<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES AS 
OF 12-31-96 & 97 & THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY & CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD FROM 2-12-97 (INCEPTION) 
THROUGH 12-31-97 & IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-12-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          14,968
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    1,004
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                         115,045
<DEPRECIATION>                                  14,001
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 186,306
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            3,029<F1>
<BONDS>                                          4,325
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            76
<OTHER-SE>                                     124,251
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   124,327
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                18,727
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    5,705
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (624)<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,879
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,969
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,969
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,969
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.29
<FN>
<F1> AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, OUR BALANCE SHEET IS NOT CLASSIFIED 
BETWEEN CURRENT AND NON-CURRENT INTEREST INCOME.
</FN>