[nitehawk]

Originally Posted by mickey100

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I can never understand why people who are unhappy with various parts of The Villages who express their opinion are maligned so. I wouldn't characterize the golf courses as cow pastures, but anyone who's played a lot of golf on decent courses has to admit the The Villages courses tend to be lacking. The conditions vary drastically. Generally speaking I'd classify them as just "okay", nothing to write home about. I've played golf for about 30 years and am an 11 handicap. I've heard the refrain "if you dont like it here you can leave' many times, and I just don't get why people take criticism of The Villages so personally. I've always advocated passing your complaints on to the right person, and maybe things will get improved. I think MikeOD is right, what we have as far as golf is probably as good as its going to get; but that doens't make the courses "good". I'd give our courses on average a C minus.

[waynet]

I think Village courses for the most part are pretty good. I do think that improvements can be made,that does not mean they are cow pastures.

[lovesports]

Originally Posted by mickey100

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I can never understand why people who are unhappy with various parts of The Villages who express their opinion are maligned so. I wouldn't characterize the golf courses as cow pastures, but anyone who's played a lot of golf on decent courses has to admit the The Villages courses tend to be lacking. The conditions vary drastically. Generally speaking I'd classify them as just "okay", nothing to write home about. I've played golf for about 30 years and am an 11 handicap. I've heard the refrain "if you dont like it here you can leave' many times, and I just don't get why people take criticism of The Villages so personally. I've always advocated passing your complaints on to the right person, and maybe things will get improved. I think MikeOD is right, what we have as far as golf is probably as good as its going to get; but that doens't make the courses "good". I'd give our courses on average a C minus.

Agree

[Fourpar]

Amen, and IMHO they have been going down hill a bit each of the 4 years I have been here. C- is about right now.

[rubicon]

The Villages courses get a lot of play. My group prefers to play off campus

[CatskillBill]

Funny how they jump the prices Oct 15th, then overseed. The courses are brought back too soon into the rotation with the greens uncut and with cart restrictions. That's why I prefer to go off campus between Oct 15th and Nov 15th. The outside course conditions are better and the rates are reasonable. Just remember to call ahead and ask about their overseeding schedules so you don't run into the same bad situation.

Your foursome may burn a little gas driving off campus, but at least your using their carts instead of yours when you get there. Plus, it's nice to have a change of scene playing courses outside the bubble.

But it all comes down to supply and demand to justify the price increases. Enough people here just grin and bear it and would never ever think of venturing outside The Villages, or God forbid, complain.

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by CatskillBill

Funny how they jump the prices Oct 15th, then overseed. The courses are brought back too soon into the rotation with the greens uncut and with cart restrictions. That's why I prefer to go off campus between Oct 15th and Nov 15th. The outside course conditions are better and the rates are reasonable. Just remember to call ahead and ask about their overseeding schedules so you don't run into the same bad situation.

Your foursome may burn a little gas driving off campus, but at least your using their carts instead of yours when you get there. Plus, it's nice to have a change of scene playing courses outside the bubble.

But it all comes down to supply and demand to justify the price increases. Enough people here just grin and bear it and would never ever think of venturing outside The Villages, or God forbid, complain.

Exactly. Many people are complacent and just accept what is dished out to them, never thinking that perhaps their comments and suggestions for improvement could make a difference. Our group is going to start playing off campus more too. Easier to get tee times, and the same prices for better conditions. I used to drive 20 minutes to get to a golf course up north, so not a big deal to drive 20-30 minutes down here. I think its called being a good consumer.

[Challenger]

C- minus is about right for most of the CC courses. The execs are not well maintained--IMHO

[spk7951]

Originally Posted by CatskillBill

Funny how they jump the prices Oct 15th, then over seed. The courses are brought back too soon into the rotation with the greens uncut and with cart restrictions. That's why I prefer to go off campus between Oct 15th and Nov 15th. The outside course conditions are better and the rates are reasonable. Just remember to call ahead and ask about their overseeding schedules so you don't run into the same bad situation.

Your foursome may burn a little gas driving off campus, but at least your using their carts instead of yours when you get there. Plus, it's nice to have a change of scene playing courses outside the bubble.

But it all comes down to supply and demand to justify the price increases. Enough people here just grin and bear it and would never ever think of venturing outside The Villages, or God forbid, complain.

Both of the groups that I golf with, on championship courses, do the same thing during fall overseed. Interestingly I was chatting with a neighbor recently who works for golf admin here. She was telling me that there have been a number of complaints received about the price increases just before overseed. Personally I will not hold my breath hoping for a change in that price policy.

[Fourpar]

Good idea not to hold one's breath....:-)

[ActsOfKindness]

I am visiting the site lol haha....i am a golfer. a lousy one. and no humility here. i quite stink. but i quite love the game so im out there swinging away haha. my husband and i agree it depends on which executive golf course you are speaking about..it seems to us.that they are not all created EQUAL HERE. WHICH BUMS ME OUT. WE LIVE near the churchill pimico and belmont executive courses.. and i think they are really ratty imho, but then when we play at hawks bay...they seem to be in fine condition. go figure. i dont know why some are in better shape than others...but in my humble opinion..it just depends on where you are going. by the way it has rained i think here for about 3 weeks..and it looks like we had some rain this summer, we are drying up again. i guess new york needed to send us some of their precipitation huh? thanks for reading this. take care.

[ukgolfer]

Just back from a week over in the villages and played 7 rounds in 7 days, I thought the courses were in pretty good condition, enjoyed the golf on Lopez, Glenview, Tierra del Sol, Havana, Cane Garden, Hacienda Hills, Palmer.....the overseeding was looking good and nice and green if not a bit fluffy and long..

[cabo35]

Recently played Palmer, Hacienda, Cane Garden, Havana, Evans Prairie and Tierra Del Sol. I have to say the courses were in fairly good condition. Better than last year.

The most improved was Cane Garden. Big improvement from last year but still needs some TLC. Palmer was in very good condition. Evans Prairie was ok. It needs to mature a little more. It has the same "feel" as Bonifay.

Played World Woods. Best public course in Florida. About an hour drive.

[CatskillBill]

With the new 2013 rates kicking in today, just "fairly good conditions" doesn't cut for $50 greens fee. Plus we're using our own carts. Supprised there isn't a championship trail fee to boot. These "Winter Rates" are until April 30th. That's a month too long. Easter is March 31st and alot of snowbirds are gone by then. Talk about greed. Guess as long as people will pay it, "stick it to them".