Driving Range/Practice Facility

[quarter man]

Does anybody know if TV will be building a Driving Range south of turnpike?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I would tend to doubt it. They've built 13 championship golf courses and only three have practice facilities. In addition there is the free standing range at Sarasota. The practice facilities are not very good by today's standards. I'd love to see more short game and bunker practice facilities. They've recently taken out a practice bunker at Glenview and the ones at Palmer and Lopez are a joke.

They evidently believe that The Villages golfers are not interested in practicing.

The American Legion / Lion's Club Range on Rolling Acres is as good as any in The Villages except that there is no grass.

I'd love to see someone build a state of the art facility.

Something like this would be nice.https://i.imgur.com/aJOGP9l.png

or even this.
https://i.imgur.com/zvy5lox.png

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

This ones not too bad either.
https://i.imgur.com/lzt3su0.png

[John_W]

Does anybody know if TV will be building a Driving Range south of turnpike?

That's a thought, no room north of the turnpike by the soon to be built Southern Oaks Golf Course, they could do that like Bonifay where the course and the range are not co-located. Sarasota driving range is about a mile to the east of Bonifay. However, in that situation, Sarasota driving range was there way before the golf course, before any homes were even built. In fact you use tee off at Sarasota on the north side of the lake right off 466A there a little shack and a dirt parking lot.

On the new map, it's more like a partial layout map there doesn't appear to have enough room for any extras, it's only an 18 golf course instead of 27. The last ten built have all been 27. There's only two 18 courses, now they're be three, Tierra Del Sol and Orange Blossom Hills are the other two. Looks like they've crammed the course between Meggison Road and the Florida Turnpike on the northside.

https://cdn2.thevillages.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SouthernOaks_2-1500x501.jpg?fm=jpg

https://cdn2.thevillages.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Image-1-1.jpg

[Mortal1]

I would tend to doubt it. They've built 13 championship golf courses and only three have practice facilities. In addition there is the free standing range at Sarasota. The practice facilities are not very good by today's standards. I'd love to see more short game and bunker practice facilities. They've recently taken out a practice bunker at Glenview and the ones at Palmer and Lopez are a joke.

They evidently believe that The Villages golfers are not interested in practicing.

The American Legion / Lion's Club Range on Rolling Acres is as good as any in The Villages except that there is no grass.



I'd love to see someone build a state of the art facility.

Something like this would be nice.https://i.imgur.com/aJOGP9l.png

or even this.
https://i.imgur.com/zvy5lox.png

the fact that they don't get enough use of the 18/27 hole courses should be an idea that the cost of maintaining that type of facility would a bottomless money pit.

They don't even overseed anymore and the condition of greens/fairways/tees and aprons is horrendous in the winter.

Just played Mira Mesa...abysmal! Little to zero fairway grass and the greens are pathetic. Won't be playing there for a loooong while.

[HIgolfers]

the fact that they don't get enough use of the 18/27 hole courses should be an idea that the cost of maintaining that type of facility would a bottomless money pit.

They don't even overseed anymore and the condition of greens/fairways/tees and aprons is horrendous in the winter.

Just played Mira Mesa...abysmal! Little to zero fairway grass and the greens are pathetic. Won't be playing there for a loooong while.

Who says the Championship Courses don't get enough play? Are you kidding? And the condition of Executive Courses, like Mira Mesa, has nothing to do with Champ courses and a driving range.

[dewilson58]

My hairdresser's second cousin's brother-in-law said there will be a TOPGOLF right next to the new Costco store, just South of the

[Bilyclub]

My hairdresser's second cousin's brother-in-law said there will be a TOPGOLF right next to the new Costco store, just South of the

Trader Joes

[kansasr]

I use the driving range at Continental CC on FL44....10 minutes from Monarch Grove

[kcrazorbackfan]

Patience, people. Patience.

[RaunchyRich]

Those " people"'are shunned! I must say the Oak Trees over there are beautiful. It's worth the drive to see it before all the block & Concrete move in! As far as the Driving Range, things may change...

[Dan Williams]

Does anyone know who I can contact to set up golf cart road side assistance in the Villages?

[John_W]

Does anyone know who I can contact to set up golf cart road side assistance in the Villages?

There is AAA, some go that route if already in AAA, besides your car they will also handle your golf cart. The negative is it's been reported they can take up to two hours to arrive.

There are at least three companies that do golf cart towing fulltime. I've been with the same one since 2011, that Kart Aide, they are $59 for two years. If you used the 'search' button at the top of the site, you would read many good reviews of their service.

World's Largest Golf Cart Rescue Service (https://kartaide.com/)

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190824/26f3a0e37a3a07dae6555ed07a82a8c4.jpg

[Clark124]

I would tend to doubt it. They've built 13 championship golf courses and only three have practice facilities. In addition there is the free standing range at Sarasota. The practice facilities are not very good by today's standards. I'd love to see more short game and bunker practice facilities. They've recently taken out a practice bunker at Glenview and the ones at Palmer and Lopez are a joke.

They evidently believe that The Villages golfers are not interested in practicing.

The American Legion / Lion's Club Range on Rolling Acres is as good as any in The Villages except that there is no grass.

I'd love to see someone build a state of the art facility.

Something like this would be nice.https://i.imgur.com/aJOGP9l.png

or even this.
https://i.imgur.com/zvy5lox.png
If I would have to list 3 things I don't like about the villages, that would be all three , very lacking practice facilities.

[Surf Daddy]

I was told by someone "connected" that TV wants to host an LPGA tournament. The hotel at Brownwood was part of the plan. A 27 hole course south of 44 was also part of the plan. They need a driving range and practice area, which don't seem to be part of the 2 new courses along the turnpike. However, at many PGA major championships, they have converted the unused 9 (of the 27) into a driving range and practice area. So, it seems that the LPGA gig is possible, but the driving range for residents is unlikely. Perhaps the next course further south will have one.

[Waltdisney4life]

We have over 40 short practice areasThey’re called executive golf courses. If you want to improve your short game there’s no better place.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I was told by someone "connected" that TV wants to host an LPGA tournament. The hotel at Brownwood was part of the plan. A 27 hole course south of 44 was also part of the plan. They need a driving range and practice area, which don't seem to be part of the 2 new courses along the turnpike. However, at many PGA major championships, they have converted the unused 9 (of the 27) into a driving range and practice area. So, it seems that the LPGA gig is possible, but the driving range for residents is unlikely. Perhaps the next course further south will have one.

At the US Open and Ryder Cup held at The Country Club in Brookline, MA, they use holes from all three nines. The driving range at TCC is not great so they take the ninth hole from the 18 hole course and turn it into a state of the art practice facility.

I think that this is a practical solution for an event that comes to your course every 10-20 years or so, but to do it annually for a regular LPGA event wouldn't make sense. They be better off holding the event at Palmer. The range is good enough. They could then build a short game practice area over where the putting greens are out front.

[John_W]

I was told by someone "connected" that TV wants to host an LPGA tournament. The hotel at Brownwood was part of the plan. A 27 hole course south of 44 was also part of the plan. They need a driving range and practice area, which don't seem to be part of the 2 new courses along the turnpike...

Didn't I read a short time ago that TV purchased Continental Country Club on 44? They have an 18 hole course and a driving range. Anytime TV does something, they have a motive.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Didn't I read a short time ago that TV purchased Continental Country Club on 44? They have an 18 hole course and a driving range. Anytime TV does something, they have a motive.

I don't think that that course is sufficient for an LPGA event. They would have to spend millions to get it into conditions. Why would they do that when they could spend far less to get Palmer or Lopez into good enough condition?

[Pmarlow]

Does anybody know if TV will be building a Driving Range south of turnpike?
I believe they have announced that 2 or 3 new Championship courses will be built just South of the turnpike. Hopefully they will include a driving range in the plans

[loufromnewjersey]

Why don't you call The Villages, find out and then let us all know

[DonH57]

Didn't I read a short time ago that TV purchased Continental Country Club on 44? They have an 18 hole course and a driving range. Anytime TV does something, they have a motive.

I've read the same thing but never heard more about it or know if this is fact.

[DonH57]

I would tend to doubt it. They've built 13 championship golf courses and only three have practice facilities. In addition there is the free standing range at Sarasota. The practice facilities are not very good by today's standards. I'd love to see more short game and bunker practice facilities. They've recently taken out a practice bunker at Glenview and the ones at Palmer and Lopez are a joke.

They evidently believe that The Villages golfers are not interested in practicing.

The American Legion / Lion's Club Range on Rolling Acres is as good as any in The Villages except that there is no grass.

I'd love to see someone build a state of the art facility.

Something like this would be nice.https://i.imgur.com/aJOGP9l.png

or even this.
https://i.imgur.com/zvy5lox.png

They did make changes to the practice bunker at Lopez but it's still a too confined area. The chipping green across from Lopez is to compact. I've found the practice bunkers, chipping and putting greens at Sarasota to be the better choice. It's a haul but worth it. I wish they had built one up near the new First Responder's rec center but went with a putt putt deal.

[VApeople]

Why don't you call The Villages, find out and then let us all know

Do you think The Villages management will tell us the truth about their plans for the future?

Aren't they the same ones who said the build-out would stop at Route 44?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

We have over 40 short practice areasThey’re called executive golf courses. If you want to improve your short game there’s no better place.

Playing executive courses does not constitute short game practice. In fact, some of the executive courses can be quite long and challenging.

A short game practice area should have locations where you can hit a 20 yard shot over and over again. The same for a 10 yard shot, 30 yard shot and every ten yards up to 90. There should also be a good bunker complex.

It seems to me that you haven't played many of the executive courses and don't really understand the concept of practice versus playing.

When you're playing an executive course you are playing golf without having to hit a driver on most holes. You are not practicing your short game or any part of the game for that matter.

Go play Amberwood, Oakleigh, Belmont, Roosevelt or Truman and tell me that you're practicing your short game. When those appear too difficult try some of the level three courses which are very challenging as well.

Even some of the more friendly courses can be interesting. Hilltop for example is very short but that the smallest green in The Villages. The first hole is 147 yards with a bunker in front and water over and with the smallest green in The Villages. Even though it's a short iron you can hit it 30 feet from the hole and be chipping out of the rough. If you catch it a bit thin you have a bunker shot to a tiny, firm, fast green that slopes away from you.

I suggest that every one go and play these executive courses. If you're a better player go play the level 4 courses and come back and tell me that you're not playing golf.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I believe they have announced that 2 or 3 new Championship courses will be built just South of the turnpike. Hopefully they will include a driving range in the plans

I'd be surprised if they do. The real estate that a range would be built on can be used to build houses which is their main objective.

[Billgl]

Are there any open fields where you can hit shag balls. Say 150 - 200 yards long.

[Accidental1]

Looks like there may be plans for a range in the area South of Monarch Grove near where they are planning 45 holes of championship golf. It's mentioned in the "Continuing the dream" insert at the link included below. Will it happen???

The Villages - Florida's Friendliest Active Adult 55+ Retirement Community (https://www.thevillages.com/whatsnew/continuing-the-dream/continuing-the-dream)

[Bilyclub]

Are there any open fields where you can hit shag balls. Say 150 - 200 yards long.

When I was a kid that was pretty common in Chicago parks.

[PaulUnderwood]

At the price they charge for a bucket of balls don’t tell me that they don’t make any money. As far as grass on the fairway they as par threes hit more greens

[mgkw1]

:Does anybody know if TV will be building a Driving Range south of turnpike?:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:: 1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::

[Bogie Shooter]

Those " people"'are shunned! I must say the Oak Trees over there are beautiful. It's worth the drive to see it before all the block & Concrete move in! As far as the Driving Range, things may change...

Who are those people?
Oak trees over where?

[John_W]

At the price they charge for a bucket of balls don’t tell me that they don’t make any money. As far as grass on the fairway they as par threes hit more greens

When I read that comment, I thought the same thing. Everytime I go by the Sarasota Driving Range it seems like every hitting mat is occupied any time of the day. There must 30 people hitting on that range at any one time. I only wish the new golfers were NOT hitting off the artificial grass mats, I never understood how they learn anything, wait until the grass days and then go.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/139230189_1842049162626274_79793930346029609_n.jpg ?_nc_cat=108&ccb=2&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=5WenDzQsV6oAX-t4HTX&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=c0be956d3a2cc5713a2c1596cf77ed1c&oe=6025420B