have three sons in their 20s now,” Miller said. “We’re really eager to see the pool facility integrated into the (entry of the neighborhood). That, to us, would really complete the amenity package.”

Another draw to the East Haddam development for Miller is the central location within the region. Miller travels often for work and can easily make it to New York or New Jersey by rail. Bradley International Airport is approximately 45 minutes from home, said Miller.

On the weekends, Fox Hopyard residents can get to the shoreline within 10 minutes. The casinos, too, are an easy drive.

“It’s just a beautiful, rural environment here,” Miller said.

Homes in the Fox Hopyard development range upward from 1,900 square feet and prices begin at about $575,000. Buyers get a one-year membership to the golf course and are not obligated to renew. There is also a model home at the Fox Hopyard that is available for tours (and for purchase).

For more information, visit www.liveatfoxhopyard.com.