[The Gazette]

The Project Wide Advisory Committee will review a $5.2 million bid to renovate five executive golf courses early next week.* The bid from Landirr Inc, a golf course construction and maintenance company, will focus on five courses in The Villages. The courses include Bogart & Bacall, Bonita Pass, Heron, and Truman.* Courses will receive full

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[Bay Kid]

So glad they are keeping the courses in the best shape they can. It is a big job.

[bobmarc]

Someone should spend some money on the greens at Cane Garden.....played yesterday....terrible shape.

[coleprice]

Since the costs per course exceeds $1 Million, The Villages should consider redefining the statement of work for the "Renovation of Executive Golf Courses in The Villages". These Executive Golf Courses can be renovated in 45 to 60 days, which allows time to patch and spot re-seed tees, fairways and greens, plus make desired modifications. Currently, the Executive Golf Courses undergo major rebuilds, which are prohibitively expensive.

[PJOHNS2654]

I also played cane yesterday. Greens were worse than many of the Executive Courses.

[jimhoward]

$5.2M is a very small sum of money for 5 courses. The "renovations" are probably minor.

[Overlook1]

Agree Cane Garden bad shape. Needs help!

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by bobmarc

Someone should spend some money on the greens at Cane Garden.....played yesterday....terrible shape.

Cane Garden is scheduled for a complete renovation, after Havana is complete.

All 3 tracks at Havana are being done at one time, which is a departure from the usual process. If everything goes per schedule, Havana will re-open in November 2025 and in April 2026, renovations at Cane Garden will begin.

At least that's the schedule I was told, by a reliable source. Following the completion of Cane Garden, Mallory will be on the schedule, I believe.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by coleprice

Since the costs per course exceeds $1 Million, The Villages should consider redefining the statement of work for the "Renovation of Executive Golf Courses in The Villages". These Executive Golf Courses can be renovated in 45 to 60 days, which allows time to patch and spot re-seed tees, fairways and greens, plus make desired modifications. Currently, the Executive Golf Courses undergo major rebuilds, which are prohibitively expensive.

Originally Posted by jimhoward

$5.2M is a very small sum of money for 5 courses. The "renovations" are probably minor.

The renovations are fairly extensive.

I spent a few hours with Mitch Leininger last year and try to convince him of a more (IMO) practical way to renovate and maintain the Executive courses. Although he seemed receptive, I got the impression that he wasn't interested in making any major changes. That may have been because he didn't think the idea would fly with his bosses or perhaps he just wasn't interested in additional work.

Mitch (who was the Director of the Exec courses) has moved on to work for the USGA and the District is currently advertising for a replacement. As of right now, I'm not sure who's in charge of the Executive courses.

The job posting for the position seems much more structured and the District seems interested in hiring someone who has more experience than Mitch had. For what they're offering money-wise, I think they're being optimistic.

As of this week, the District is no longer taking applications for the position, so it seems they've either hired someone or have narrowed down the applicants and doing final interviews.

Director Executive Golf Maintenance in The Villages, FL for The Villages Community Development District

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by bobmarc

Someone should spend some money on the greens at Cane Garden.....played yesterday....terrible shape.

Cane Garden is owned by the developer and not involved in the maintenance cost(s) of he the exec courses

[dlscards]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

So glad they are keeping the courses in the best shape they can. It is a big job.

Should be shut down before it gets totally out of hand.

[DonH57]

Haven't played it yet but I hope with all the work done to Chula Vista course they solved the issue with the first three fairways being soaking wet despite even without weeks of rain they were like a sponge.

[HIgolfers]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Cane Garden is scheduled for a complete renovation, after Havana is complete.

All 3 tracks at Havana are being done at one time, which is a departure from the usual process. If everything goes per schedule, Havana will re-open in November 2025 and in April 2026, renovations at Cane Garden will begin.

At least that's the schedule I was told, by a reliable source. Following the completion of Cane Garden, Mallory will be on the schedule, I believe.

Wasn’t Havana recently renovated?

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

Wasn’t Havana recently renovated?

Closing in April for the start of renovations.


They over-seeded, so that may be why it looks "green".