<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA INC. & SUBSIDIARIES AS OF
12/31/97 AND 12/31/98 & THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME,
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD FROM 2/12/97 (INCEPTION)
THROUGH 12/31/97 AND THE YEAR ENDED 12/31/98.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-12-1997             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          14,968                   1,891
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    1,004                   1,030
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>                   0<F1>
<PP&E>                                         115,045                 349,195
<DEPRECIATION>                                  14,001                  25,695
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 186,306                 411,981
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            3,029<F1>              15,190<F1>
<BONDS>                                          4,325                 210,634
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            76                      76
<OTHER-SE>                                     124,251                 109,571
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   124,327                 109,647
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                18,727                  44,384
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    5,705                  17,083
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (624)<F2>               (108)<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,879                   9,673
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,969                  10,606
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,969                  10,606
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,969                  10,606
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.32                    1.39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.29                    1.34
<FN>
<F1>AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, OUR BALANCE SHEET IS NOT CLASSIFIED BETWEEN
CURRENT AND NON CURRENT CATEGORIES.
<F2>COMPRISED OF INTEREST INCOME AND LOSS ON DISPOSAL OF ASSETS.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>