Havana Golf Course

[Ssouan]

Yesterday our group played Havana. It was very sad to see the conditions of the greens and tee boxes. To make matters worse, the greens were not cleared of the heavy dew prior to play starting. We all realize that we are in peak season. However, basic blocking and tackling needs to be maintained.

[swooner]

Yesterday our group played Havana. It was very sad to see the conditions of the greens and tee boxes. To make matters worse, the greens were not cleared of the heavy dew prior to play starting. We all realize that we are in peak season. However, basic blocking and tackling needs to be maintained.
Hey, they only charge $47 on top of your $1000 priority membership. Why would you expect conditions to be better?

[dewilson58]

To make matters worse, the greens were not cleared of the heavy dew prior to play starting.


:1rotfl:


:1rotfl:


:1rotfl:

[Ddesimone]

Playing there yesterday. One step above cow pasture. The greens, and I use the term loosely, were terrible. They should be ashamed to charge the high price we paid.

[Albany]

Playing there yesterday. One step above cow pasture. The greens, and I use the term loosely, were terrible. They should be ashamed to charge the high price we paid.

I played there Wednesday, Jan. 27. The greens in particular are dreadful. No grass, they almost look burned. It is like putting on a felt pool table. Someone needs to be fired, and right now.

[John_W]

I played Kilimanjaro to Kenya yesterday, and I've played it at least 50 times before, it's worse I've ever seen. I played Mallory the week before, greens and fairways much nicer. That's probably why my request was approved, golfers are staying away from Havana.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I played there Wednesday, Jan. 27. The greens in particular are dreadful. No grass, they almost look burned. It is like putting on a felt pool table. Someone needs to be fired, and right now.

I think that you mean something else because a felt pool table would be a perfect putting surface.

[Shbullet]

Playing there yesterday. One step above cow pasture. The greens, and I use the term loosely, were terrible. They should be ashamed to charge the high price we paid.

da wilson58 wont like that comment about his village golf course

[dewilson58]

da wilson58 wont like that comment about his village golf course
Have to agree with the assessment of poor conditions......played it Wednesday.

Being from Iowa, it's a few steps above a cow pasture.........cow pies are a bitch to hit out of.
But thanks for thinking of me.
:ho:

[waynet]

A dump....do not play Kenya at all. As bad as it gets. Take Havana off your lists to play; $47 is a joke and a ripoff. It should be closed.

[John_W]

You can add your post to this one.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/championship-courses-villages-golf-course-conditions-473/havana-golf-course-315708/

[clekr]

Played Havana today. Compares to a $9 muni where the residents care for it. There is little evidence on the course that a turf management company has any involvement there.

[sheena0904]

What exactly is wrong with the course?

[clekr]

Played Havana today. Comparable to a $9 mini where the residents cut the grass. There is little evidence on the course that a professional turf management is involved in any way.

[tophcfa]

I am generally happy with the conditions of the Championship courses, but for some reason Havana seems to get more complaints than any other Villages course. What’s up with that?

[DrBrutyle109]

I am generally happy with the conditions of the Championship courses, but for some reason Havana seems to get more complaints than any other Villages course. What’s up with that?

Greens fees are to high, no matter what the conditions are. I’ve played courses that were on the top 10 in a state for only a few dollars more......just sad

[DrBrutyle109]

A dump....do not play Kenya at all. As bad as it gets. Take Havana off your lists to play; $47 is a joke and a ripoff. It should be closed.
Think about paying $65?

[justjim]

OP, thanks for the info. One to avoid...

[jbrown132]

Yesterday our group played Havana. It was very sad to see the conditions of the greens and tee boxes. To make matters worse, the greens were not cleared of the heavy dew prior to play starting. We all realize that we are in peak season. However, basic blocking and tackling needs to be maintained.
Same story every winter at Village Championship golf courses. Very expensive and poor playing conditions. These courses are not maintained by professional greens keepers. The greens are never rolled and rarely cut short. One ambassador once told me TV is the only place where you get tighter lies from the rough than you do from the fairways. Essentially you are playing off dirt not grass. In the winter if you want decent playing conditions you have to travel outside The Villages and it will cost you less to.

[collie1228]

The championship courses further north are in really good condition right now. Why would Havana be so bad and, for instance, Lopez be so much better? Aren't they maintained by the same company? The greens on Lopez are lightening fast, but they roll beautifully with very few bumps. Orange Blossom on Friday had decent greens, with plenty of grass on fairways too, but the greens weren't nearly as fast as Lopez. But enjoyable to play.

[John_W]

The championship courses further north are in really good condition right now. Why would Havana be so bad and, for instance, Lopez be so much better? Aren't they maintained by the same company? ...

Let this be a lesson for those moving here that anticipate playing championship courses. I don't live in the north end, but sometimes I wish I did, my play area is from Palmer to Belle Glade and occasionally Glenview, almost never Lopez or Hacienda Hills. When my foursome gets their request turned down, "computer cannot accommodate your request", and I go online looking for an open time I'll always see good times still available at those two courses.

Also when I do play Lopez about once a year, it's pine trees, not palms and the grass is dry and it's like playing in Pensacola. For our southern courses, I've got to keep a brush in my bag to get the mud out of my spikes and the cart's floor is always muddy, the ground always has a dampness to it and when you hit the ball you're getting mud on the club face or it's on the ball just sitting in the fairway.

[dewilson58]

Greens fees are to high, no matter what the conditions are. I’ve played courses that were on the top 10 in a state for only a few dollars more......just sad
"no matter what the conditions" wow......the beautiful things is you don't have to play in TV.

[tommyman]

Yesterday our group played Havana. It was very sad to see the conditions of the greens and tee boxes. To make matters worse, the greens were not cleared of the heavy dew prior to play starting. We all realize that we are in peak season. However, basic blocking and tackling needs to be maintained.

It is sad that they have allowed Havana to get to such a poor condition. The courses up North especially Lopez, Glenview, and TDS are significantly better than any others. They are the courses that have had new greens installed as well as sand in the traps that is actually designed for golf.
Barring TV truly resurfacing every green as they committed to do, if they would go back to over seeding the courses they would be in significantly better shape through the winter. I doubt any avid golfer believes the story that the rye grass is disruptive to the Bermuda when the weather turns warm again. If that is the case why does EVERY good course in Central and South Florida over-seed?
When Bay Hill and Black Diamond stop over seeding, we should then follow their lead.
I suspect it will cost much more to restore Havana to playable conditions than it would have cost to not let it get this bad.

[diamond2005]

Having played golf for 50+ years, I have played on some
horrible courses. Today, I played Havana (Kenya), and it surpasses them all. The Course Superintendent should be fired for letting the greens and tee boxes go to hell!

[Papa_lecki]

Is it possible there are “other plans” for Havana - so they are not investing in it?

[joeharing]

Let's say I own golf course. Got a captive audience. Wall to Wall tee times in season. Should I spend 40,000 to plant winter rye?
Naaahhh. I can always grow grass, but not money.
Only a boycott revolution would work......not going to happen.
Play on.....nice layout.

[dyundt]

We played it last week and the course is in terrible shape. We have sworn off playing it again this winter.

[rooster49]

Our group played Havana today. It is pathetic

[stan the man]

"no matter what the conditions" wow......the beautiful things is you don't have to play in TV.

And I don't, leaves more time for other peoples :boom:

[Garywt]

Must be winter and high use season because this comes up every year. In addition to additional play, remember in the winter, just like your lawn, the grass goes dormant and does not grow much. Can be hard to maintain grass if it is not growing.

[lynn7448]

Will be back in TV soon and am wondering if there are other championship courses I should avoid, due to course conditions.

[rwfisher1969]

We played Orange Blossom and Palmer (Cherry Hill/Laurel) on Saturday. Both courses were in good condition. Greens were fast and and rolled great. You have to play remembering that it is the dormant season. If I was still in WNY I would be only hitting in a golf dome range. How bad can it be when you are playing golf in January in 75 degree weather? I may be new here in TV, but I think this place is great!

[stan the man]

Playing there yesterday. One step above cow pasture. The greens, and I use the term loosely, were terrible. They should be ashamed to charge the high price we paid.

Just like the newer golf courses. Cow Pastures with maybe 25 holes filled with sand. and 18 small holes in the ground. No character, no trees.

[UpNorth]

Just like the newer golf courses. Cow Pastures with maybe 25 holes filled with sand. and 18 small holes in the ground. No character, no trees.

Agreed. Boring, overpriced designs built over drain areas. Using your own cart makes the price seem outrageous. Take a drive and play some nice designs for half the price.

[ficoguy]

In general there seems to be a lack of fairway grass on the championship and executive courses. You can't hit an iron or a wood off what appears to be a greenish matted clay like substance with something that could not be confused with grass. I have been going off property for 18 hole golf at half price or even less than that. This is a situation of inelastic demand so they know they can jack prices up and the courses are still booked to the hilt.

[Bethwill]

Played Kenya on Thursday. The greens were atrocious. We couldn't understand why they were so slow, because they had no grass on them. The previous descriptions were more than accurate. Sad they have the nerve to charge people to play there.

[MarcStephen]

Anyone contact Havana about this?

[stanley]

and the courses are still booked to the hilt.

That says something right there

[Ringo7648]

Be careful of what you wish!
The Morse millennials could plow course under and put in apartments!

[twopjt]

Wanted to send a copy of my email that I sent to one of our neighborhood golf organizers about Havana conditions on to the club pro or anyone else who might be able to make a difference in the future. Can't find a way to contact any of them, so if you do, maybe you could forward my email. Thanks!

Jim, I have a conflict with golf on Tuesday that I can't resolve. If you want to juggle the 4 somes please let me know and I won't remove myself and let you do it. Don't want the 'no show' point.
FYI, Penny and I played Havana last Sun. We were there with 3 other couples so we didn't walk off and demand a refund because of the course conditions. Learned later that all 3 other couples were having the same thoughts. I've never seen any Champ or Execut course in the villages in such horrible shape. It's so awful that Penny canceled out of one of her regular groups that was scheduled there this week and we canceled out of the upcoming Valentine tourney we were scheduled in because it's being held at Havana.
As a young, poor guy in Montana I played in some real cow pastures in the 70's and early 80's. Today' Havana makes them look good. What a shame. PT

[Shbullet]

"no matter what the conditions" wow......the beautiful things is you don't have to play in TV.

Da wilson78 You just dont seem to get it do you?

[Fishers2tall]

Being from Iowa, it's a few steps above a cow pasture.........cow pies are a bitch to hit out of.
But thanks for thinking of me.
:ho:

Taking a divot on your shot out of the cow pie gives playing it as it lies a whole new level of dedication!!:BigApplause::BigApplause:

[kilowatt]

Played Havana yesterday with my group and the course was deplorable. Greens were horrible especially no. 9 on Kenya. Not worth half the price of what we paid. Close the course and do some work on this cow pasture. Oh, I forgot. It`s high greens fee season.

[Snackman67]

How do you post on this site?

[Mthack]

My group of 20 players played Havana! Simply said: the golf course was awful and the greens were a total mess - financially speaking: we were “ripped-off”!

[mulligan]

I played there Wednesday, Jan. 27. The greens in particular are dreadful. No grass, they almost look burned. It is like putting on a felt pool table. Someone needs to be fired, and right now.

No, you need to wait until further into the growing season. Patience, grasshopper !!

[Carla B]

Kenya has been closed for at least a week now. They appear to be working on No. 9.

[Hape2Bhr]

No, you need to wait until further into the growing season. Patience, grasshopper !!

Totally incorrect...evidently you do not golf. :shocked:

[mtomlinson]

Yesterday (Friday March 19th) we had a 12:44 tee time at Havana Kilimanjaro championship course. It turned out to be the worst experience I have had on a Villages championship course in the 20 years I have been visiting and subsequently living permanently in Florida's friendliest hometown. Bearing in mind this is the peak golf season and we are paying peak prices, we felt we had been ripped off paying $64 for a course in such a dreadful state.
The greens would win prizes in a quilting contest. They were a mixture of patchwork repairs and bare sandy patches and were bumpy, slow and covered with pitch marks.
Many fringes were also patched. You could not putt over/from them and being in them was like chipping out of the rough.
Bunkers had not been processed that morning and were firm, uneven and not up to the standard we expect.
Fairways were hard and patchy. They seemed generally to have been cut too tight which appears often the case in TV.
To cap it off, it took 4:35 to get round. We waited on every shot. The match in front was at least 3 holes behind and the Ambassador
on the back nine obviously did nothing about it and kept well away from us when passing through the holes we were playing.
Comparing it to Cane Garden last week was like comparing chalk and cheese! We could not be more complimentary about Cane last week.
It appears in general that the ambassadors in The Villages are not empowered to fix slow play. At best there is the odd warning but they never seem to make matches pick up and move to the next tee or ultimately ask them to leave the course and get a full refund. One slow group can spoil the day for not just the match immediately following them but every match on the course behind them.