<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES AS
OF 3/31/99 & 12/31/98 & THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME,
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY & CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 &
1998 & IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS YEAR 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 JAN-01-1998 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 DEC-31-1998 MAR-31-1997
<CASH> 9,579 1,891 0
<SECURITIES> 0 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 1,060 1,030 0
<ALLOWANCES> 0 0 0
<INVENTORY> 0 0 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 0<F1> 0<F1> 0
<PP&E> 351,385 349,195 0
<DEPRECIATION> 29,722 25,695 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 420,788 411,981 0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 18,951<F1> 15,190<F1> 0
<BONDS> 217,541 210,634 0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0 0
<COMMON> 77 76 0
<OTHER-SE> 108,342 109,571 0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 420,788 411,981 0
<SALES> 0 0 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 13,323 0 8,920
<CGS> 0 0 0
<TOTAL-COSTS> 5,522 0 2,977
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 133<F2> 0 72<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,678 0 916
<INCOME-PRETAX> 2,712 0 3,081
<INCOME-TAX> 0 0 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,712 0 3,081
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 2,712 0 3,081
<EPS-PRIMARY> .35 0 .40
<EPS-DILUTED> .35 0 .39
<FN>
<F1>As a real estate investment trust our balance sheet is not classified
between current and long term categories.
<F2>Composed of interest income.
</FN>