[terryf484]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Want to improve conditions on the executive courses ? Decrease demand :
1 - Build more executive courses in the south
2 - Have them lower the high season prices on the championship courses !

I don't believe it is the high demand on the courses that is causing the problem. I think it is the maintenance of the courses. i.e. green conditions on Bonita Pass, Pelican, Tarpon Boil are not due to heavy play, there is disease in the greens.

[DoreenH]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

There have been many threads this spring about the deplorable exec and champ course conditions. In my experience, the executives are worse than they’ve been in the last few years, the champs are as bad as the have been historically (albeit not good, just about the same as the last few years). For example, Havana has been bad the last few years.

WHAT DO WE (as residents) DO?
email the paper?
Email someone in the developer’s org?
Email someone in the districts org (or some other home owner org)?

We should be coordinated;; i.e. the same message to the same group of people.

Any ideas?

There is a meeting on Wednesday March 6 at 9:00am at the Savannah Rec Center. Some people are going there to talk to the AAC governing group about the bad condition of the Executive courses. They don't want to cause trouble; just make their opinions known. The more people that attend, the better the message will be!

[mikemalloy]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

There have been many threads this spring about the deplorable exec and champ course conditions. In my experience, the executives are worse than they’ve been in the last few years, the champs are as bad as the have been historically (albeit not good, just about the same as the last few years). For example, Havana has been bad the last few years.

WHAT DO WE (as residents) DO?
email the paper?
Email someone in the developer’s org?
Email someone in the districts org (or some other home owner org)?

We should be coordinated;; i.e. the same message to the same group of people.

Any ideas?

The only thing that the greedy folks who are destroying the lifestyle here will understand is financial pressure. I'd like to see an organized "rent strike." A court approved program where part of ammenities fees are withheld until course conditions are brought to an acceptable level is a start.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Yes----limited to owners and renters of 30 days or more, as well as their guests. Not much of a limitation except for the Airbnb's and other STRs. Residents other than golfers would benefit as well---less crowding on pickleball courts and other activities at the Rec Centers such as exercise classes. Just how attractive would a STR in The Villages be if all you could do is stare at the four walls?

Geez, I'm agreeing with you too often, lately.

I've been involved in a few STR controversy, in a couple of towns up north. There was a thread on TOTV about a year ago, complaining about STR's and their effect on the community.

I put together a "rough framework", that was primarily focused on controlling guest passes (or ID's) and essentially making it difficult (if not impossible) to get a Guest Pass for renters who were here less than a month (thereby reducing STR rentals and stress on the amenities) My framework wasn't without holes, it was a "first pass" at an idea. What I considered the lynch pin of the idea, were all the controls that needed to be put in place, were within the jurisdiction of the CDD's and could be implemented, without running afoul of Florida's law that prevents communities from outlawing STR's. As you correctly point out, "amenity access" is the key and probably out of reach by the state's prohibition on STR control.

The reaction from the peanut gallery, was exactly as you would expect. No a person offered a substantive alternative, solution or even a tweak. It was much more fun to complain and poke holes.

The basic hole in my premise, was the Developer has a vested interest in maintaining a "full occupancy of homes" at all times. Why? Because the Developer owns all the commercial properties and the value of those properties, is entirely based on the revenue generated by the tenants. More "residents" = more shoppers, more diners, more everything ... including higher rents for the commercial space. Keep in mind, once the CDD's take over the infrastructure, there's no more increased costs for the developer ... roads, police, utilities, emergency, etc. All those costs are being absorbed by the CDD's.

[PurePeach]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Yes.

While all those have an effect, they are behaviors that golf courses everywhere, deal with and have for the history of golf.

Those problems aren't isolated to The Villages and not the major cause of the horrendous conditions on many of TV's golf courses.

Agree. those things have absolutely nothing to do with bald greens and greens covered in weed wads making good putting impossible.

[Jdasta]

The creator of WingNut, has answered the question about the golf courses several times. There is a fungal disease. They are fighting it, but it spreads on shoes and mower equipment from one course to the other. Those who have had fungal problems with their lawns know that many times the lawn needs to be resodded and the top layer of soil removed, because the fungus is in the soil. We had fungal problems with our lawn when we were in Georgia. We had it resodded, but it eventually came back. It is a horrible problem. It will take a long time and cost a lot to fix the problem.
The developer is responsible only for those courses he has not yet released. To fix other golf courses, the monies will have to come from amenity fees in those districts.

[PurePeach]

Just put this on my calendar

[Oneiric]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

I’m not a golfer yet, but I do read these threads out of curiosity. While watching a live Q&A show on YouTube with Don Wiley (Gold Wingnut) a week ago he was asked about the poor condition of many of the courses. He said TV is dealing with a serious fungal infection on many courses and working on it, but it’s not an easy fix. This is just my best recollection of his response, not a quote. Since fungus hasn’t been mentioned in this comment thread I’m assuming it’s not common knowledge.

Fungus on golf courses is not a new entity. It requires maintenance to provide more than the minimum care with expensive fungicides and other practices to stay AHEAD of it. If not caught early, the grass dies, then it can get REALLY expensive. If you apply the minimum contractual effort to a serious problem, this is what you have now.

[Vermilion Villager]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I doubt "snowbirds" (seasonal residents who are owners and therefore have a vested interest in our community) are the problem. Renters, especially those that do not return year after year and STRs are probably an issue. Lack of knowledge by those maintaining the course is probably a huge factor.

And there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON, EVER, TO WALK YOUR DOG ON GOLF COURSE PROPERTY!

Agree everything you said. It appears the new norm for people is to just don't give a #$%^. I've seen in the last 2 Weeks People driving their golf carts right up on the green, throw cigarette butts out while they're driving their golf carts, and not even make an attempt to repair any damage to the course that they may have caused while golfing. I've also witnessed people walking their dogs on paths that say golf carts only. My friend hit an errant shot that bounced off the golf cart path right in front of two ladies and they were a little miffed that we almost hit them! When I explain to them this path is for golf use only they looked at me and just kept walking. Then on top of that you have to add the fact that this has been an unusually cold and wet winter… That alone also has a detrimental effect on the golf course. The point I'm trying to make it's everything combined that is making it so bad this year!

[LarryL]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

There have been many threads this spring about the deplorable exec and champ course conditions. In my experience, the executives are worse than they’ve been in the last few years, the champs are as bad as the have been historically (albeit not good, just about the same as the last few years). For example, Havana has been bad the last few years.

WHAT DO WE (as residents) DO?
email the paper?
Email someone in the developer’s org?
Email someone in the districts org (or some other home owner org)?

We should be coordinated;; i.e. the same message to the same group of people.

Any ideas?

encourage all priority golfers to cancel, telling them that they raised the cost and ruined the courses at the same time! Totally unacceptable!

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by mikemalloy

The only thing that the greedy folks who are destroying the lifestyle here will understand is financial pressure. I'd like to see an organized "rent strike." A court approved program where part of ammenities fees are withheld until course conditions are brought to an acceptable level is a start.

So, you would like to see it. Will you be willing to take action to make it happen?

[Cheapbas]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

There have been many threads this spring about the deplorable exec and champ course conditions. In my experience, the executives are worse than they’ve been in the last few years, the champs are as bad as the have been historically (albeit not good, just about the same as the last few years). For example, Havana has been bad the last few years.

WHAT DO WE (as residents) DO?
email the paper?
Email someone in the developer’s org?
Email someone in the districts org (or some other home owner org)?

We should be coordinated;; i.e. the same message to the same group of people.

Any ideas?

I think rather then point to “they” or “ management” we need the person on top of the pyramid who is responsible for it all and approach them.

I don’t believe high traffic is the issue, I’ve seen other courses booked solid constantly not have these problems. Whether it’s weather, disease, improper attention or budgetary they are not throwing the proper resources at it.

[josephchiro]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Yes

Take a day off playing Championship Courses and hold a monster GOLF CART PARADE!

Villagers ban together and all boycott all golf for several days....hit them in the wallet

[JMintzer]

My suggestion is to start yet another thread on the very same topic as the other half a dozen threads that will do absolutely noting to fix the problem...

[Happydaz]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

My suggestion is to start yet another thread on the very same topic as the other half a dozen threads that will do absolutely noting to fix the problem...

Who says? It looks like a number of posters may go to the upcoming meetings to talk about their concerns.