[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by RockyMountainMan

I have been living in the villages for 7 years now. I moved from Colorado in retirement which was a long distance move. One of the reasons for moving here was that the golf courses were pristine and well maintained. I could have easily found another retirement area in Arizona but with a few less amenities but I chose the villages.

After playing mostly the championship courses over the past several months the golf courses in the villages have deteriorated to the point that they are no longer enjoyable to play...as I call them a "goat ranch." After speaking to one the managers at one of the clubs I asked why the courses no longer "overseed" with rye grass in the winter. After several reasons which I disagreed with, I have come to the conclusion that it is all about the money.

I hear, see and read about the wonderful growth of the villages and what a great thing it is for the quality of life here. After seeing the increase in traffic, lack of retail and commercial areas and the condition of the golf courses, I am getting the sense that the villages is becoming just another large city...yes city (pop. at 130K going to over 200K in the next several years).

Unless more attention is paid to the things I have mentioned earlier, I'm afraid the overbuilding and lack of maintenance will be a detriment to people thinking of moving to the villages.

Having first rented here about 10 years ago and purchasing almost 7 years ago...I couldn't agree with you more.

I can't help but wonder though, if the deterioration of 'some' of the champ courses (I don't play exec's)...is totally by accident/lack of funding?

I'm thinking that Da Family, as exhibited by what's going on down south with big courses not coming close to keeping up with the increasing residency...is actually in 'The Plan.'

As golf loses participation in general, it's my opinion that an emphasis is being put toward what Da Family thinks...will be the biggest draw to future retirees.

I wouldn't even be surprised, that if in the next 10 years or so one or two of the older/less popular championship courses (and maybe exec's)...are closed for good.

Which is certainly not unheard of, given the number of golf courses nationwide...that have closed in the last decade.


Golf Course Closures (poke here)

More than 800 golf courses have closed nationwide in the last decade, as operators grapple with declining interest in the sport and a glut of competition.

Many of those shuttered courses were built on land proscribed from redevelopment by local zoning codes seeking to preserve open space — or, as with Ahwatukee, by deed restrictions intended to protect homeowners who had paid a *premium to live near a golf course.

After all, they do take up a whole lot of real estate that could be turned into new housing, or other money-making ventures...that have a much greater value.

Just a thought.