<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 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
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<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>
        

</TABLE>