<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM GOLF TRUST
OF AMERICA, INC. FORM 10-Q FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STRENGTHS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001024126
<NAME> GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   YEAR                   OTHER                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1998             DEC-31-1997             MAR-31-1997             MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             FEB-12-1997             FEB-12-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998             DEC-31-1997             MAR-31-1997             MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                           1,553                  14,968                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<RECEIVABLES>                                    1,095                   1,004                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>                       0<F1>                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<PP&E>                                         216,988                 115,045                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<DEPRECIATION>                                  15,029                  14,001                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 276,118                 186,306                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>                       0<F1>                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<BONDS>                                         86,474                   4,325                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<COMMON>                                            76                      76                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<OTHER-SE>                                     124,356                 124,251                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   124,432                 124,327                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 8,920                       0                   2,042<F4>
                   3,785<F5>
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    2,977                       0                     659<F4>
                   1,318<F5>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    72                       0                     131<F1><F4>
                     131<F1><F5>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 916                       0                      40<F4>
                      92<F5>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,081                       0                     716<F4>
                   1,218<F5>
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,081                       0                     716<F4>
                   1,218<F5>
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0<F4>
                       0<F5>
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,081                       0                     716<F4>
                   1,218<F5>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .40                       0                     .19<F4>
                     .31<F5>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .39                       0                     .18<F4>
                     .31<F5>
<FN>
<F4>PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 12, 1997 TO MARCH 31, 1997
<F5>PRO FORMA THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998
<F1>AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, OUR BALANCE SHEET IS NOT CLASSIFIED BETWEEN
CURRENT AND NON-CURRENT INTEREST INCOME.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>