[Chris Wagner]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I'm going to agree about 75%.

Like you, I was a member of a private club for over 30 years---great layout, immaculate conditions, greens ran about 12----for the 6 months it wasn't snowing. I also was lucky to grow up on Bethpage Black and got to play Winged Foot, Baltusrol, Pine Valley, Westchester CC, Shinnecock, Pinehurst #2, Pebble, Spyglass, Torrey Pines, Castle Pines, Broadmoor, and in Florida Doral, PGA National, Copperhead, Sawgrass and Bay Hill to name a few, so I am familiar with good layouts and great conditions. Most courses in Florida including The Villages are not in that class.

However, the courses here are not terrible, I've played on many courses that are much worse. In general, Florida courses are flat, treeless and in comparison to the above somewhat boring. The only defense is sand and water, of which we have plenty. And yes, Tierra is an exception. But the trade off is the convenience of 14 courses just a cart ride away. I live on one and have 6 more within 18 minutes by cart. Four more are within 26 minutes. And while there are many that whine about the cost of greens fees, they really are pretty reasonable, and tens of thousands cheaper than a private club. The initiation bond at Seminole is now up to $250,000!

I've also aged out of getting a thrill from extremely difficult courses. Fifty years ago when I was a +1, I enjoyed playing Bethpage from the tips. Now, I couldn't even walk to course (which is a shame since the Ryder Cup is there this year, and I still know every inch of that course having played it about 250 times). Now, multiple injuries and spine surgery later I'm an 11 and rarely play anything longer than the blues. But it's still golf, it's still fun, and still a challenge. Plus, from the white or blue tees I still can make 2 or 3 dozen eagles/year---something I can no longer do on a 560 yd par 5. (unless holing out from 100)

Great insight. I live about 20 minutes from Bethpage. Played black this past Thursday. Construction for the Ryder cup is in full swing. Many of the stands and vip booths are going up. It was definitely in great shape.

I don’t need difficult. Definitley don’t need Black. But do want at least nice and more than a pitch and putt. I watched a flyover of one championship course, not sure which one it was. There was lots of fairway bunkers but saw very very few geeenside bunkers which was a little concerning.