<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET; CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001024126
<NAME> GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JUL-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<CASH> 5,797
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 82,129<F4>
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 20,823<F1>
<PP&E> 349,885<F6>
<DEPRECIATION> 56,780
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 401,854
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 9,426<F1>
<BONDS> 224,836
0
20,000
<COMMON> 82
<OTHER-SE> 147,510<F5>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 401,854
<SALES> 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 13,784
<CGS> 0
<TOTAL-COSTS> 31,533
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 564<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,851
<INCOME-PRETAX> (14,347)
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (14,347)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (14,810)<F3>
<EPS-BASIC> (1.82)
<EPS-DILUTED> (1.82)
<FN>
<F1>AS A REIT, WE DO NOT HAVE A CLASSIFIED BALANCE SHEET
<F2>INCLUDES OTHER INCOME AND INTEREST INCOME
<F3>NET INCOME AFTER MINORITY INTEREST ALLOCATION AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS
<F4>INCLUDES MORTGAGE NOTE RECEIVABLE
<F5>INCLUDES MINORITY INTEREST
(F6)INCLUDES WRITEDOWN OF CERTAIN ASSETS TO ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE
</FN>
</TABLE>
