Hilltop snd Chula Vista

[A-2-56]

I have been golfing for almost 50 years. I have played golf on three continents and I love the game, respect the course and the architect and I was at one time an assistant superintendent.
I can safely say that putting at these two courses in the past two weeks is similar to putting on a giant waffle iron.
They are awe full and perhaps leaving them long from the heat, but my goodness, they are long, super slow, have mixed plants on them and just overall not qualified as golf greens.

[DrBrutyle109]

Agreed
I understand they get a little different type of play. People who are learning and don’t realize they have to fill divots, fix ball marks and pick up their feet on the greens. That doesn’t mean the course shouldn’t be at least in decent condition. While we are at it..........there’s a few championship courses that could be better. Played OBH Tuesday, it had been over a month since.the greens were done....they were terrible. Who the hell does the work?

[Rick Kiwus]

Comments are so true!

[Rick Kiwus]

comments are so true!

[tophcfa]

People need to have realistic expectations for executive golf. It is what it is, free golf on 9 hole courses that are mostly par 3’s. It is not real golf played on Championship courses, it is for fun, practice, and casual golfing. My wife and I enjoy playing the various executive courses and are never dissatisfied because our expectations are reasonable. The only thing I dislike about the executives is that it takes a couple of holes to get the putting touch back when playing a Championship course after playing the executives, but that’s why the Championship courses have practice greens. Golf on : )

[npwalters]

People need to have realistic expectations for executive golf. It is what it is, free golf on 9 hole courses that are mostly par 3’s. It is not real golf played on Championship courses, it is for fun, practice, and casual golfing. My wife and I enjoy playing the various executive courses and are never dissatisfied because our expectations are reasonable. The only thing I dislike about the executives is that it takes a couple of holes to get the putting touch back when playing a Championship course after playing the executives, but that’s why the Championship courses have practice greens. Golf on : )

I would submit that the executive courses are not free. We pay for their use in our amenity fee and trail fee. I do agree that I don't expect them to be top quality courses and because I am a casual golfer they usually suit me.

Occasionally they get in poor shape and that should demand attention from the staff. The poor conditions I do see are the result of poor maintenance or overuse - not the golfers.

[HORNET]

Leave The Villages and try to find a golf course that’s free as good as all around quality as here. Even out of The Villages golf courses ( our Championship) don’t even come close to what The Villages courses offer. If you are that good, maybe The Villages isn’t for you!!!!!!!!

[Two Bills]

Leave The Villages and try to find a golf course that’s free as good as all around quality as here. Even out of The Villages golf courses ( our Championship) don’t even come close to what The Villages courses offer. If you are that good, maybe The Villages isn’t for you!!!!!!!!


The executive courses are without doubt value for money, but free they are not.
Even non golfers pay towards their upkeep.

[banjobob]

We played Amberwood exec course last week the cups on every green had been gouged edges seemingly from golfers using their putters to retrieve their ball. If one cannot bend over to retrieve their ball , buy a hoop for the end of your putter. The gouging caused several putts to rim out, and then there are ball marks and unraked sand a little golf courtesy is needed.

[DonH57]

We played Amberwood exec course last week the cups on every green had been gouged edges seemingly from golfers using their putters to retrieve their ball. If one cannot bend over to retrieve their ball , buy a hoop for the end of your putter. The gouging caused several putts to rim out, and then there are ball marks and unraked sand a little golf courtesy is needed.

I've noticed the same on cups in many of the courses. Putters gouge the hell out of the lining of the holes.

[jmaccallum]

I have been golfing for almost 50 years. I have played golf on three continents and I love the game, respect the course and the architect and I was at one time an assistant superintendent.
I can safely say that putting at these two courses in the past two weeks is similar to putting on a giant waffle iron.
They are awe full and perhaps leaving them long from the heat, but my goodness, they are long, super slow, have mixed plants on them and just overall not qualified as golf greens.

I hear so much complaining about the courses here, and I don’t quite understand. I think some forget that Mother Nature has a lot to do with golf. Yes, greens keepers, too, but Mother Nature is the biggest factor of the game…. Distressed greens or tees, tree branches, tree roots, a gopher hole, roughs not mowed, moisture or no, it’s all part of the game!

I’ve played Pinehurst, NC Country Club courses in worst shape (of course not #2, but green fees for that course are $495 this month!). You want to play on that level of a course? You gotta pay for it.

We had another course in NC called Tobacco Road, a course made out of a sand quarry. Basically a turkey shoot, redneck course, but people came from all over and would pay $80 green fees to play it. That’s half a months amenity fee, here. We have some great courses in The Villages, both executive and championship (some better on some days, some not).

Swing, or go home.

[HORNET]

Again, maybe your too good to golf there

[kkingston57]

Biggesst problem on these two coursses and others is that greens need to be re done and made bigger. Bigger greens will create less wear and tear on the greens. We play Walnut Grove and Briarwood a lot and their greens are in very good shape and large. Look at 1st hole on Hilltop. Green is very small and from back tees it is 150 yards long.

TV needs to close them down for 1 summer and re work the greens.

[KRMACK55]

Leave The Villages and try to find a golf course that’s free as good as all around quality as here. Even out of The Villages golf courses ( our Championship) don’t even come close to what The Villages courses offer. If you are that good, maybe The Villages isn’t for you!!!!!!!!
It’s not free and never has been. Paid for with amenity fee and maintenance.
Go somewhere else comment not needed.

[A-2-56]

Thanks for all the comments. A week or two ago, TV asked for specific comments, good or bad about the golf courses. I had one and I gave it. I want to also add that I am one of those obnoxious individuals who compliments employees and businesses on a regular basis. It is easy to complain, more difficult to find benefit!
I did not want to appear to be complaining, though I guess that it came off that way, apologies for that. What I was offering was constructive criticism which was solicited.

[HORNET]

Sounds like The Village’s isn’t for you

[Luggage]

From what I've read in the past about 1.5% of your amenity fees go towards keeping up the golf courses. Of course you probably paid $100,000 more for your home than nearby senior villages and that figures also in the cost of the land for the golf courses so of course you paid already for the free golfing cuz you're going to have over the next 10 20 or 30 years. If enough people complain that I am sure the management will do whatever it takes to keep everyone happy. But of course keeping in mind when something is " free "you generally get the value you paid for it!


Sounds like The Village’s isn’t for you

[Neils]

I hear so much complaining about the courses here, and I don’t quite understand. I think some forget that Mother Nature has a lot to do with golf. Yes, greens keepers, too, but Mother Nature is the biggest factor of the game…. Distressed greens or tees, tree branches, tree roots, a gopher hole, roughs not mowed, moisture or no, it’s all part of the game!

I’ve played Pinehurst, NC Country Club courses in worst shape (of course not #2, but green fees for that course are $495 this month!). You want to play on that level of a course? You gotta pay for it.

We had another course in NC called Tobacco Road, a course made out of a sand quarry. Basically a turkey shoot, redneck course, but people came from all over and would pay $80 green fees to play it. That’s half a months amenity fee, here. We have some great courses in The Villages, both executive and championship (some better on some days, some not).

Swing, or go home.

REDNECK is a racist name.

[DrBrutyle109]

Leave The Villages and try to find a golf course that’s free as good as all around quality as here. Even out of The Villages golf courses ( our Championship) don’t even come close to what The Villages courses offer. If you are that good, maybe The Villages isn’t for you!!!!!!!!
I can name a few off site that are better then our champs
Stone Creek
Red Tail
Juliette Falls
Chandler Hills.......you need more?

[collie1228]

I never, ever play Chula, as it has been not much more than a cow pasture for the nine years I've lived here. I do like Hilltop, but haven't played there in a year. Disappointed to hear there are bad conditions. Could they be related to aeration of the greens? That will cause a waffle effect for sure.

[HORNET]

Maybe The Village that I love isn’t for you!!!!!!!!!

[HORNET]

Again, go somewhere else

[frank1975]

I have been golfing for almost 50 years. I have played golf on three continents and I love the game, respect the course and the architect and I was at one time an assistant superintendent.
I can safely say that putting at these two courses in the past two weeks is similar to putting on a giant waffle iron.
They are awe full and perhaps leaving them long from the heat, but my goodness, they are long, super slow, have mixed plants on them and just overall not qualified as golf greens.
There's a number courses like this. But when it only costs $145 a year to play on them can we really expect anything else.

[HORNET]

Enough already

[HORNET]

How long do we have to put with this post

[HORNET]

Enough already

[DaleDivine]

I can name a few off site that are better then our champs
Stone Creek
Red Tail
Juliette Falls
Chandler Hills.......you need more?

If you're going to put courses like Red Tail in there where you have to travel close to 30 miles, you might as well put Orlando courses in also...
Just sayin...
:bigbow::bigbow:

[DaleDivine]

Enough already

Not quite...
:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

[DaleDivine]

Enough already

Not yet...
I played Chula Vista yesterday (first time in a couple of years) and the greens were in decent shape.
:ho:

[HORNET]

Enough already

[HORNET]

Go outside The Villages and see what you get!

[Two Bills]

Go outside The Villages and see what you get!

Enough already!:icon_wink:

[Dana1963]

Wasn’t there going to be a drawing for a $50 gift certificate for golf courses posted MONTHS AGO. Anyone win?

[ThirdOfFive]

As mom used to say, “you’d b!tch if you were hung with a new rope”.

[Garywt]

My wife and I just finished playing Chula Vista and we loved it. Our first 9 holes in The Villages and it was just our speed. No different than the courses we play on up north. Our requirements up north are cheap and not crowded. We were talking on the way home that we might just stick with Chula Vista for awhile.

[JCoth1972]

Played Monday (25th), and the course was great - even with the rain coming down at times!

[Villages Kahuna]

Multiply your Amenity Fees times the 60-70,000 homes in The Villages and see how much money is available to maintain the “free” golf courses!

[tc1963]

I have been golfing for almost 50 years. I have played golf on three continents and I love the game, respect the course and the architect and I was at one time an assistant superintendent.
I can safely say that putting at these two courses in the past two weeks is similar to putting on a giant waffle iron.
They are awe full and perhaps leaving them long from the heat, but my goodness, they are long, super slow, have mixed plants on them and just overall not qualified as golf greens.

For those who golf, can you please help the residents adjacent to Hole #4 Heron. Have you all seen/experienced the conditions of Heron Hole #4? The constant flooding, mosquitoes (potentially carrying West Nile Virus and others), stench and dangerous conditions when the golf carts are diverted from the flooded out cart path up along the steep embankment of a so-called drain along the property line? The golf cart path gets covered with up to 2 feet of water sometimes. Reaching over 300 feet long and 150 feet wide. I have the Photos to prove it.

My wife and I purchased the house (2020) and spent $120k in renovations over the course of the Covid year and finally moved into our house in April 2021. We have since documented 7 incidents where this area turns into a lake. It never dries out. We thought with a storm drain there would be no water problem. It is not clogged. It is a French drain and it does not work! IT HAS BEEN WET SINCE April 11, 2021. Hole #4 is the ONLY hole on Heron that DOES NOT drain to a retention pond. All the water from the tee to the green goes to this narrow area (approximately 70 ft.) between the golf cart path and the property line, up as high as 10-15 feet from the line.

We can not sit on our lanai's or open windows in the evenings because of the stench. We, along with our neighbors, have begun the arduous task of battling with TV to address and correct this issue.

We need your help! Please only positive comments because negative ones do no good! If You feel inclined to express your disgust with the conditions of Hole #4 Heron please contact:

Mitch Leininger
Director of Executive Golf Course Maintenance
Ph# 352-674-1885
Email -- Mitch.Leininger@DistrictGov.Org

Thank you all for your support with this issue!!!!!