[red tail]

Originally Posted by Greg Nelson

The free courses close to us in the 'northern subs' have always been just fine. Of course here in Minnesota where there are a half dozen courses near by that range from ok to excellent. The course we belong to 'Green Valley' started out as a bean field! But for less than $400 a season per couple and get this..you can bring your dog! (weekdays only and with no problems)

I have never met anyone from Minnesota that didn't think it was the greatest place on earth! I could never figure it out. weather and taxes are both outrageous, but the love never wavers. I was raised in Michigan and retired from Hawaii but I love florida the best!

[Greg Nelson]

Red Tail the weather here is ideal in the SUMMER! 82/68 today. But winters here are a very long bad trip. I'll be back in TV on November 1st in Quail Ridge and then 3 months on Islamorada. Not much golfing there, but lots of water activities. SCUBA/snorkel/fishing etc.

[red tail]

atta boy, I guess you have the best of both worlds!

[Greg Nelson]

We sold our home in Mexico along the border with Belice last fall. My wife wanted to buy in TV but when I said ok BUT she pay half, that ended that for now. Then my advisor from Fidelity said we could live on what we have, with no major pitfalls until in our 90's. He made the point that would mean no big house buying. Yes, I'm thankful for all we have. Renting just makes good sense...for now....we live 40 miles east of Fargo in a county with 412 lakes and it is beautiful...got the top down on the Thunderbird!

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by CatskillBill

I guess he figured 10 courses have 3 nines (30) and 2 have just a front & back (4)= 34

If you send off golfers all day long on all 3 nines at the same time 8 minutes apart wouldn't they run into each other when they play 18 holes?

[bagboy]

The newer strains of grass developed over the last decade or two have been mostly for greens, and some for seaside courses who have salt air. And even some of those grasses can be watered with a water/salt water mix. As for the fairways that we golf on in the south, Tifway419 has been the industry standard for over 40 years. There hasn't been major development with respect to fairway turf grass. A good root system depends on the roots taking hold, going down into the sandy soil, and finding water. Water. So the too little too much argument usually is very valid. That argument of course should never cover up laziness or ineptness when it comes to management/staff on any golf course. And since most complaints seem to be directed at the lushness of turf, or lack thereof, it appears the "grooming" of the golf courses is being done properly. I have no idea who the superintendents and decision makers are here in The Villages, but I have to believe they are highly qualified individuals, or they would not have been hired by the developer or golf management in the first place.

[mickey100]

There have been a number of changes in the maintenance companies that take care of the golf course maintenance, in the past year, due to poor performance. The Developer contracts out the maintenance, and if the contractors don't perform, they get dropped and replaced. The problem is, when a course gets really run down, as some of them are, it takes more than a month or two for them to come back. Hopefully these new companies that have been hired will do a better job, and we'll be seeing better conditions later in the year.

[johnboy]

Originally Posted by tomwed

How did you come up with 34 foursomes?

Lopez has 3 nine hole courses. At 7:28am a foresome goes out on all 3 courses. That 3 foresomes for each of the 10 Championship courses for a total of 30 foursomes. Tierra and OB only have 2 nine hole courses, that 4 more foresomes going out at 7:28. Then at 7:36 34 more foresomes go out, this continues until the last tee time of 9:28 for the 1st wave. Then at 11:56 it starts all over again with 34 more foresomes going out each tee time through 1:28.

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by johnboy

Lopez has 3 nine hole courses. At 7:28am a foresome goes out on all 3 courses. That 3 foresomes for each of the 10 Championship courses for a total of 30 foursomes. Tierra and OB only have 2 nine hole courses, that 4 more foresomes going out at 7:28. Then at 7:36 34 more foresomes go out, this continues until the last tee time of 9:28 for the 1st wave. Then at 11:56 it starts all over again with 34 more foresomes going out each tee time through 1:28.

I understand now.

It's every 8 minutes from 7:28 until 9:28 =120 min=60 golfers

And again from 11:56 until 1:28.=90 min=44 golfers

The potential daily income for a course at $30/person is 30x104 is about $3,000/day.

That sounds right and makes sense.

[johnboy]

Originally Posted by tomwed

If you send off golfers all day long on all 3 nines at the same time 8 minutes apart wouldn't they run into each other when they play 18 holes?

Laurel goes to Riley / Riley goes to Cherry / Cherry goes to Laurel. Tee times are only for 2 hours from 7:26 thru 9:28. Then the 2nd wave starts at 11:56 thru 1:28 That is why they don't run into each other.

[Edjkoz]

Played Sweetgum today. This course should definitely be closed for at least a month. There are no greens. Every green is brown with only very sparse grass. You literally cannot putt. In addition, on more than one hole, the hole was collapsing in on itself. It is a disgrace that they keep this course open

[joldnol]

Pelican Needs to be closed for the summer

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by joldnol

Pelican Needs to be closed for the summer

No, forever.

[CatskillBill]

Havana not too bad. Riley Grove great fairways, but losing their greens. Not worth the $$$$$

[Challenger]

Originally Posted by dbussone

No, forever.

Really Bad- greens are gone-- Also Palmetto is in trouble- Have never seen greens this bad- anywhere