Course Suggestions for Later in April

[Polar Bear]

I have some friends coming down and will likely play golf two or three days from the 20th to the 26th (April). These are pretty good golfers...college golf team level. (One's son is trying to break in to the pro tour.)

Which championship courses do you feel are in the best condition at this time?

Thanks.

[JGVillages]

Unfortunately the majority of the Championship courses are not in great shape. Havana would be one that is OK. You may want to take them off campus to some very exceptional Championship Courses within an hour. I suggest:
Juliet Falls / Ocala
Mission Inn~El Campeion / Howey-in-the-Hills
Worlds Woods ~ either Pine Barron's or Rolling Oaks / Brooksville>Homosassa
Red Tail / Sorrento

[Mleeja]

Unfortunately the majority of the Championship courses are not in great shape. Havana would be one that is OK. You may want to take them off campus to some very exceptional Championship Courses within an hour. I suggest:
Juliet Falls / Ocala
Mission Inn~El Campeion / Howey-in-the-Hills
Worlds Woods ~ either Pine Barron's or Rolling Oaks / Brooksville>Homosassa
Red Tail / Sorrento

Interesting comment. Which courses do you consider not in great shape and why?

[JP]

Arnold Palmer---Riley.

[waynet]

I totally agree with JG. Take them to the courses he suggested. A little more expensive but worth it. As for conditions Palmer and Lopez are in poor shape. The best in the villages right now is Mallory but as many of us know whats good this week could be awful next week.

[JoMar]

I also agree that you will find courses in better shape off site. TV courses get played heavily, many divots not sanded, bunkers not raked and ball marks all over the greens. The courses listed off site should be in better shape. Now that the snowbirds have flown north our courses should improve. One of my favorites here is Glenview.

[ajbrown]

I cannot speak to off campus. I know that my go-tos like Palmer are not very good.

One option, but risky (as it is different) is Tierra. It is an older style course, greens were pretty good last weekend, albeit slow. It is a pretty tough track from the tips for any level player.

I have a buddy visiting for the afternoon of the 18th, so going though the same process myself.

good luck.

[waynet]

and who do we blame for the pathetic condition of the Mallory putting green,the snowbirds? It's not the snowbirds that are responsible for the course conditions being bad.

[Villager Dude]

Evans Prairie
Belle Glade
Havana
Palmer , Riley
Mallory ?
Ocala Golden
Jewett Falls

[rubicon]

Black Bear, Eustis

[rjn5656]

World Woods is #1, followed byRed Tail, then Juliet Falls

3top notch courses and they will negotiate on price

[Polar Bear]

I appreciate all the input. But we are going to play TV courses. They will be playing off-site courses before and after their visit to TV.

So continued input regarding local conditions is appreciated.

[ajbrown]

Here is my recent plays and opinions if it helps. I judge a course’s condition based heavily on the greens. Are they true? Bonus for speed…
Things can change so fast, I am not sure I would trust anything I saw in March.

No greens are fast right now that I played, by fast I mean Villages fast, say 9 or 10 (I need to make a stimp meter)

From Best to worst in my list: Mallory and Tierra, Glenview, Evans(this could move up), Lopez, Palmer, Bonifay

4/10 Lopez, Ashley to Torri
Playable, greens are just OK, Torri worse than Ashley, hats off to ‘hole setter’ for avoiding putting cups in bad sections.
4/8 Mallory, Virginia to Amelia
Consistently better than others this year, I felt they were getting a bit crusty (which I loved as they were faster), but hope it is not a warning
4/3 Tierra
Consistently better than others this year
4/1 Evans Prarie, Killdeer to Osprey
They looked ok, but hard to judge as the staff had proactively small hole aerated and sanded, would be interested how they are now
3/28 Palmer, Laurel to Riley
Worst year I can recall for Palmer. Hopefully they figure it out.
3/25 Glenview, Stirrup to Talley
Playable. Looked like Augusta after Bonifay
3/23 Bonifay, Destin to Ft Walton
Worst in TV. Almost un-puttable, looks like they tried the poke and sand method but it failed? Hopeful this has changed as I like their greens.

I have a guest coming next Monday. May be time for a road trip to sneak a peak at some random greens around dusk. I know, I know, trespassing :icon_bored:

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

When they're going to off campus golf courses, they shouldn't miss Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto. There's nothing like it in Florida. It amy be the best golf course in the state.

They have a stay and play, one night, two rounds of golf for $425. Last time I was there was over 25 years ago. If it's still like that, it's worth every penny.

[Mikeod]

Unfortunately, the time period for your guests' visit is during the transition period from overseed to base bermuda, so conditions will vary. I would suggest waiting until closer to the time they will be here to determine what course would be best as far as conditions are concerned.

[waynet]

why do we have 10 months of transition and 2 good months for golf? It seems like we are in constant transition!

[JGVillages]

why do we have 10 months of transition and 2 good months for golf? It seems like we are in constant transition!

Been here for 10 years and The Golf Division always has an excuse:
~Too much rain
~Too little rain
~Grass is in transition
~Too much play

It seems the majority of golfers are OK with the marginal conditions of the Villages courses, and as long as the revenue stream continues that will not change. Only a small percentage are "Country Club" golfers that were used to superior conditioning on courses they were associated with before moving here. Unfortunately for those of us that prefer the better conditions only a couple Villages Championship Courses at any given time barely come close to that, so off campus you go. For myself I enjoy the multitude of other exceptionally maintained amenities The Villages has to offer, and love the lifestyle offered here. The Championship Golf Course Pro Shops are excellent and the staffing very professional. Too bad the Golf Division does not have the knowledgeable staff needed to maintain the Championship Courses in "reasonable " condition.

[waynet]

JG, you are spot on. For Polar Bear stay away from Palmer,do not put it on your list of courses. It is a joke.

[ajbrown]

Any last minute advice for my request for a Monday tee time?

I am most interested if anyone has played Evans Prairie or Bonifay in the last week?

Thanks

[mickey100]

Been here for 10 years and The Golf Division always has an excuse:
~Too much rain
~Too little rain
~Grass is in transition
~Too much play

It seems the majority of golfers are OK with the marginal conditions of the Villages courses, and as long as the revenue stream continues that will not change. Only a small percentage are "Country Club" golfers that were used to superior conditioning on courses they were associated with before moving here. Unfortunately for those of us that prefer the better conditions only a couple Villages Championship Courses at any given time barely come close to that, so off campus you go. For myself I enjoy the multitude of other exceptionally maintained amenities The Villages has to offer, and love the lifestyle offered here. The Championship Golf Course Pro Shops are excellent and the staffing very professional. Too bad the Golf Division does not have the knowledgeable staff needed to maintain the Championship Courses in "reasonable " condition.

I agree. Also agree with the comments about Palmer. A friend played there yesterday and said the greens were horrible - plugged with no sand in them, bare spots with no grass.

We played Baseline a few weeks ago and have to say, the conditions are 100 times better than The Villages golf courses, and for less money. These courses in TV for the most part are a joke.

[Polar Bear]

I agree. Also agree with the comments about Palmer. A friend played there yesterday and said the greens were horrible - plugged with no sand in them, bare spots with no grass.

We played Baseline a few weeks ago and have to say, the conditions are 100 times better than The Villages golf courses, and for less money. These courses in TV for the most part are a joke.
I'm not defending Palmer's condition. But comparing Palmer to an executive course is apples and oranges.

And since Baseline is basically an executive course, how do you figure less money?

[Shadow8IA]

When we had friends doing the preview program we asked about the best championship course and were told to play Orange Blossom which everyone enjoyed. I'm surprised it didn't make anyone's list.

[waynet]

Palmer will be closed due to poor conditions. I guess it didn't make the transition very well

[kbarber044]

Adena in Ocala

[Polar Bear]

Ended up playing Havanna. (Had hoped to play two or three times, but didn't work out.) Course was not perfect, but overall not bad. We enjoyed it.

[rubicon]

Been here for 10 years and The Golf Division always has an excuse:
~Too much rain
~Too little rain
~Grass is in transition
~Too much play

It seems the majority of golfers are OK with the marginal conditions of the Villages courses, and as long as the revenue stream continues that will not change. Only a small percentage are "Country Club" golfers that were used to superior conditioning on courses they were associated with before moving here. Unfortunately for those of us that prefer the better conditions only a couple Villages Championship Courses at any given time barely come close to that, so off campus you go. For myself I enjoy the multitude of other exceptionally maintained amenities The Villages has to offer, and love the lifestyle offered here. The Championship Golf Course Pro Shops are excellent and the staffing very professional. Too bad the Golf Division does not have the knowledgeable staff needed to maintain the Championship Courses in "reasonable " condition.

Great assessment

[waynet]

Palmer now closed until at least May 31st. It's still in transition.