Green fees

[Warren Kiefer]

I have been hearing a lot of complaining about the green fees here in the Villages. A friend just recently moved here was astounded that it would cost him and his wife $80 to play HH.

[blueeagle65]

Here are the current rates: http://golfthevillages.com/images/2016%20Fall%20Rates.pdf

[kcrazorbackfan]

Green fees at the public courses I managed in north KC, including cart, were $46/weekday, $48/weekend so $80 for 2 people at HH is not expensive; at HH it would be $56 for 2 people if they have a priority membership, or, better yet, $28 for 2 people if both worked for GMS.

Tell them to go to Miona Lake if they want cheap golf.

[VApeople]

I have been hearing a lot of complaining about the green fees here in the Villages. A friend just recently moved here was astounded that it would cost him and his wife $80 to play HH.

So whats your point?

[er9027]

Being fair to your question I would say that 30-50 dollars each for 18 is a fair price in the winter months. That includes a cart. ( in the villages you have your own cart hopefully.) Most courses are in that ball park outside of the villages. 50 or so each for golf in Jan.Feb. Mar.... If you are looking for just hitting the ball and not interested in quality you can play some of the least expensive courses. Golf is a GREAT SPORT . Good Luck.

[rjn5656]

I play outside the bubble in winter for far less than $50 including cart

[John_W]

The way I see it, is the winter rates here are what we called the weekend rates back in Baltimore. I could play any of 7 courses in my area for about $32 to $37, those were senior rates which normally kick in about age 50. The one course that was $37 included a drink, chips and a hot dog at the turn. However, the weekend rates at all those places were about $50, so I avoided the weekends. Also that when most working people get out and play and it was very slow. The one thing you can do here and what we sometimes do, is after 1:00pm play 9 holes and it's about $22, which is about what I pay in the summer.

[CWGUY]

I have been hearing a lot of complaining about the green fees here in the Villages. A friend just recently moved here was astounded that it would cost him and his wife $80 to play HH.

:( Birds of a feather?


:shrug: Why didn't he check before he moved here.

[JoMar]

:( Birds of a feather?


:shrug: Why didn't he check before he moved here.


That is the question. It amazas me how many move here and then complain about one thing or another and are surprised at prices, "governing" (benevolent dictatorship), and how things are so different here from where they lived before. I would like to think people do their due diligence before moving but I'm learning that many are doing less than enough and then want to blame any and ever one except themselves for not knowing.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Perks and beats. It all balances out. I put a premium on not having any rugrats knocking on my door tonight.

[Indy-Guy]

I have been hearing a lot of complaining about the green fees here in the Villages. A friend just recently moved here was astounded that it would cost him and his wife $80 to play HH.

Curious to know what approximately your friend was expecting to pay.

[kcrazorbackfan]

:( Birds of a feather?


:shrug: Why didn't he check before he moved here.


The million dollar question......

That is the question. It amazas me how many move here and then complain about one thing or another and are surprised at prices, "governing" (benevolent dictatorship), and how things are so different here from where they lived before. I would like to think people do their due diligence before moving but I'm learning that many are doing less than enough and then want to blame any and ever one except themselves for not knowing.

:agree:

Perks and beats. It all balances out. I put a premium on not having any rugrats knocking on my door tonight.

Oh, yea. :boom:

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

What I don't understand is why there is no place in the area to buy an annual membership at a decent golf course.

There are really no private clubs here. to call these "championship courses" or "country clubs" is a joke. They are public courses with open to the public restaurants.

To tell us that we are all "members" or these "country clubs" is insulting. Other then a bit of a reduced green fee, our membership does not entitle us to anything that any member of the general pubic cannot get.

[yabbadu]

The way I see it, is the winter rates here are what we called the weekend rates back in Baltimore. I could play any of 7 courses in my area for about $32 to $37, those were senior rates which normally kick in about age 50. The one course that was $37 included a drink, chips and a hot dog at the turn. However, the weekend rates at all those places were about $50, so I avoided the weekends. Also that when most working people get out and play and it was very slow. The one thing you can do here and what we sometimes do, is after 1:00pm play 9 holes and it's about $22, which is about what I pay in the summer.


So what are the rates in January in Baltimore?

[John_W]

So what are the rates in January in Baltimore?

I see your point. We normally played up to November 15th. Although my last winter there they said the day after New Years was going to be warm, that would of been January 2, 2011 and it did get into the upper 40's. The place was packed more than in August, it was an unreal crowd and I played with 3 young guys, neat experience. We normally would start back sometime in March, as long as there wasn't any wind, low 40's was our beginning number. Those Footjoy gloves weren't bad either, they helped a lot.

I just checked that course, Geneva Farms which is my favorite, and tomorrow Thursday I can get a teetime at 11:03 for $27.75, forecast tomorrow is 79 degrees but a 50% chance of rain. This is the one course I really miss playing. There is so many different elements to the layout, elevation changes, a lot of water, blind shots, things you don't see here. Rates are way down, Saturday morning until 10am, teetimes are only $33.95 and then they go to $37.95. You have to click the teetimes button to get those rates. In the big scheme of things, Baltimore is sandwiched between DC and Philly, and it's probably the cheapest place to live on the east coast until you get to the Carolinas.

Welcome to Geneva Farm Golf Club (http://www.genevafarmgolf.com/)

This is not a Par 3, it's the second shot on #10 a Par 4 dogleg right. The white tees is the same as our blue tees, about 6200 yards. From the whites, you need to hit about 230 or more to get to the corner because of heavy trees on the right. Then your second shot is only about 120 to the green, but a large pond is on the right and a creek crosses the fairway completely about ten yards short of the green and then there are large dropoffs on the back and left side of the green. This is what I mean when I say there are a lot of fun holes and this is only about $30.

http://www.genevafarmgolf.com/files/2014/07/pg03.jpg

[yabbadu]

I see your point. We normally played up to November 15th. Although my last winter there they said the day after New Years was going to be warm, that would of been January 2, 2011 and it did get into the upper 40's. The place was packed more than in August, it was an unreal crowd and I played with 3 young guys, neat experience. We normally would start back sometime in March, as long as there wasn't any wind, low 40's was our beginning number. Those Footjoy gloves weren't bad either, they helped a lot.

I just checked that course, Geneva Farms which is my favorite, and tomorrow Thursday I can get a teetime at 11:03 for $27.75, forecast tomorrow is 79 degrees but a 50% chance of rain. This is the one course I really miss playing. There is so many different elements to the layout, elevation changes, a lot of water, blind shots, things you don't see here. Rates are way down, Saturday morning until 10am, teetimes are only $33.95 and then they go to $37.95. You have to click the teetimes button to get those rates. In the big scheme of things, Baltimore is sandwiched between DC and Philly, and it's probably the cheapest place to live on the east coast until you get to the Carolinas.

Welcome to Geneva Farm Golf Club (http://www.genevafarmgolf.com/)

This is not a Par 3, it's the second shot on #10 a Par 4 dogleg right. The white tees is the same as our blue tees, about 6200 yards. From the whites, you need to hit about 230 or more to get to the corner because of heavy trees on the right. Then your second shot is only about 120 to the green, but a large pond is on the right and a creek crosses the fairway completely about ten yards short of the green and then there are large dropoffs on the back and left side of the green. This is what I mean when I say there are a lot of fun holes and this is only about $30.

http://www.genevafarmgolf.com/files/2014/07/pg03.jpg

Great now but what about January with the Snow on the ground? I too am from the North and could not golf in January but will gladly pay the rates here to golf in January. Better than No golf at all.

[par]

[B]True. Price increase again January 1st. (winter rate). After a Villager pays His amenity fee and $145.00 golf cart fee they pay top dollar for a round of golf. I play great courses out of the reservation for lower fees PLUS I get to use their cart and gas!! /B]

[Mikeod]

[B]True. Price increase again January 1st. (winter rate). After a Villager pays His amenity fee and $145.00 golf cart fee they pay top dollar for a round of golf. I play great courses out of the reservation for lower fees PLUS I get to use their cart and gas!! /B]
The amenity fee has nothing to do with the championship courses and there is no cart fee for using your own cart on those courses. The trail fee is only for the executive courses. Yes, you get to use their cart and gas when you go off campus, but you are using your car and gas to get there. Seems like a wash to me as far as that aspect is concerned.

And "top dollar" depends a lot on where you lived before. Most courses available to me in my previous home wanted $75-100+ on weekends and slightly less weekdays, so the fees here don't seem too bad. Some from other areas indicate they are used to paying much less, so the fees here seem high.

Since the courses within TV have no trouble filling times during the winter season, there is little incentive to lower fees, whereas some of the outside courses have specials to try to fill up their times. Works well for us. Choose convenience of getting to the course in your own cart or drive to a course outside to take advantage of the lower fees.

[John_W]

...Since the courses within TV have no trouble filling times during the winter season, there is little incentive to lower fees, whereas some of the outside courses have specials to try to fill up their times. Works well for us. Choose convenience of getting to the course in your own cart or drive to a course outside to take advantage of the lower fees.

The last two Fridays I've played and we waited until Thursday to put in for a threesome at a championship. Last Friday for example, one course was closed, that was Belle Glade for overseeding. We took Evans Prairie at 12:52 and we were the last group to tee off. Essentially nobody is playing except for those on the course after 1pm. If they kept the 11am discount for the second wave they would be making more money with more teetimes, or maybe just go up from $23 to $32 after 11am, and they could still keep their full price for the morning wave.

[Greg Nelson]

I golfed today at Green Valley par 35 9 hole course. We're 40 miles east of Fargo. Membership is $399 for husband/wife. Today was my 59th time walking the course..

[dbussone]

I golfed today at Green Valley par 35 9 hole course. We're 40 miles east of Fargo. Membership is $399 for husband/wife. Today was my 59th time walking the course..



Greg - are you saying Fargo - as in ND?

If so, please leave today for The Villages. Pay $104 in cart fees per year, and golf any of the zillion 9 hole courses for free. Plus, snow mobiles are not necessary to find the ball you hit into the rough.

You can fish without using a chainsaw to cut through ice. Bermuda shorts are acceptable year round. If necessary, you can buy a portable heater for your golf cart.

Come on Greg. Do you need an intervention?

[yabbadu]

[B]True. Price increase again January 1st. (winter rate). After a Villager pays His amenity fee and $145.00 golf cart fee they pay top dollar for a round of golf. I play great courses out of the reservation for lower fees PLUS I get to use their cart and gas!! /B]

Please tell us where and at what price. How long of a drive?
Same quality or farm ;and type course. restaurant on site/ Real bathrooms or porta johns?

details please!

[John_W]

I golfed today at Green Valley par 35 9 hole course. We're 40 miles east of Fargo. Membership is $399 for husband/wife. Today was my 59th time walking the course..

So you play one nine hole layout all year, if you like nine hole layouts and you like to walk, there are 36 nine hole layouts here and it's free if you walk, or $143 trail fee a year if you ride. Quite a few of those layouts are par 29, so you can use your driver on a couple of holes. If I had to play just one nine hole layout all year, I think I would get bored.

From Tamarind Grove in my cart within 25 minutes I can play Glenview, Palmer, Cane, Mallory, Havana, Evans Prairie, Bonifay and Belle Glade. That's eight 27 hole courses and I even get bored here sometimes. This thread has turned mostly into a discussion about the cost of green fees. Paying $400 a year to walk one nine hole par 35 layout in an area that will be under snow in another month, doesn't really prove any point either way.

[ukbill70]

Reading all these posts has confirmed my suspicions that Golf is not only a disease but a contagious disease. In my 3.5 years in 'The Villages ' my immune system has been able to protect me, I am hoping it will continue to do so.

[alancusa]

Please tell us where and at what price. How long of a drive?
Same quality or farm ;and type course. restaurant on site/ Real bathrooms or porta johns?

details please!

Here's an example. Just played at Royal Oaks in Ocala, 30 minute drive door to door. Green fees $29 including Cart. Course in pristine condition compared to most Villages layouts. Scenic layout with character as opposed to flat and baron. Clubhouse is new, spacious and spotless, the food was very good and prices considerably more reasonable than CC Restaurants in TV. There are others but no current comment as I haven't played most of them recently.

[ColdNoMore]

Golf here in TV, compared to outside The Bubble, basically boils down to... "whatever the market will bear."

The convenience of driving your golf cart from your driveway to a dozen 'championship' courses, is a big advantage over those off-campus.

In addition, most of the courses here are relatively easy (from the same tees)...compared to courses away from TV.

So the combination of convenience and the chance to score well, gives TV the edge they need to justify the higher greens fees.

When you throw in the fact that you pretty much need to be a priority member to play in a group, or to get the courses/times you want during snowbird season...says that TV knows its market and can get away with higher prices for mostly ho-hum courses. :shrug:

[golfing eagles]

Reading all these posts has confirmed my suspicions that Golf is not only a disease but a contagious disease. In my 3.5 years in 'The Villages ' my immune system has been able to protect me, I am hoping it will continue to do so.

Sorry, but to paraphrase George Bernard Shaw, "the lack of golf is the root of all evil". I can give you a variety of immunosupressants so that you might see the light:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Polar Bear]

Golf here in TV, compared to outside The Bubble, basically boils down to... "whatever the market will bear." ...
So you're saying it's the same as everywhere else. I agree.

[Chi-Town]

Before retiring and moving to The Villages $80.00 is about what I paid per round (that darn drink cart girl)

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[dbussone]

Reading all these posts has confirmed my suspicions that Golf is not only a disease but a contagious disease. In my 3.5 years in 'The Villages ' my immune system has been able to protect me, I am hoping it will continue to do so.



I think there is a booster shot for that. It makes your arm hurt so much you couldn't possibly swing a club for months. You must get one every year though.

[Barefoot]

That is the question. It amazas me how many move here and then complain about one thing or another and are surprised at prices, "governing" (benevolent dictatorship), and how things are so different here from where they lived before. I would like to think people do their due diligence before moving but I'm learning that many are doing less than enough and then want to blame any and ever one except themselves for not knowing. :agree:

[alancusa]

Golf here in TV, compared to outside The Bubble, basically boils down to... "whatever the market will bear."

The convenience of driving your golf cart from your driveway to a dozen 'championship' courses, is a big advantage over those off-campus.

In addition, most of the courses here are relatively easy (from the same tees)...compared to courses away from TV.

So the combination of convenience and the chance to score well, gives TV the edge they need to justify the higher greens fees.

When you throw in the fact that you pretty much need to be a priority member to play in a group, or to get the courses/times you want during snowbird season...says that TV knows its market and can get away with higher prices for mostly ho-hum courses. :shrug:

Only one thing not accurate about your comments: I can drive my car to a dozen courses out of the bubble faster than I can drive my golf cart to 4 or 5 courses in the bubble, ie, my house to Bell Glade is about 45 minutes.

[alancusa]

:agree:

Why is it that so many of you seem to find that the truth hurts. Dissenting comments often come from folks who understand that even utopia is not perfect.

[Barefoot]

Why is it that so many of you seem to find that the truth hurts. Dissenting comments often come from folks who understand that even utopia is not perfect.

No-one is saying The Villages is perfect. I was agreeing with JoMar's post that questioned why people feel surprised at the "truth" if they've done due diligence before moving to The Villages.

Originally Posted by JoMar
That is the question. It amazes me how many move here and then complain about one thing or another and are surprised at prices, "governing" (benevolent dictatorship), and how things are so different here from where they lived before. I would like to think people do their due diligence before moving but I'm learning that many are doing less than enough and then want to blame any and ever one except themselves for not knowing.

[rubicon]

I have been hearing a lot of complaining about the green fees here in the Villages. A friend just recently moved here was astounded that it would cost him and his wife $80 to play HH.

Warren: You have to know by now that many residents here simply cannot abide anything that does not fit their worldview or in this case The villages view. And you should know that they will call you a constant complainer and as such if you don't like it then you should leave.

But the truth is many residents do play golf outside the bubble during prime season because of the fee increases and that they are finding good courses outside the bubble that include in their fees a golf cart and a meal.

I don't refer back to what it cost me back north to play because that is not the market. The market is here in this general vicinity
However in the final analysis I really don't care how other people spend their money

The Villages has a captive market and hence will never be lacking for golfers ergo it influences their pricing

[Dynsol]

Here's an example. Just played at Royal Oaks in Ocala, 30 minute drive door to door. Green fees $29 including Cart. Course in pristine condition compared to most Villages layouts. Scenic layout with character as opposed to flat and baron. Clubhouse is new, spacious and spotless, the food was very good and prices considerably more reasonable than CC Restaurants in TV. There are others but no current comment as I haven't played most of them recently.

I guess it's all what YOU enjoy. I too have golfed there and its 60-70 miles round trip. The price is based on specials given with very limited tee times since MEMBERS have the best tee times. I did not have to load my clubs with others in a car /unload to a cart only to repeat the process going home. I felt the course was very dry and much like a farm area with hills and trees, food sub par compared to here. Today I left my garage with my bag attached, paid only $28.00 , got there in 15 minutes, had a great lunch and back home in 15 minutes , bag attached and may have used a whole gallon of gas or less and travel time much less and car in garage.

[John_W]

...Today I left my garage with my bag attached, paid only $28.00 , got there in 15 minutes, had a great lunch and back home in 15 minutes , bag attached and may have used a whole gallon of gas or less and travel time much less and car in garage.

Where did you play today in TV for $28? Only one course, Hacienda Hills, and that course is a 40 minute ride in my cart. The 8 courses closest to the newest areas are all $32, except Palmer is $38. Then did you count how many rounds you played last year and divide that into $925, you failed to mention you have to be a Priority Member to get that cheap rate, then you should of added that to your green fee. Had you not been a Priority Member HH would cost $40, and all the others are $44 except Palmer which is $50. Now you know why some golfers play off campus.