Christmas Day golf

[StuMas]

I noticed that there are no tee times listed for Christmas Day. Are the courses closed that day or just first come, first served?

[raynan]

Usually it's first come, first served and free on Xmas and it's a madhouse.

[John_W]

Usually it's free golf on Christmas Day. You just show up at one of the starter shacks and they'll place you in order. This will be my tenth Christmas in TV, and I've only golfed once on Christmas Day, the first year. It was in 2011 and Bonifay had just opened and I showed up at 7am and was #38, some had gotten there at 5am. Fortunately I was a single and within ten minutes they asked if there was any singles and I was paired with another golfer and was on my way by 7:30, initially they said I would probably tee off about 10am. You could play 9 or 18 holes, I was playing 18, some people jumped over to the starter shack to play 9 because there was no line.

I found out on my way back home, when I went by the starter about 1pm there was only about two golfers waiting. I'm an afternoon golfer and actually that's the best time to show up. I drove right by Turtle Mound and Sand Hill Executives and there was hardly anyone there. Everyone makes the mistake of thinking to show up early, when it's better to be late.

Same thing this year, the 3 guys I normally play with are all busy on Christmas Day, so were playing on Saturday instead. They'll probably announce it in the Daily Sun soon and tell you what starter shack to report to at each championship course.

[kcrazorbackfan]

And let the carnage of the courses begin..... Sad to see for those of us that take care of the courses when we play.

[Mleeja]

The high temperature on Christmas Day is only going to be in the low 50’s. Just think what the temperature will be a 8:00 am? 36 degrees! You can have my spot! :-)

[photo1902]

And let the carnage of the courses begin..... Sad to see for those of us that take care of the courses when we play.

Us mere mortals will try and leave them in pristine condition for you tour professionals. I mean, they didn’t get back in shape until last week from the previous Christmas. :ohdear:

[Funkman]

And let the carnage of the courses begin..... Sad to see for those of us that take care of the courses when we play.I hear what you're saying but I must have fixed at least 30 ball marks on the greens today.

Unfortunately it's not just Santa's little helpers who are doing the damage

[stanley]

Pretty much just another full tee sheet day.........move em out!!

[tophcfa]

The high temperature on Christmas Day is only going to be in the low 50’s. Just think what the temperature will be a 8:00 am? 36 degrees! You can have my spot! :-)

Perhaps they will be giving out hand warmers as a Christmas gift.

[stanley]

Perhaps they will be giving out hand warmers as a Christmas gift.

Fireball shots abound!!

[Laker14]

130,000 person scramble.

[Two Bills]

We played through/round a nine ball last Xmas Day on Briarwood.

[golfing eagles]

And let the carnage of the courses begin..... Sad to see for those of us that take care of the courses when we play.

I live on a champ course, and carnage is far too gentle a word to describe what happens. Carts driven on greens and through bunkers, 4 or 5 deep divots, unfilled, just from "practice" swings, deep ruts from driving right through the wet areas that are clearly marked, clubs thrown further than the ball was hit, 17 zillion F bombs, 8 year old children driving a cart, and the list goes on. I would suggest you use the word "apocalyptic" instead

[golfing eagles]

Us mere mortals will try and leave them in pristine condition for you tour professionals. I mean, they didn’t get back in shape until last week from the previous Christmas. :ohdear:

And we thank you for that!

[photo1902]

And we thank you for that!

Oh, the humanity!

[Viperguy]

Why on Christmas day.....to save a few bucks?

[golfing eagles]

Why on Christmas day.....to save a few bucks?

The magical allure of the word "free":1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Girlcopper]

I noticed that there are no tee times listed for Christmas Day. Are the courses closed that day or just first come, first served?
Its Christmas! Golfing isnt actually my priority for this day

[RICH1]

Is it fun to grab a ice cold club , and freeze your keister for something free! Golf isn't that great and these amateur hacks can line up at the shack for a dose of Covid19.

[B-flat]

I'm not an avid golfer but have played from time to time. Come on folks it's Christmas!! Please shoot me when golf or other sporting activity becomes more important than what Christmas is about.

[crash]

I hear what you're saying but I must have fixed at least 30 ball marks on the greens today.

Unfortunately it's not just Santa's little helpers who are doing the damage

I live on an executive golf course and see very few people who fix their divots.

[DonH57]

Oh, the humanity!

ROFLMAO.........:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[coconutmama]

And let the carnage of the courses begin..... Sad to see for those of us that take care of the courses when we play.

I agree. At least fill your darn divots & keep your cart on the path. If you don’t know what a divot is, you & your company should find something else to do. Be respectful. Free Christmas golf need not be abused to be enjoyed

[eddie888]

Anything free here in the villages means of stampede. Old people love free stuff.

[mrf6969]

Christmas golf in The Villages = 5 1/2 hour round......No thanks

[Bill1701]

I noticed that there are no tee times listed for Christmas Day. Are the courses closed that day or just first come, first served?

I believe the executive courses are closed. Championship are all first come, first served. If you go, be prepared for very slow play. It took us about three hours to get in 9 holes last year.

[Guitarman1951]

I noticed that there are no tee times listed for Christmas Day. Are the courses closed that day or just first come, first served?

As I have witnessed before, many of the people taking advantage of free golf on Christmas have no business on the courses and cause damage by not filling in club divets with sand, fixing ball marks, raking sand traps and driving thru wet areas and other areas where they shouldn't. While waiting in line once a Villagers adult son rammed my golf cart because he didn't seem to know how to drive it. He just laughed about it. Bent my bumper up and gave me a sore neck. I won't go back since then and I think they need to stop this amatuer day fiasco on championship courses. Call me scrooge but I still think no one should be allowed on these courses that have no clue about etiquette or basic rules of golf or could care less about damaging the courses.

[Villages Kahuna]

First come, first served.

[philipwrob]

Monitor the Villages radio or website b4 going to courses - low temps expected which could result in frost delay in morning.

[EviesGP]

I agree with many of the TV veterans' posts here. I worked last Xmas(wearing a green shirt), and it was a MADHOUSE!!! There are many who come out(with their families), who never play champ courses. Slow play is an understatement! On our 27 hole course, we used one 9 for 9-hole golfers only, and the other two 9 for 18-hole golfers only(one turns to the other). We made the mistake of not starting(or posting a starter) on the the last 9(i.e. 10th hole for 18-holers). As an Ambassador, I was trying to keep the flow going, while not allowing stragglers from just showing up(which they did)?! NEITHER EFFORT WORKED!!! Needless to say, you can't imagine the look on the real golfer's faces, when they ask you if we could speed up play? HAH!!! Stay home! Merry Christmas!

[kcrazorbackfan]

Us mere mortals will try and leave them in pristine condition for you tour professionals. I mean, they didn’t get back in shape until last week from the previous Christmas. :ohdear:

Thank you for the recognition as a Tour Professional; I can add that to the list of things I’ve been called.

[photo1902]

Nobody golfs on Christmas Day in The Villages, because it’s too crowded.

[DaveGodin]

We've been here two years and have found it is better to head for the less popular courses on Christmas given that it is free. A lot of folks head to Lopez or Palmer and face a crowd. We play Orange Blossom, which although busy, is less insane. It helps to "fortify" whatever beverage you bring to the course. This year it will be a bit chilly so I recommend coffee with Baileys.

[photo1902]

We've been here two years and have found it is better to head for the less popular courses on Christmas given that it is free. A lot of folks head to Lopez or Palmer and face a crowd. We play Orange Blossom, which although busy, is less insane. It helps to "fortify" whatever beverage you bring to the course. This year it will be a bit chilly so I recommend coffee with Baileys.

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

[thelegges]

For the last 11 Christmas Day golf I went once with a few others. Waiting about 1.5 hours to play. Only played 9 due to slow play. Easier to pay and play on a nice day. It’s going to be cold this year.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

What are the chances of my showing up at about noon to play nine holes?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Us mere mortals will try and leave them in pristine condition for you tour professionals. I mean, they didn’t get back in shape until last week from the previous Christmas. :ohdear:

It is the responsibility of every player, regardless of ability, to leave the course in better conditions than they found it. If you don't understand this or refuse to comply with it, you have no business being on a golf course. It is the second thing in the USGA rule book after defining the game. It is that important.

RULE 1.2 STANDARDS OF PLAYER CONDUCT

All players are expected to play in the spirit of the game by:

Acting with integrity – for example, by following the Rules, applying all penalties, and being honest in all aspects of play.

Showing consideration to others – for example, by playing at a prompt pace, looking out for the safety of others, and not distracting the play of another player.

Taking good care of the course – for example, by replacing divots, smoothing bunkers, repairing ball-marks, and not causing unnecessary damage to the course.

You should check to see whether the Committee has adopted a Code of Conduct, as you could get a penalty if you do not follow it.


It's not only the rules of the game, it's common courtesy and common decency.

[John_W]

What are the chances of my showing up at about noon to play nine holes?

As I mentioned back in my post on page 1, I played one time on Christmas at Bonifay and showed up at 7am. Was #38 in line and was told I would probably tee off about 10am. Then they asked if there was any singles, apparently a single had gotten there early. I was paired with the other single and a twosome and was teeing off by 7:30. What I saw when I finished about noon was only one cart waiting to tee off at the first hole.

They had also split the courses into two sections. Ft. Walton for those who wanted to play just 9 holes, or Destin starter shack for those wanting to play 18, so when they made the announcement half of those waiting in line went the other way. On my way home I drove through Turtle Mound and almost no one was on the executive courses.

[Bogie Shooter]

Christmas Day Frost Possible
Reminder, starting tee times on Christmas Day are first come, first serve and may be affected by the forecasted frost on Friday morning. These decisions will be made as soon as possible that morning and we ask that, in the spirit of the season, everyone remains patient and cooperates with your course staff.

For more on frost delays-
https://www.golfthevillages.com/turftalk/Understand%20Frost%20Delays.pdf

[stanley]

Christmas Day Frost Possible
Reminder, starting tee times on Christmas Day are first come, first serve and may be affected by the forecasted frost on Friday morning. These decisions will be made as soon as possible that morning and we ask that, in the spirit of the season, everyone remains patient and cooperates with your course staff.

For more on frost delays-
https://www.golfthevillages.com/turftalk/Understand%20Frost%20Delays.pdf


There is a frost delay until 8:30. This surely will not go over well with the masses

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