100,000 people down here (some seasonal, some full time, so vacationers), now count the number of negative comments on your fingers. Not many places have that many satisfied people vs. the 1/2 empty glass holders. I remember when gas was $0.27 per gallon. Still buying gas and still enjoying driving my car.

:welcome::welcome:

I agree they can set price at what the market will bear, but I was curious about this, so looked back in Quicken. My records only go back to the winter season of 2008 for a priority member.

I do not have any records of pricing for non priority members and could not find old price sheets to compare.

Off site courses are more than competitive during the winter, conditions are usually better, and the courses appreciate your business. And it is a nice change of play.

Wheather you are a "casual" golfer or a "serious" golfer or somewhere in between (casual/serious) there is golf for everyone here in The Villages. You can play nine hole executive courses and it doesn't cost you anything except your monthly amenity fee. You can live in a $900,000 home or $125,000 home and be quite comfortable.

Isn't this a great place or what?

A lot depends on where you come from. John W mentioned several courses near his former residence that charged in the $30-40 range. I looked at where I lived and the nice courses charge around $65-75 weekdays and $85-100 weekends/holidays. So the rates here, even in high season, don't seem so bad. And there are places to play outside the bubble that are even less expensive. I remember that I had to get in the car and drive before, so it's not much of an inconvenience to do so now.

That's very helpful. The courses go up about a dollar a year. I like the after 5 summertime rate. I also think it's very decent of the courses to charge half as much for nine holes. Where I'm from the nine hole rate is about 2/3 the 18 hole rate.

Outside golf
 

I play with a group that goes outside the bubble twice a month during the winter months. We take turns driving and keep the group to two foursome's with a couple of guys that will sub. It's a good "change of pace" and the cost depends on what courses we play. Sometimes it's less than TV and sometimes a bit more.

When we make our "trek" north in the summer, it's similar. You can play for as little as $25 including cart (senior days) or pay $50-$75 depending on the courses you play. I find myself leaning toward the cheaper (but maintained) courses the older I get and as my skill level diminishes.

I am wondering if those who are concerned about the price of playing 18 holes here in TV were golfers before they came here. If yes, then one knows that the rates here in TV are very attractively price compared to comparable clubs and clourses.

As far as the pricing to play on the championship courses dicouraging potential buyers, I would think here again....maybe only the non golfers....the rest will look at the prices as a savings for life......TV has grown over double in size over the last 10 years for a reason.

To each his/her own....the priority club rates are reasonable even after the price increase.

Take advantage of? I guess you didn't investigate this place much before you moved here. Championship Golf courses, restaurants, shops and stores are not included and are not here for any other reason then to make a profit. If your retirement doesn't let you participate there are lots of other activities to fit everyone's financial situation. They have no obligation to structure their business around an individuals circumstances.

:coolsmiley:

The way I look at it....................I need to budget $7,500 per year for golf in TV. It's cheaper than my country club up North and I have more than 18 holes to play. Just my way of thinking.

Have you ever used golfnow.com?

Do me a favor. Go to golfnow.com. Look at the courses that are discounted in our area and tell me what ones are usually in good shape.
I think I might make a big circle on google maps, bring my camera and scout out the neighboring courses outside the villages that use golfnow.
For now I am very happy to play the champs after 5pm.

Start by quit reading TOTV......if you can't pick out the whiners!

On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best I would give: all the champs I played in TV a 5
continental - 3
lakes of lady lake - 1

I think these are the closest courses to me.

Are any of the ones below a 4 or 5?
wedgewood
harbor hills
water oak
links of spruce creek
miona lake golf club
van der valk
mission inn

By comparison to TV which I don't disagree should be a five on a scale of 1-10.

Harbor Hills = 8
Water Oak= -3
Links of Spruce Creek =5
Miona Lake = -2
Mission Inn = 10

Never heard of the other two so they are probably in negative numbers also.

rate increases
 

What you all need to understand, is THE VILLAGES was designed for our residents to be catered to. Translation: You get to use YOUR OWN golf cart, no extra charge. You get a "contained" environment with teriffic facilities, prices that are competitive, and you dont have to schlep your clubs in and out of your car, etc, etc, etc.

Want real world prices? Go to Orlando. Go to Tampa. Go to Gainsville. The championship courses in THE VILLAGES ARE PUBLIC GOLF COURSES. ANYONE can play here as long as they are willing to pay the price. PRIORITY memberships are exactly what they imply. You pay for PRIORITY you get PRIORITY when REQUESTING a tee time up to 7 days in advance. Non priority residents, get whats left, OUTSIDERS can only obtain a tee time by calling the TEE TIME OFFICE 3 days in advance of the desired day of play, or the golf course ON THE DAY OF PLAY.

Do the math. What do you think each course has to pay maintenance staff, starters, golf course SHOP staff, etc??? If you factor in minimum wage, the number per day will scare the pants off of you. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.