[bopat]

Future villager here, trying to learn as much as we can before we make the move. Noticed that a lot (most?) clubs require a yearly fee? Just wondering what it's for and how it all works.

[villagetinker]

Executive golf courses (9 holes) are free (included in your amenity fee), championship courses (18 holes) have a fee. I have never used one of these so I do not know the fees. All of the courses have a golf cart fee, we pay by the year around $140 as I recall.
I will leave it to others to provide more details. My reply assumed you were asking about golf courses, if you were asking about the Rec centers located at the golf courses, these are free until you order a drink or food.

[Mrs.Guy]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Executive golf courses (9 holes) are free (included in your amenity fee), championship courses (18 holes) have a fee. I have never used one of these so I do not know the fees. All of the courses have a golf cart fee, we pay by the year around $140 as I recall.
I will leave it to others to provide more details. My reply assumed you were asking about golf courses, if you were asking about the Rec centers located at the golf courses, these are free until you order a drink or food.

Rec. centers offer drink and food?

[Mrs.Guy]

Originally Posted by bopat

Future villager here, trying to learn as much as we can before we make the move. Noticed that a lot (most?) clubs require a yearly fee? Just wondering what it's for and how it all works.

May or may not want to get your (correct) info on the Villages web site.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by bopat

Future villager here, trying to learn as much as we can before we make the move. Noticed that a lot (most?) clubs require a yearly fee? Just wondering what it's for and how it all works.

What do you mean “clubs”?

[tophcfa]

Fees are very reasonable and are only designed for the clubs to break even, covering basic operating costs like maintaining a web site. At first the dues were $5 per year for the Villages Deep Sea Fishing Club, and they felt bad when they had to increase the annual fee to $10. Basically, club fees are a non issue.

[MrFlorida]

Depends on which club you are interested in. Fees vary.

[Stu from NYC]

Think your talking about social clubs and dues are about $ 10 pp per year. Some more and some less. Additional charges to cover food and entertainment at meetings.

We have joined quite a few clubs so guess we pay about $ 200 per year in dues

[rhood]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Executive golf courses (9 holes) are free (included in your amenity fee), championship courses (18 holes) have a fee. I have never used one of these so I do not know the fees. All of the courses have a golf cart fee, we pay by the year around $140 as I recall.
I will leave it to others to provide more details. My reply assumed you were asking about golf courses, if you were asking about the Rec centers located at the golf courses, these are free until you order a drink or food.

Don’t think he is asking about golf.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by bopat

Future villager here, trying to learn as much as we can before we make the move. Noticed that a lot (most?) clubs require a yearly fee? Just wondering what it's for and how it all works.

It is a bit confusing when new. I know we were escorted by a sales rep years ago who showed us the highlights going through several rec centers and pointing out the art, pottery, dance , exercise, etc. FREE classes, and telling us how there is virtually no craft or hobby or activity that does not offer one or more classes and or meetings. Of course it did not occur to us WHO employs all those instructors and how all those club expenses are met .... I suppose somewhere in the "back" (?) of our minds we assumed that's what the "activity" fee covered (and included executive golf), but the only emphasis we got from the rep was "there are NO HOA fees here" (music to our ears and probably to others !). But logically, how could 2500-3000 or more clubs and classes be conducted on "activity" fees. We (and probably others ?) only liked what we saw and never really questioned anything in depth. Once we settled in, we learned all these classes and activities depend on the generosity of the residents, the wonderful and talented people who SHARE their leadership and knowledge of everything from ballet dancing to oil painting, ceramics to quilting, and scrap booking to writing and publishing. With out your neighbors here, your activities would be limited to golf, tennis, soft ball, and many others, but not the mind boggling array that exists here. Now, the "fees" part, once you realize it's not possible to expect your neighbor(s) who teach your class or activity, to absorb all the club expenses (which include but not limited to, snacks at meetings and sessions, paper plates and napkins, coffee and cups, mailings, ink costs for home printers used to print instructions for various hobbies and techniques, stamps and envelopes for a postal mailing, you get the idea, and one major expense is PROTECTION for those volunteering to teach all these activities and classes, setting up a bank account (if they purchase group materials, such as clay for pottery, or collecting for a trips for a travel club) and bonding the club's officers (if a club of course) who may be collecting money for an event or materials for the entire group to share. Hope that gives you a little better understanding of how such a mind boggling array of activities can be offered here ! It does take awhile. It took us several months after moving in understand why people with no gate cards would just have the gate open for them with no conversation or identification ! We didn't know, when your rep took us around he always used a gate pass and waited for the gate... how were we to know you don't even need one ? LOL ! Yes, it takes awhile, but little by little it will all make sense..hopefully !

[augustnotes]

Don't be afraid of cost of most clubs. Most are free or charge for supplies. Like the sailing club charges $10 for the year. Come on down and have a great life in The Villages.

[bowlingal]

all country clubs require a membership fee to use their golf courses ( championship courses...18 holes) and their pools. Using their restaurants and bars is open to the public, anyone can go use them. I am assuming that you are talking about country clubs, and not regular clubs that meet at rec centers

[Rwirish]

Keep the club running.

[crash]

Originally Posted by bopat

Future villager here, trying to learn as much as we can before we make the move. Noticed that a lot (most?) clubs require a yearly fee? Just wondering what it's for and how it all works.

A lot of the clubs have and annual fee but it is minimum $5 to $10 a year. Some also charge for a meeting when entertainment or food is offered. This can be $5 to $15 depending on cost. My line dance club does not charge nor my fitness club or card clubs but the social club and fishing club have a small annual charge.

[Darcue]

Originally Posted by bopat

Future villager here, trying to learn as much as we can before we make the move. Noticed that a lot (most?) clubs require a yearly fee? Just wondering what it's for and how it all works.

Some clubs may charge supplies;I.e. art clubs, cooking clubs, etc by the instructor because he/she may supply them with thing’s necessary for a class. Usually it’s nominal - a few dollars.