[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Maker

Maybe eliminate golf maintenance costs from all amenity fees, and charge enough money per round to have better maintenance than the present way.
That way, the people who golf can decide with their wallet if playing the course is worth it.

Yeah, one could do that with all the amenities, pay as you go. Wouldn't that be a smack-down of what The Villages has to offer? One can buy crowded housing almost anywhere but the "amenities" are supposed to be the attraction to TVs.

[hdanielblank]

Originally Posted by mdchartier

Sarasota golf course is in embarrassing shape. Last time I checked our amenity fees covered the upkeep and maintenance of the executive courses. It looks like they just aerated the fairways so I will give them a pass on that, but the tee boxes and greens are in terrible shape. Hole 6 for example has no distinctive collar around the green, it's just clumps of weeds. Collars are extremely important to the playability and aesthetics of a golf course green, creating definition between the putting surface and the rough. You have to see it to believe it, the aesthetics and maintenance of this course is lacking and whoever is in charge of overseeing this should probably take a ride around the course. The courses look great from the street until you actually get on them and see how badly maintained they are. I know the executive courses are sourced out, maybe that is the problem. The championship courses don't look like this, and maybe that's because the employees are residents of the villages and actually care.

Just played it last Monday early AM. Had no troubles with the greens on 6 (a very rare par for me). I had lots of trouble on 3, but that's the golfer not the course. I only golf in the early morning but golfers track, divot, and mess up greens with shoes that need retiring all day long. I'm not sure what your expectations are but I would rather have Sarasota open. Then having it down two or more months for green repair, have it be absolutely gorgeous for four weeks, then watch the wear and tear from constant use and abuse spark complaints like yours again. Of course, golf is simple recreation and fun to me - I don't even keep score.

[mdchartier]

[QUOTE=BrianL99;2441046]Same 3-4 contractors maintain the Exec courses and Championship courses.



Not true, Southern Oaks and Shallow creek are maintained by individuals hired by the Villages

[BrianL99]

[QUOTE=mdchartier;2441126]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Same 3-4 contractors maintain the Exec courses and Championship courses.



Not true, Southern Oaks and Shallow creek are maintained by individuals hired by the Villages

That may be true. Developer brought the contractors from TDS & Glenview to Shallow Creek to handle the grow in. It would make sense to use that same crew for SO.

When speaking of Championship golf courses in TV, hardly anyone ever considers SO or SC ... just not on the radar screen.

[PurePeach]

Originally Posted by TomSpasm

I play Executive Golf twice a week at courses north of 44 and I've not played a course in poor shape in at least a year. Where are all these courses in "poor shape"?

I played “newly reopened” Pimlico a week and a half ago and the greens looked like tanks had driven over them. El Diablo last week — bare spots and weed wads on greens. Just to name 2 north of 44.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by PurePeach

I played “newly reopened” Pimlico a week and a half ago and the greens looked like tanks had driven over them. El Diablo last week — bare spots and weed wads on greens. Just to name 2 north of 44.

But there are over 700 courses and we should just be satisfied with that and not expect anything more...

[jimhoward]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Same 3-4 contractors maintain the Exec courses and Championship courses.



Please let me know if you find a private golf course to join, within 45 minutes of The Villages.

45 minutes is a pretty big range. That gets you to Orlando, at least from my part of the villages in the south.

I am a member at Reunion Resort in Kissimmee and I actually can get there is 45 minutes if I step on it things go right. Of course it can also take 80 minutes.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by TomSpasm

I play Executive Golf twice a week at courses north of 44 and I've not played a course in poor shape in at least a year. Where are all these courses in "poor shape"?

Mangrove, Sweetgum, and Palmetto were all bad until they closed all of them. The starter said they will only keep one of the three open until snowbird season.

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by PurePeach

I played “newly reopened” Pimlico a week and a half ago and the greens looked like tanks had driven over them. El Diablo last week — bare spots and weed wads on greens. Just to name 2 north of 44.

Funny you should mention that about tanks. Recently within the past 3 weeks we've played, Hill Top, Briarwood, Churchill, and Mira Mesa. All had what look like 4 separate tank tread marks across the greens. If you had to putt near the tread depressions your ball went which any way it wanted to!

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

Mangrove, Sweetgum, and Palmetto were all bad until they closed all of them. The starter said they will only keep one of the three open until snowbird season.

Walnut Grove closed two days after we played it. It was decided by someone the greens and bunkers needed to be tore up and redone. Why. I have no idea. All was good!

[Rocksnap]

Originally Posted by TomSpasm

I play Executive Golf twice a week at courses north of 44 and I've not played a course in poor shape in at least a year. Where are all these courses in "poor shape"?

There’s a whole big world out there south of 44. Played Truman yesterday. Greens are a lil ruff, to say the least. Thin with bare spots. I don’t care, but you asked.

[Whatnext]

Originally Posted by PurePeach

I played “newly reopened” Pimlico a week and a half ago and the greens looked like tanks had driven over them.

Originally Posted by DonH57

Funny you should mention that about tanks. Recently within the past 3 weeks we've played, Hill Top, Briarwood, Churchill, and Mira Mesa. All had what look like 4 separate tank tread marks across the greens. If you had to putt near the tread depressions your ball went which any way it wanted to!

(Very) Big Dave was temporarily on the mower last week.
Tiny Tim will be back shortly!

[Troyrichards]

Harbor Hills Country Club offers a Regional Membership that is a great value.

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Same 3-4 contractors maintain the Exec courses and Championship courses.



Please let me know if you find a private golf course to join, within 45 minutes of The Villages.

[UpNorth]

Originally Posted by Troyrichards

Harbor Hills Country Club offers a Regional Membership that is a great value.

Not private, although it could be. I am surprised that there are not more private country clubs in the area. The closest one I can think of is Golden Ocala. It takes a strong membership with big bucks to keep a private country club going.

[Jim1mack]

Sweetgum, Mangrove, palmetto, turtle mound are currently closed for various renovations. Unfortunantly these are the closest ones to my house. Makes the ones that are farther away harder to get on.