New Pricing plan on Championship

[golf2140]

There is a new schedule for the cost of Champion courses. The new rates go from May 1 to December 31. The offset for priority drops. I haven't worked out the details, but I may be dropping out after 17 years

[Guitarman1951]

If you haven't seen the new golf rates in the Villages, you need to look at them. They have eliminated summer rates and basically put in fall rates from May 1 thru December. Instead of getting a $12 discount off of greens fees of those rates for priority members, you'll only get $8. If they follow this pattern for the new January thru April 2020 rates, this situation will be much worse.

This is what we get from the greedy children of the Morses when they took over the golf courses. I will be playing less in the Villages in the future and more outside where rates will be $15 to $20 less and come with freebies as well. It's just now worth playing golf in the Villages during the the hot weather here anymore.

[JoMar]

If you haven't seen the new golf rates in the Villages, you need to look at them. They have eliminated summer rates and basically put in fall rates from May 1 thru December. Instead of getting a $12 discount off of greens fees of those rates for priority members, you'll only get $8. If they follow this pattern for the new January thru April 2020 rates, this situation will be much worse.

This is what we get from the greedy children of the Morses when they took over the golf courses. I will be playing less in the Villages in the future and more outside where rates will be $15 to $20 less and come with freebies as well. It's just now worth playing golf in the Villages during the the hot weather here anymore.

The position of a greedy Villager :)

[Bruce zapolski]

The fact is if you play average courses away from the villages you know what they charge here at the villages isn’t worth it.its embarrassing for what they charge for the championship courses and the condition of the championship courses .I played Arnold Palmer for $64 a few wks ago wasn’t worth $40 bucks that’s a fact the only good thing about playing there, was $5 bucks goes to the Arnold Palmer hospital.p.s I love the villages but courses ———-.

[Mikeod]

If you haven't seen the new golf rates in the Villages, you need to look at them. They have eliminated summer rates and basically put in fall rates from May 1 thru December. Instead of getting a $12 discount off of greens fees of those rates for priority members, you'll only get $8. If they follow this pattern for the new January thru April 2020 rates, this situation will be much worse.

This is what we get from the greedy children of the Morses when they took over the golf courses. I will be playing less in the Villages in the future and more outside where rates will be $15 to $20 less and come with freebies as well. It's just now worth playing golf in the Villages during the the hot weather here anymore.

The developer has always owned the championship courses. What he took over in January was the administration of the courses which had been done previously by GMS. Pricing was always under his control. Several years ago he determined the championship courses must be self-sustaining and there was a commensurate rise in the fees.

[Indy-Guy]

Below is the link to the new rate chart.

https://golfthevillages.com/images/May_Dec%202019.pdf

[tophcfa]

Just saw the rates. Kind of a bummer, no more summer rates (May through September) and higher rates for what is now being called the evening wave. It seems like all essential expenses (food, health care, insurance, golf, etc...) go up way more than the published CPI index.

[ColdNoMore]

It's simply the "captured audience" situation.

'Da Family' knows that there is a strong draw on being able to drive your own golf cart to all of the courses, thus not needing to deal with driving your vehicle and messing with bag drops, even if the courses are often in average-to-poor condition...so push the limits on greens fees. :ohdear:

[under55]

The fact is if you play average courses away from the villages you know what they charge here at the villages isn’t worth it.its embarrassing for what they charge for the championship courses and the condition of the championship courses .I played Arnold Palmer for $64 a few wks ago wasn’t worth $40 bucks that’s a fact the only good thing about playing there, was $5 bucks goes to the Arnold Palmer hospital.p.s I love the villages but courses ———-.

I asked John W. Bozard
Senior Vice President, Orlando Health; President, Orlando Health Foundation this includes the Children's Hospital about that money we always hear goes to the hospital he told me they receive NO MONEY from the playing there.

[anothersteve]

Look at the rates after 3. I'm good with that
Steve

[rjn5656]

I have been playing off site since I moved here 8 years ago. In most cases, better conditions, attractive pricing and happy to have you.

[rjn5656]

maybe a organized one day boycott of villages courses would send a message to the Morse's

[dewilson58]

Supply & Demand.


If prices go up, usage will go down.


Since there are threads complaining about usage, Seems like price increases will make some of the whiners happy.


I'm okay with the pricing.


:popcorn:

[JSR22]

My husband is a priority member and plays 18 3 days a week. He likes the convenience of driving to the course in a golf cart. He rarely plays off site because it is too time consuming. He feels the green fees are fair. Much cheaper than belonging to the club up north.

[JC419]

I don’t mind paying the increase if the conditions of the courses were good. They are not! Played Bonifay Saturday and it was horrible. The greens have some kind of disease and the fairways are dirt. I was told it may be closed. Havana is not much better and found Palmer in poor condition. If you want to charge these prices at least maintain the courses!

Worst I’ve seen in 8 years.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Look at the rates after 3. I'm good with that
Steve

I play after 3:00 quite a bit in the summer. The problem with it is that a lot of non-golfers who decide that they want to "try golf" come out at that time as well as a lot of beginners. If you aren't first to tee off at 3:00 you're likely to get behind people that take way too long to play and it's likely that you won't get 18 holes in. You're often paying the 18 hole rate to play 15-16 holes.

From what I've observed in the summer time, if I were running these courses, I'd have that after 3:00 rate all day long June through September. It's better to have 150 players pay a lower rate and keep your golf course full than to have an almost empty golf course from 7:00am until 3:00pm.

[alwann]

The developer has always owned the championship courses. What he took over in January was the administration of the courses which had been done previously by GMS. Pricing was always under his control. Several years ago he determined the championship courses must be self-sustaining and there was a commensurate rise in the fees.

Golf course operations are terribly expensive. Few (if any) are self-sustained from their green fees or membership fees. Our courses are amenities. They are supposed to be subsidized, and amenity fees are increasing all the time. Far be it for the developer to explain his/her logic for this golf fee increase when there are so many other ways to tweak revenues. For example, as some OPs have suggested, stop giving guests a free ride at pools and elsewhere. Smart people supposedly run the development company. They should consider other alternatives that aren't as regressive for us FROGs whom, I believe, count for most of the priority memberships as well as the off-season play. Now that the developer has taken back administration of championship golf, I wonder which one of the Morse family members has the training and qualifications to run this complicated business.

[biker1]

You may be conflating the executive and championship courses. The amenities fees do not subsidize the championship courses so trying to generate additional amenities revenue by charging guests will not impact the championship courses.

Golf course operations are terribly expensive. Few (if any) are self-sustained from their green fees or membership fees. Our courses are amenities. They are supposed to be subsidized, and amenity fees are increasing all the time. Far be it for the developer to explain his/her logic for this golf fee increase when there are so many other ways to tweak revenues. For example, as some OPs have suggested, stop giving guests a free ride at pools and elsewhere. Smart people supposedly run the development company. They should consider other alternatives that aren't as regressive for us FROGs whom, I believe, count for most of the priority memberships as well as the off-season play. Now that the developer has taken back administration of championship golf, I wonder which one of the Morse family members has the training and qualifications to run this complicated business.

[bagboy]

maybe a organized one day boycott of villages courses would send a message to the Morse's

I don’t mind paying the increase if the conditions of the courses were good. They are not! Played Bonifay Saturday and it was horrible. The greens have some kind of disease and the fairways are dirt. I was told it may be closed. Havana is not much better and found Palmer in poor condition. If you want to charge these prices at least maintain the courses!

Worst I’ve seen in 8 years.

So obviously some of you have recently played all of the country clubs. I have family coming soon and would like to know from those who know, Are any of the country clubs decent, good, or even exceptional right now?
Thanks in advance.

[alwann]

Nevertheless, the bottom line is the bottom line. Subsidized or not, if the developer needs more revenue to offset increasing expenses (and we wonder how the overall higher costs are impacted by continuing land development), then there are many places it could come from without biting the hand.

[Bogie Shooter]

Nevertheless, the bottom line is the bottom line. Subsidized or not, if the developer needs more revenue to offset increasing expenses (and we wonder how the overall higher costs are impacted by continuing land development), then there are many places it could come from without biting the hand.

Such as?

[birdiebill]

Since I play championship golf in the mornings, I ran some numbers as follows. Priority fee for all clubs is $740.00 which includes the trail fee for executive courses for the priority holder. Wife does not play golf. There is no trail fee for just one person. Annual trail fee is $141.00. If I play one executive course per week at the $4.00 trail fee rate, I spend $208.00 per year without the annual trail fee. So Priority Fee for me at $740 priority fee less $141 for annual trail fee is $599 for championship golf. One third of the year is the 4 months of January thru April where I currently save $17 per round of championship golf as a priority member. Two thirds of the year is the months of May thru December where I save $8.00 per round as a priority player; note that I generally play in the morning. I only have to average a little more than one round per week spread evenly over the 12 months to make the priority fee pay for itself. Fifty-six rounds of golf split between 18 rounds in the winter and 38 rounds in May thru December does the trick.

If I play 18 rounds during the winter months, I save 18 rounds times $17, or $306.00 by being priority. If I play 38 rounds during the summer fall season, I save 38 rounds times $8, or $304. $306 plus $304 equals $610 which is more savings than the $599.00 portion of the Priority Membership Fee directed to championship golf. Anything more than that is a savings for me for the Priority Membership.

Plus for ease of getting requested tee times, my group requires priority membership.

[Bogie Shooter]

Golf course operations are terribly expensive. Few (if any) are self-sustained from their green fees or membership fees. Our courses are amenities. They are supposed to be subsidized, and amenity fees are increasing all the time. Far be it for the developer to explain his/her logic for this golf fee increase when there are so many other ways to tweak revenues. For example, as some OPs have suggested, stop giving guests a free ride at pools and elsewhere. Smart people supposedly run the development company. They should consider other alternatives that aren't as regressive for us FROGs whom, I believe, count for most of the priority memberships as well as the off-season play. Now that the developer has taken back administration of championship golf, I wonder which one of the Morse family members has the training and qualifications to run this complicated business.

Does this mean my grandson, when he visits, will have to pay to use the pool with his guest ID

[coach]

Played Tierra del Sol today. Course was in great shape. Greens were very nice.
I think the rates are fair. I’ve played courses outside the bubble from time to time and I really don’t think many are much better.

[alwann]

Does this mean my grandson, when he visits, will have to pay to use the pool with his guest ID

No. But would it break you to pay a buck or two for the guest pass processing? I have no idea how many guest passes are issued in a year, but every little bit could help keep operating costs down.

[Bogie Shooter]

No. But would it break you to pay a buck or two for the guest pass processing? I have no idea how many guest passes are issued in a year, but every little bit could help keep operating costs down.

That is called "nickel & diming". Would the folks that don't play golf have to pay the buck or two?
How about putting a box at each gate and you toss in a quarter every time you pass thru? Makes sense right?

[Challenger]

Played Tierra del Sol today. Course was in great shape. Greens were very nice.
I think the rates are fair. I’ve played courses outside the bubble from time to time and I really don’t think many are much better.

had same playing experience and conclusions on Monday @TDS

[CWGUY]

Played Tierra del Sol today. Course was in great shape. Greens were very nice.
I think the rates are fair. I’ve played courses outside the bubble from time to time and I really don’t think many are much better.

had same playing experience and conclusions on Monday @TDS

:rolleyes: No! Please tell me that's not true! Do you guys have any idea how many people are going to be upset to hear this? :faint:

[Mikeod]

Golf course operations are terribly expensive. Few (if any) are self-sustained from their green fees or membership fees. Our courses are amenities. They are supposed to be subsidized, and amenity fees are increasing all the time. Far be it for the developer to explain his/her logic for this golf fee increase when there are so many other ways to tweak revenues. For example, as some OPs have suggested, stop giving guests a free ride at pools and elsewhere. Smart people supposedly run the development company. They should consider other alternatives that aren't as regressive for us FROGs whom, I believe, count for most of the priority memberships as well as the off-season play. Now that the developer has taken back administration of championship golf, I wonder which one of the Morse family members has the training and qualifications to run this complicated business.

No, the championship courses are not amenities. They belong to the developer and are separate from the amenities we pay for with our monthly fee. The developer was subsidizing the course expense for many years, but decided they need to be self-sustaining and the fees went up. Note that they are public courses and anyone, resident or not, can sign up to play. The non-resident fee is high enough that it discourages outside play.

I believe when the developer took over administration for the courses, they simply took over GMS, so the same people who ran the courses before are still in place.

[CWGUY]

No, the championship courses are not amenities. They belong to the developer and are separate from the amenities we pay for with our monthly fee. The developer was subsidizing the course expense for many years, but decided they need to be self-sustaining and the fees went up. Note that they are public courses and anyone, resident or not, can sign up to play. The non-resident fee is high enough that it discourages outside play.

I believe when the developer took over administration for the courses, they simply took over GMS, so the same people who ran the courses before are still in place.

:MOJE_whot: Hey.... it sure is great when someone that knows how things work writes a post. Thank you! I would have been deleted.

Some posters don't have a clue. They need to stop typing and go to a class on how things operate where they live. What does the District charging a fee for a visitor pass have to do with a Golf Course that is a private business? Some people make me sooooo :confused:

What is that smell? Is it the color 9? :rolleyes:

[asianthree]

Play championship 3 plus times a week. Priority will still a deal for us.

[JoMar]

And no reason to build more Champ courses if everyone decides off site is a better deal and head outside :)

[JSR22]

And no reason to build more Champ courses if everyone decides off site is a better deal and head outside :)

I seriously doubt that many people will go offsite. The convenience and choice of many courses I think will keep people on site.

[drcar]

No, the championship courses are not amenities. They belong to the developer and are separate from the amenities we pay for with our monthly fee. The developer was subsidizing the course expense for many years, but decided they need to be self-sustaining and the fees went up. Note that they are public courses and anyone, resident or not, can sign up to play. The non-resident fee is high enough that it discourages outside play.

I believe when the developer took over administration for the courses, they simply took over GMS, so the same people who ran the courses before are still in place.

:agree::agree::agree::agree:

Bottom line is if you don't like the prices don't play, go elsewhere

[er9027]

I've only been coming here since 2011. We are residents. I'm talking championship courses since my wife and I mostly play them. They u overseeded fairways. 3 or 4 yrs. ago they said they wouldn't overseed due to rain issues. They haven't overseeded fairways since. Even with all the rain and ponds full. We are Priority. Prices are high here considering no overseeding, greens not mowed properly. SLOW. Traps not raked on a regular basis. Pins placed by someone that obviously doesn't play golf. Basically lack of good maintenance . I don't see a financial statement but with all the play and HIGH cost to play these courses , we are not getting our moneys worth.

[asianthree]

During high season, the last couple years, you could get tee times on championship courses with no problems. Even playing with couple of foursomes at last minute is not a challenge.

In years past it was a struggle to find a time. Not sure if as population ages, they have stopped playing as many rounds as they used to on championships, instead playing exec.

[CFrance]

Does this mean my grandson, when he visits, will have to pay to use the pool with his guest ID
Yeah. I think that idea truly sucks.

[dewilson58]

During high season, the last couple years, you could get tee times on championship courses with no problems. Even playing with couple of foursomes at last minute is not a challenge.

In years past it was a struggle to find a time. Not sure if as population ages, they have stopped playing as many rounds as they used to on championships, instead playing exec.


Hope so, get all the old people off the courses!!!


:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[eyc234]

Play both exec & championship several 3-5 times a week and very rarely get turned away. Just need to be flexible. Would like to know where the nay sayers are going off site to play that is so much better than what is available in The Villages. Please be specific would like to go to these. Every place I have been close is definitely not better than what is available within The Villages and sure is no cheaper plus the drive is a pain. Looking for real info not just opinions!!

[ColdNoMore]

Play both exec & championship several 3-5 times a week and very rarely get turned away. Just need to be flexible. Would like to know where the nay sayers are going off site to play that is so much better than what is available in The Villages. Please be specific would like to go to these. Every place I have been close is definitely not better than what is available within The Villages and sure is no cheaper plus the drive is a pain. Looking for real info not just opinions!!

Ummm, when boiled down...it's ALL "opinions." :oops:


https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/golf-villages-216/golf-outside-tv-288703/

[Polar Bear]

...Every place I have been close is definitely not better than what is available within The Villages and sure is no cheaper plus the drive is a pain...
Pretty well sums it up for me. :)

[Bogie Shooter]

Played Cane Garden today. You complainers should go there and play. My buddy and I played with strangers to us and we all agreed the course was in great shape.

[bagboy]

Played Cane Garden today. You complainers should go there and play. My buddy and I played with strangers to us and we all agreed the course was in great shape.

Thank you for the information. And it was posted TDS is good. Both on my list with family coming.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Played Cane Garden today. You complainers should go there and play. My buddy and I played with strangers to us and we all agreed the course was in great shape.

Same here; played Allamanda to Hibiscus today and the course were great.

[blueash]

Why is there an 18 hole after 3 PM rate? Clearly the pricing sheet says you can get a nine hole rate for half the 18 hole rate, and play as many holes as you like? The only difference from the old summer evening system is that the cost has increased some but not doubled, but the tee times begin at 3 not 5.
Example. Last year the twilight rate at Palmer was $8. Now the 9 hole rate at 3 PM is $11 a "resident guest" which seems to be the term for people like me who live here and don't have a championship membership. So I am paying $3 for the opportunity to play 2 more hours of golf. Seems fine. Additionally this lower rate lasts several months longer. Of course there was no reason for an after 5 PM rate once the fall gets here as it gets too dark to golf.

[lake5798]

There is no more unlimited golf at 9 hole rate, you either pay for 9 only or 18

[anothersteve]

Why is there an 18 hole after 3 PM rate? Clearly the pricing sheet says you can get a nine hole rate for half the 18 hole rate, and play as many holes as you like? The only difference from the old summer evening system is that the cost has increased some but not doubled, but the tee times begin at 3 not 5.
Example. Last year the twilight rate at Palmer was $8. Now the 9 hole rate at 3 PM is $11 a "resident guest" which seems to be the term for people like me who live here and don't have a championship membership. So I am paying $3 for the opportunity to play 2 more hours of golf. Seems fine. Additionally this lower rate lasts several months longer. Of course there was no reason for an after 5 PM rate once the fall gets here as it gets too dark to golf.

If you live here you are a resident member
Steve

[CWGUY]

Why is there an 18 hole after 3 PM rate? Clearly the pricing sheet says you can get a nine hole rate for half the 18 hole rate, and play as many holes as you like? The only difference from the old summer evening system is that the cost has increased some but not doubled, but the tee times begin at 3 not 5.
Example. Last year the twilight rate at Palmer was $8. Now the 9 hole rate at 3 PM is $11 a "resident guest" which seems to be the term for people like me who live here and don't have a championship membership. So I am paying $3 for the opportunity to play 2 more hours of golf. Seems fine. Additionally this lower rate lasts several months longer. Of course there was no reason for an after 5 PM rate once the fall gets here as it gets too dark to golf.

:ohdear: You might consider calling a golf course and ask to have all of this explained to you. It all may be covered in the FREE CLASSES too.

AND

"resident guest" is a term for a person you get a guest pass for.... not you. You are a resident. There is no such thing as a championship membership.

[JimD215]

Why is there an 18 hole after 3 PM rate? Clearly the pricing sheet says you can get a nine hole rate for half the 18 hole rate, and play as many holes as you like? The only difference from the old summer evening system is that the cost has increased some but not doubled, but the tee times begin at 3 not 5.
Example. Last year the twilight rate at Palmer was $8. Now the 9 hole rate at 3 PM is $11 a "resident guest" which seems to be the term for people like me who live here and don't have a championship membership. So I am paying $3 for the opportunity to play 2 more hours of golf. Seems fine. Additionally this lower rate lasts several months longer. Of course there was no reason for an after 5 PM rate once the fall gets here as it gets too dark to golf.
They might not have posted a twi-light rate as of yet. Doesn’t start until June or July.

[mobruce53]

I think the 3pm start times for evening golf is only at OBH and Tierra. The other courses start times for the evening golf is 4:20.Because the other courses have waves instead of straight tee times.

[TomSpasm]

It was correctly pointed out that the evening wave starts at 3:00 at Tierra and Orange Blossom, and at 4:20 everywhere else. There are no rain checks for the evening wave according to the rate sheet, so that's now a $12-$16 gamble rather than a $5-$8 gamble.

I think not giving year round residents a break on golf in the summertime is bad business. That is also the time all the aeration is done, choices are more limited and course conditions are less than ideal for a while after that's done. It's also hot as holy hell! The summer rates should reflect those lesser conditions. In 2014, you could play Cane and Havana for $20 in the afternoon. 5 years later it's $34. THAT'S A 70% INCREASE!

This rate sheet is REALLY disappointing to me. I don't have the budget to play twice a week all year round so a Priority doesn't make sense for me. However, I certainly never expected to have to pay $30-34 to play on a summer afternoon here. It's unreasonable in my opinion, having lived in FL for 35 years.

[Bogie Shooter]

Why is there an 18 hole after 3 PM rate? Clearly the pricing sheet says you can get a nine hole rate for half the 18 hole rate, and play as many holes as you like? The only difference from the old summer evening system is that the cost has increased some but not doubled, but the tee times begin at 3 not 5.
Example. Last year the twilight rate at Palmer was $8. Now the 9 hole rate at 3 PM is $11 a "resident guest" which seems to be the term for people like me who live here and don't have a championship membership. So I am paying $3 for the opportunity to play 2 more hours of golf. Seems fine. Additionally this lower rate lasts several months longer. Of course there was no reason for an after 5 PM rate once the fall gets here as it gets too dark to golf.

Now that is a bunch of misinformation.

[Bosoxfan]

So obviously some of you have recently played all of the country clubs. I have family coming soon and would like to know from those who know, Are any of the country clubs decent, good, or even exceptional right now?
Thanks in advance.

Hacienda is in prime condition...Tiera is very good,

[bagboy]

Hacienda is in prime condition...Tiera is very good,

Thank you !!!

[Northwoods]

People complain that the championship courses are in terrible condition. People complain that The Villages is eliminating the $7 twilight championship rate.
I've played after 5:00 in the summer... How many of those people are Executive players that see it as a novelty to play on a championship course? How many of those people repair their divots and have a repair tool (IN THEIR POCKET) to fix the ball marks on the green?? Or even own a ball repair tool?? My guess is less than 50%.
So you want to disparage The Developer when they might want to minimize novice golfers on championship courses? Try to minimize damage by implementing a 3 wave system? I have no issue with that. You can't have it both ways... you can't have unlimited golf for everyone and also expect pristine conditions. You have to pick one...

[anothersteve]

People complain that the championship courses are in terrible condition. People complain that The Villages is eliminating the $7 twilight championship rate.
I've played after 5:00 in the summer... How many of those people are Executive players that see it as a novelty to play on a championship course? How many of those people repair their divots and have a repair tool (IN THEIR POCKET) to fix the ball marks on the green?? Or even own a ball repair tool?? My guess is less than 50%.
So you want to disparage The Developer when they might want to minimize novice golfers on championship courses? Try to minimize damage by implementing a 3 wave system? I have no issue with that. You can't have it both ways... you can't have unlimited golf for everyone and also expect pristine conditions. You have to pick one...

Amen! Thanks.
Steve

[tophcfa]

People complain that the championship courses are in terrible condition. People complain that The Villages is eliminating the $7 twilight championship rate.
I've played after 5:00 in the summer... How many of those people are Executive players that see it as a novelty to play on a championship course? How many of those people repair their divots and have a repair tool (IN THEIR POCKET) to fix the ball marks on the green?? Or even own a ball repair tool?? My guess is less than 50%.
So you want to disparage The Developer when they might want to minimize novice golfers on championship courses? Try to minimize damage by implementing a 3 wave system? I have no issue with that. You can't have it both ways... you can't have unlimited golf for everyone and also expect pristine conditions. You have to pick one...

Something I didn't think of, but a very good and valid point. Thanks

[dewilson58]

People complain that the championship courses are in terrible condition. People complain that The Villages is eliminating the $7 twilight championship rate.
I've played after 5:00 in the summer... How many of those people are Executive players that see it as a novelty to play on a championship course? How many of those people repair their divots and have a repair tool (IN THEIR POCKET) to fix the ball marks on the green?? Or even own a ball repair tool?? My guess is less than 50%.
So you want to disparage The Developer when they might want to minimize novice golfers on championship courses? Try to minimize damage by implementing a 3 wave system? I have no issue with that. You can't have it both ways... you can't have unlimited golf for everyone and also expect pristine conditions. You have to pick one...




Agree. Since you are "Northwoods", do you know:

If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound??

[karostay]

Why pay to play championship golf on substandard course conditions when you can play the same conditions on executive courses for free ?

[dewilson58]

Why pay to play championship golf on substandard course conditions when you can play the same conditions on executive courses for free ?




Apples & Oranges.


First, the condition of Champ courses are significantly better than the Exec courses.


Second, Champ courses is golf, Exec is for practice, learning, fun, etc.


Day & Nite.

[Viperguy]

Vote with your feet if you don't like it I guess. Spend $5 or $10 bucks on gas to go somewhere off campus? They got us. Captive audience.

[rustyp]

It was correctly pointed out that the evening wave starts at 3:00 at Tierra and Orange Blossom, and at 4:20 everywhere else. There are no rain checks for the evening wave according to the rate sheet, so that's now a $12-$16 gamble rather than a $5-$8 gamble.

I think not giving year round residents a break on golf in the summertime is bad business. That is also the time all the aeration is done, choices are more limited and course conditions are less than ideal for a while after that's done. It's also hot as holy hell! The summer rates should reflect those lesser conditions. In 2014, you could play Cane and Havana for $20 in the afternoon. 5 years later it's $34. THAT'S A 70% INCREASE!

This rate sheet is REALLY disappointing to me. I don't have the budget to play twice a week all year round so a Priority doesn't make sense for me. However, I certainly never expected to have to pay $30-34 to play on a summer afternoon here. It's unreasonable in my opinion, having lived in FL for 35 years.

Seems to be a new strategy going on in TV. See my new thread this AM about Happy Hour Cartel. Snowbirds number 1 Full Timers number 2. Maybe we are missing something. Could it be Da Family raised rent substantially everywhere recently ?

[ColdNoMore]

Vote with your feet if you don't like it I guess. Spend $5 or $10 bucks on gas to go somewhere off campus? They got us. Captive audience.

YEP...that's it in a nutshell. :ohdear:

[JoMar]

If you haven't seen the new golf rates in the Villages, you need to look at them. They have eliminated summer rates and basically put in fall rates from May 1 thru December. Instead of getting a $12 discount off of greens fees of those rates for priority members, you'll only get $8. If they follow this pattern for the new January thru April 2020 rates, this situation will be much worse.

This is what we get from the greedy children of the Morses when they took over the golf courses. I will be playing less in the Villages in the future and more outside where rates will be $15 to $20 less and come with freebies as well. It's just now worth playing golf in the Villages during the the hot weather here anymore.

Probably a good thing, I think the children of Morses won't be too disappointed when the greedy villagers go off site to play and leave the courses to those of us that appreciate what we have. I also suspect that as the below 44 golfers move in the MMP's connect the courses will survive...at least I hope they don't become houses.

[eyc234]

If you add together last year’s morning wave – 18 holes, summer and fall rates for the Resident Members(RM) for each course and divide the total by two to get an average cost for the two periods, when compared to the new rates for the same time period, you’ll see that, except for Hacienda Hills, Evans Prairie and Palmer Legends, the fees went up 50 cents. Hacienda and Evans Prairie went up $2.50 and Palmer went down $4.50.
And, if you do the same math for Priority Members (PM) again, with the exception of Hacienda Hills, Evans Prairie and Palmer, the increase is $2.00 and it’s $4.00 for Hacienda, Evans Prairie. Palmer Legends went down $3.00.

[Bogie Shooter]

But, but that can’t be. I read above the sky is falling.:)

[dewilson58]

Fees going up...............Why is this a shock???


What costs have not gone up over the last fifty years???

[rustyp]

Fees going up...............Why is this a shock???


What costs have not gone up over the last fifty years???

Without getting into who can afford it and where would you go etc. - I have been here in TV since 2005. My experience percentage wise the cost of living here is increasing annually more than it has been in the previous 14 years rapidly. Restaurant prices, championshipship golf prices, movie theater, entertainment venues, house prices, etc. Way above what the CPI claims the inflation rate is.

[Shbullet]

Without getting into who can afford it and where would you go etc. - I have been here in TV since 2005. My experience percentage wise the cost of living here is increasing annually more than it has been in the previous 14 years rapidly. Restaurant prices, championshipship golf prices, movie theater, entertainment venues, house prices, etc. Way above what the CPI claims the inflation rate is.

Good point..Glad to see someone with the facts, not just based on emotion. Why some just have a hard time agreeing and are so protective of anything anyone says that might challenge the way things have been trending.

[Northwoods]

There's actually a simple term for the condition you point out, it's called...'cultism.'

Or as the punchline of an old sick joke, regarding a very tragic event alluded to..."keeping up with the Joneses."
I don't understand the "cult" comment but I guess I would like to bring this thread back to the subject - golf. I played both Belle Glade and Evans Prairie within the last month and I thought the courses were fine. I like the convenience. I'm OK with eliminating the twilight $7 championship golf because the majority of those golfers would never pay to play championship during the day. So the majority aren't either good enough to play championship or don't respect the course enough (fix divots) to play championship.

[Polar Bear]

...I'm OK with eliminating the twilight $7 championship golf ...
I’m okay with it too, but not for the reasons you gave.

I just like to play nine holes late in the day in the summer. The nine hole late-day rate is in effect the same as the twilight rate was, but it starts earlier in the afternoon than the twilight rate did. And it lasts much longer...through December. So I’m a happy camper! :)

[JoMar]

Without getting into who can afford it and where would you go etc. - I have been here in TV since 2005. My experience percentage wise the cost of living here is increasing annually more than it has been in the previous 14 years rapidly. Restaurant prices, championshipship golf prices, movie theater, entertainment venues, house prices, etc. Way above what the CPI claims the inflation rate is.

Not sure what your point is....CPI has nothing to do with the cost of restaurants, golf prices, movie theater, and the other stuff you mention. The only thing the CPI does is keep the increase of your amenity fee controlled. Everything else you mention is private business and the market dictates what they do.

[dewilson58]

Without getting into who can afford it and where would you go etc. - I have been here in TV since 2005. My experience percentage wise the cost of living here is increasing annually more than it has been in the previous 14 years rapidly. Restaurant prices, championshipship golf prices, movie theater, entertainment venues, house prices, etc. Way above what the CPI claims the inflation rate is.




I agree on the House Prices..........demand is high.


It would be interesting to see the historical costs.......but I like details.


:coolsmiley:

[dewilson58]

I'm surprised at the food costs..........I've always thought TV was high.



COST OF LIVING The Villages Florida USA
Overall 110.4 110.9 100
Grocery 96.7 101.5 100
Health 98.5 97.8 100
Housing 137.8 118.7 100
Median Home Cost $268,600 $225,200 $219,700
Utilities 105.2 101.3 100
Transportation 92.9 130.0 100
Miscellaneous 101.9 96.9 100
100=National Average

[ohiosbestus]

what group do you belong to. I am looking to play in a group setting.