Free Christmas golf

[golfing eagles]

While it is the season of giving, and free championship golf is , at least on the surface of it, a nice gift to TV, but after witnessing what I just saw I am not so sure. Grandpa was out with a kid, probably 8 years old, playing a par 4 with a foursome right behind them, 2 groups on the previous par 3 and 3 groups in sight on the par 4 before that. The kid teed off from the yellow tees, about 190 yds, and grandpa let him take EVERY shot on this hole. His longest hit was about 12 yards. I lost count at 34. Besides the 15 or so whiffs, he took out at least 10 huge chunks of sod, and neither of them filled them in. He played in the sand for a while, and no one raked. On the green, he was kneeling on the surface, apparently lining up grandpa's putt, which is scary in and of itself. I'm sure he left about a 1 inch depression within 3 feet of the cup. While it is Christmas, I think the rule of age 14 or 11 with pro approval should apply today as well. Also, since the greens fee of $0 attracts a crowd, they should make a pick up at double par rule especially for today. I really feel for the groups behind them. Sorry to sound like a Grinch and no offense to anyone, but it is going to take 2 weeks for the damage to the courses to heal if there is a lot of similar situations out there.

[DonH57]

I'm sure what you just described is happening on every championship course today let alone the execs as well. It's sad when adults don't teach respect for other people's property in today's world.

[NotGolfer]

You're not a grinch! It's too bad that while Granpa is building (apparently) memories with Junior...he's also teaching him disrespectful behaviors along with it!

[D&Lsunfun]

are the execs open today? i saw people playing at southern star and yankee. do the same rules apply, just show up?

[Bogie Shooter]

Yes............

[golfing eagles]

Update: I've watched about 10 more groups go through, and I'm considering changing the title of the thread to "Come on out and hack up some pretty decent golf courses because you never swung a club in your life. Extra points awarded for bringing young kids, especially if you let them drive your cart wherever they want as if it were a toy" At this point, I'm just hoping I don't have to call an ambulance. BTW, the ambassadors are out and talking to these people, I saw one "golfer" give him a hard time. I pity them today.

[DonH57]

The executive courses won't be looking in good shape tommorrow either.

[Bosoxfan]

I don't know when they started to let guests play on Christmas but I'm not for it. It promotes situations that you speak of. I don't feel guests should have the same privilege as residents for this "gift" . It was hard enough getting to play on Christmas without including guests!

[BogeyBoy]

The Christmas free golf has been going on since we moved here 10 years ago. (Don't know how long before that date.) We tried it a couple of times and stopped - mainly because of the crowds. Sounds like it has only got worse, plus the damage to the courses. :sad:

[Chi-Town]

It's Christmas. It's 80 degrees. Be happy.

56869

[spring_chicken]

Had no such problems at Tierra. Got there at 7, off by 7:30, done at 11. Beautiful weather and wonderful mimosas!

[rustyp]

Great golf at Orange Blossom. Very organized. Pace of play excellent. Could not have been better.

[kcrazorbackfan]

I love free and I love golf, but with what I've heard about this event, I swore to my wife this week that I wasn't going to partake in it, since I get to play at half-price anyway, but a few of the neighbors talked me into playing. We showed up at Bonifay around 9 and teed off at 10:10; play was sooooooo sloooooooow; only got 15 holes in by 2pm and the others had to leave. The starter said everyone has to experience it at least once; mine was today and no more. I fixed so many ball marks and went thru 3 bottles of sand; it's a damn shame that the privileged, the entitled or the just plain lazy can't fix their ball marks, sand their divots and rake the bunkers.

[Bogie Shooter]

I love free and I love golf, but with what I've heard about this event, I swore to my wife this week that I wasn't going to partake in it, since I get to play at half-price anyway, but a few of the neighbors talked me into playing. We showed up at Bonifay around 9 and teed off at 10:10; play was sooooooo sloooooooow; only got 15 holes in by 2pm and the others had to leave. The starter said everyone has to experience it at least once; mine was today and no more. I fixed so many ball marks and went thru 3 bottles of sand; it's a damn shame that the privileged, the entitled or the just plain lazy can't fix their ball marks, sand their divots and rake the bunkers.

Are you an ambassador? Half price?

[kcrazorbackfan]

Are you an ambassador? Half price?

Nah.

[rustyp]

I love free and I love golf, but with what I've heard about this event, I swore to my wife this week that I wasn't going to partake in it, since I get to play at half-price anyway, but a few of the neighbors talked me into playing. We showed up at Bonifay around 9 and teed off at 10:10; play was sooooooo sloooooooow; only got 15 holes in by 2pm and the others had to leave. The starter said everyone has to experience it at least once; mine was today and no more. I fixed so many ball marks and went thru 3 bottles of sand; it's a damn shame that the privileged, the entitled or the just plain lazy can't fix their ball marks, sand their divots and rake the bunkers.

What program allows half price? If you have a priority membership it is $15 less than a resident price at this time a year. Plus you already paid for the priority pass. That's a long ways away from half price. Also how could play be soooooo slooooooooow. Normal pace of play on Bonifay is 4 hours 17 minutes. Given your statistics are accurate you were going to be 18 minutes off the pace. On a free day I think that's reasonable. I played Orange Blossom in 4 hours even.

[drcar]

What program allows half price? If you have a priority membership it is $15 less than a resident price at this time a year. Plus you already paid for the priority pass. That's a long ways away from half price. Also how could play be soooooo slooooooooow. Normal pace of play on Bonifay is 4 hours 17 minutes. Given your statistics are accurate you were going to be 18 minutes off the pace. On a free day I think that's reasonable. I played Orange Blossom in 4 hours even.

1/2 price = golf course employee, ambassador, starter, golf shop, etc......

[golfing eagles]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Deb!

[spring_chicken]

Great golf at Orange Blossom. Very organized. Pace of play excellent. Could not have been better.

Maybe we shouldn't let the secret out. I knew going in that Tierra and OB would be the least crowded and I love both courses. Another benefit of being up north!

[DonH57]

Maybe by next year I can tee off with an adapted K-9 cannon tennis ball launcher so I don't tire my shoulders out. That should fix my slice !

[Roaddog53]

I like the idea of free golf too. But don't believe it is worth the frustrations. Early in the morning we saw many of the exec courses were pretty empty and thought hmmm maybe we should go play a round but did other things. It did say on the course schedules that all exec courses were closed on Christmas. However, by late morning they were filling up. Too bad many 1somes and 2somes playing, hitting couple balls versus saving some tee times. Saw lots of disrespect for the courses too age wise and ability. One couple walked to the hole with their pull cart and putted out!
We saw at Belle Glade early afternoon 16 carts lined up on the first hole!! Now given they were all 4somes and 10 minutes per tee time that means that last group waited 1 hour and 20 minutes to just tee off! All for a free round of golf that they will than go out and spend $40+ on a dinner. Maybe friends pulled the carts up while some went in for lunch during the wait. On Evans Prairie at the Hillsborough Rd crossing, 4 people were riding in 1 cart! 1 on back standing, 3 in the seat carrying their clubs. Wow
But hey, for those that like the idea and free golf, hope all had fun. it was a nice day. Merry Christmas :)

[golfing eagles]

saw that group going by my lanai---it was MUCH worse than just 4 riding in a 2 seated cart

[golfing eagles]

Anybody out there who played today have a damage report?

[kcrazorbackfan]

What program allows half price? If you have a priority membership it is $15 less than a resident price at this time a year. Plus you already paid for the priority pass. That's a long ways away from half price. Also how could play be soooooo slooooooooow. Normal pace of play on Bonifay is 4 hours 17 minutes. Given your statistics are accurate you were going to be 18 minutes off the pace. On a free day I think that's reasonable. I played Orange Blossom in 4 hours even.

See drcar and figure it out. I usually do early bird and, if I catch a twosome at the turn, I can play 18 in a little over three. Got it?

[tomwed]

When the rates get cheap in the summer at 5pm this year some courses cost more than others. Even though it's only a couple of dollars more it seems like it makes a difference to someone that never played golf or a champ before. I agree for Christmas only Villagers should play for free.

[JoMar]

Anybody out there who played today have a damage report?

Talked to a couple that played this afternoon...they said it was significant. There was a time, I guess, when free golf made sense. When it was smaller, when it was a different time, when respect meant something. I know, the few always ruin it for the majority, but seems that is happening on many fronts in TV.

[rustyp]

Talked to a couple that played this afternoon...they said it was significant. There was a time, I guess, when free golf made sense. When it was smaller, when it was a different time, when respect meant something. I know, the few always ruin it for the majority, but seems that is happening on many fronts in TV.

I heard from = hear say. This is BS. The ambassadors go out every evening and repair all divots. Yesterday was no more than a busy day. How about the times that some lunatics go out in the middle of the night and ruin a green doing doughnuts in a golf cart. I played today and the course was fine.

[CWGUY]

I heard from = hear say. This is BS. The ambassadors go out every evening and repair all divots. Yesterday was no more than a busy day. How about the times that some lunatics go out in the middle of the night and ruin a green doing doughnuts in a golf cart. I played today and the course was fine.

:BigApplause: :mademyday:

And here's a novel idea ........ :ho: Let's say THANKS TO THE DEVELOPER FOR HAVING FREE CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF and THANKS TO THE PEOPLE FROM GMS THAT WORK ON THE CHRISTMAS. :thumbup:

[tomwed]

:BigApplause: :mademyday:

And here's a novel idea ........ :ho: Let's say THANKS TO THE DEVELOPER FOR HAVING FREE CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF and THANKS TO THE PEOPLE FROM GMS THAT WORK ON THE CHRISTMAS. :thumbup:
I think that misses the point of the thread. Certainly a golfer appreciates free golf and any volunteering. The point is that if you let kids or adults on the course who don't know any better they will damage the course because they can't hit a ball.

Regular golfers know that not climbing off the bank of a sand trap, only putting on a green, hitting a ball without damaging the ground or slightly damaging the ground and making the repair is part of the game.

You wouldn't allow kids shoot pool if you knew they didn't have the skills to not touch the cloth. So if you let the kids unintentionally screw up the tables one day a year why should the pool shooters say thank-you?

[rustyp]

I think that misses the point of the thread. Certainly a golfer appreciates free golf and any volunteering. The point is that if you let kids or adults on the course who don't know any better they will damage the course because they can't hit a ball.

Regular golfers know that not climbing off the bank of a sand trap, only putting on a green, hitting a ball without damaging the ground or slightly damaging the ground and making the repair is part of the game.

You wouldn't allow kids shoot pool if you knew they didn't have the skills to not touch the cloth. So if you let the kids unintentionally screw up the tables one day a year why should the pool shooters say thank-you?

Because the grass grows back and the felt does not ?

[tomwed]

Because the grass grows back and the felt does not ?
That's an excellent point.

[DeanFL]

On Xmas morn, we golfed with a neighborhood group at Evans Prairie - 2 4somes for 18, 6 for 9. Got there at 9am. Short wait (we were told at the shack it was very busy earlier). The 4 some ahead of us (in our neighb group) had 2 20's relatives in their group, novice, and took a long time shooting etc but left after 4 holes so we moved along. The Ambassador came around to alert us to play quicker before but nothing much we could do.
My feeling - the Starter Shack folks should at least have a etiquette list for newbies and point it out - especially for those with very novice/new golfers...and should have a 2 or 3 swing limit after misses... (!!!) AND point out BEST BALL for those groups.
It was a lot of fun - we completed 9 in 2:16, and was great to take big hits as we almost always play Exec. As for course conditions after Xmas, I can only imagine the damage done...

[CWGUY]

Because the grass grows back and the felt does not ?

:shocked: And you DON'T own the grass. Someone else does and says it's O.K. :highfive: rustyp, I'm afraid you are wasting your breath.

[CWGUY]

///

[rustyp]

:shocked: And you DON'T own the grass. Someone else does and says it's O.K. :highfive: rustyp, I'm afraid you are wasting your breath.

I do believe you are absolutely right.:mmmm:

[tomwed]

That's true too. They own the courses. It's there's to do what they want. See you didn't waste your breath.

[ditka41]

We played Volusia today and can only describe it as a very sad experience due to the abuse it took on Christmas day! The greens were so trashed the damage must have been caused by irons or shovels. They were NOT ball marks. This course is generally in good condition and fun to play. Today, I put down more sand than ever along with working on gouges on the greens. Hard to believe the "free" thing is worth ruining a course for experienced golfers because somebody wants to be able to show kids or non-golfers what Gramps does down here. I can not believe real golfers did this damage. It felt like looking at an animal that has been seriously wounded. If respect for the course and others can not be enforced, I'd like to stop this annual "freebie". Naturally, the free-loaders will have another thing to bitch about, but so what?

[CWGUY]

We played Volusia today and can only describe it as a very sad experience due to the abuse it took on Christmas day! The greens were so trashed the damage must have been caused by irons or shovels. They were NOT ball marks. This course is generally in good condition and fun to play. Today, I put down more sand than ever along with working on gouges on the greens. Hard to believe the "free" thing is worth ruining a course for experienced golfers because somebody wants to be able to show kids or non-golfers what Gramps does down here. I can not believe real golfers did this damage. It felt like looking at an animal that has been seriously wounded. If respect for the course and others can not be enforced, I'd like to stop this annual "freebie". Naturally, the free-loaders will have another thing to bitch about, but so what?

:shrug: Isn't Volusia an executive? It's free year round. Any resident can play it for free and bring a paying guest. CHRISTMAS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. PEOPLE EITHER HAVE RESPECT FOR THINGS OR NOT. I SEE :censored: ON THE COURSES ALL TIMES OF THE YEAR. JUST MORE OF THEM NOW. :cus:

[TomSpasm]

I thought it would be a disaster since the weather was so nice, but we went to Tierra del Sol around 9:15, got some free spice cake from the starter, teed off around 10:05, played in about 4 hours 25 minutes on a beautiful day, and didn't see anyone disrespecting the course. Had to rake some extra foot prints in the bunkers, but that was no big deal. Much better experience than I expected!

[tomwed]

I know the champs are owned by the family or corp I suppose. Who owns the execs?

[mdticket]

What do you think is the fairest way to have golfers line up and to start?

1. one person in the foursome shows up puts their name in and calls friends to join them after waiting maybe up to an hour and a half.

2. to secure your place in the line all four of your group needs to be there.

[CWGUY]

:what: Amazing.....simply amazing! :rolleyes:

[ditka41]

The "freebie" Christmas play on Volusia had EVERYTHING to do with the condition. During all other times we have regular golfers, some organization to the action, Ambassadors to monitor the flow, and discuss proper play with those ignorant of it. It was trashed by people who are totally uncaring because they don't play other times or just plain ignorant. There should always be Starters and Ambassadors present or make sure that access is totally closed. Even today, the 29th, I played another course that has a lot of recovering to go before it's back to normal.

[golfing eagles]

Surprisingly, I played Sandhill today and the condition was OK. Of course, I sucked so bad I wouldn't have noticed anyway.

[UpNorth]

Plenty of courses let you play "free golf" on Christmas day. However, they require you to walk the course. No carts. If this were the case in The Villages, I'm sure it would thin the crowd down to the "real golfers". I would be all for it.