Building Pitch and Putts instead of Executive courses
 

[QUOTE=natjos;2293940]Well I have finally experienced the difficulty getting a Tee time that others have complained about. It has everything to do with the golfers in all of the new developments coming north because of the lack of courses in the south. I have been here for 10 years and have never been constantly shut out of getting a time.

The buildings of Pitch and Putts instead of Executive courses needs to stop. When you look for an open tee time Richmond, Marshview, Mickeylee are ALWAYS OPEN. Other courses well north of 466 are also occasionally open. The developer needs to convert southern Pitch and Putts to executive courses.

Also beware of the Disc Golf conversion. Much cheaper to maintain cans than greens. Downside will be the carpal tunnel that players develop. Grandkids need to stop being greedy

😎

For those who like to complain about the lack of available tee times, consider this: As a community, The Villages has more holes of golf available than anywhere else in the world. Think about that. Where else could you go where you think the situation is better? Kind of reminds me of the person holding a Virginia ham under each arm, complaining that they have no bread.

Be flexible. Be proactive. With skill and perseverance, you will get a tee time.

I live south of 44 and typically play 3-4 times a week with neighbors. We have several groups in our neighborhood ranging from as small as 4-8 and as many as 32 golfers. In the last few weeks we got tee times for two large groups of 28-32 golfers, so there are tee times available if you know how to use the online system.

Yes, we've also been shut out, but rarely.

Sorry for those with limited flexibility.

The developer knows how full the courses are or aren't. They also have stats showing cancellations and unused tee times.

Be flexible, be persistent. You can get a tee time with better planning.

People just don’t think! They cannot see the obvious! Just take a few moments and close your eyes and think! Think of a community up north where you came from that has about 150,000 residents. Think about all the shops, plazas, restaurants, supermarkets, parks, roads, hospitals, etc.etc. Do you think all those things were built before the people moved there???!!! “Patience Grasshoppers”!!!

Nope.

All are land developers.

Harold & Gary made over a BILLION dollars developing land.

Third & Fourth generations are developing land and making a buck.

All very successful.

Same model.

:ho:

No - it is a "Putt & Play" course. Like a miniature golf course on steroids.

I don't play golf in TV, haven't for several years, not worth the hassle. I'm willing to drive 30 minutes, plus or minus, to other courses in the area, there are many. Really, I often do the same when playing golf back in the Detroit area.

Not quite true. There are way more courses in Myrtle Beach

Also not obvious…….the developer doesn’t read TV blogs. Complaining here only feeds your mind.

... along with:


Naples

Sarasota

Ft. Myers

Syracuse, NY

Deluth, MN

Utica, NY

Hitlon Head

Getting over crowded
 

That’s why I sold 3 years ago saw it coming and only going to get worst.

The “Myrtle Beach Courses” spreads over 2 states and 10-20 communities and 40-50 miles N/S and 10-20 miles E/W. Almost ever one is a championship course.

When the weather becomes a factor , they officially declare the day (or time range) a “1 point day , no cancellation points”

However , when YOU decide to cancel because you don’t want to play for whatever reason, then you WILL get that cancellation point .

Additionally, you need to put in for A LOT MORE than 4-5 courses . And if you know you have 4 points , don’t bother putting in because you won’t get a tee time this time of year .

Also , keep in mind that we had some pretty cold and windy conditions last week and there were a lot of cancellations.

So those that cancelled last week are trying to make up for it this week …..

I put in a request for a foursome for this week and got shut out ….. But we went in with an average of 2.9 points. I put in for 27 courses (not a typo) over a 3 1/2 hr window …..

& you could buy a fancy house for $175,000.

Times change.

Not even close to accurate on several levels. Myrtle Beach has more (as do other locations mentioned), but the REAL difference is in TV most people are retired or semi-retired, which means they can play golf all day. In Myrtle Beach most people are still working jobs, etc. and leave golf mostly to tourists. Thus, the competition for tee times is much higher among TV residents. IMO, this will be self-correcting. Once the complaints get loud enough, negative golfing posts prolific enough, TV age retiree reviews start calling into question the lifestyle as pertains to golf, etc. Have some bad reviews show up in Golf Digest, etc., and retirees concerned about golf will look elsewhere, and new homes will sit unsold or price cuts. The damage will be done and will take years to correct.

I want to start playing golf again, since work had consumed the last decade plus of my time. But I didn't move here just for golf. Had I moved for golf, I would be in Myrtle Beach where there are over 100 18-hole courses (some being redeveloped) and not just a bunch of executive courses. They overbuilt, IMO.

Posts here are mostly preaching to the choir. Taking your complaints outside TV and TOTV to where it impacts the desire of people to move here for "free golf" will have a much greater impact. Post to retirement and golf heavy websites.

FYI, HUGE homes for the same or less money on golf courses in Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach Homes for Sale | Find Myrtle Beach Area Homes

:BigApplause:

One group I play twice a week, executive, can have 60-80 split between 4 courses.Only shut out twice in 2 years no matter what time of year. Other exec group has 40 plus split into 2 groups and shut out only 4-5 times, a year.

Never a problem getting on championship.

Many run into no tee times, not because of someone coming from a different area, but narrow times between a handful of courses and a short window for time.

I play with guys who will only play courses within 10 ride, and only during a couple hour window. Some guys near OB have no idea where Havana or Mallory are located. Some have never heard of the newer courses. Yep that can be a shut out even in Summer.

I don’t understand why with so many opportunities to play something different every week, the need to stay so close. Maybe it’s the not feeling comfortable navigating to a different area.

They don't charge cancellation points when there's bad weather, sounds like you had a "no show" which will cost you 3 points.

Got shut out twice last week with only 0ne point. Put in for 9 different courses and a wide time frame. Living the dream is fading.

Did you put in as a single or group ?
If a group what was the point average ?
If a group was there a guest ?
How wide was the time frame ?

You should put as many courses as possible and a long time frame! 5 pts is a lot! Go in and pick up open times!

It amazes me that people keep talking about how the Villages has more golf holes than any other retirement community. The place is also by far the largest retirement community with by far the most homes. How is it that people don’t understand the concept of holes per rooftop and recognize the importance of that statistic and how it affects availability of t times? Compare the holes per rooftop north versus south of 466A or before and after ground was broken south of 44. Those statistics don’t lie.

Golf course conditions
 

I agree with your thoughts about the golfers coming north to play due to the lack of courses south... Another issue is the condition of the courses. the greens are only green because the paint the dirt to make them look better.
I would rather pay a few dollars more to have nice courses.

Wow............looking at your prior posts...................a lot of complaining posts.

:shocked:

When the area south of 44 and the turnpike was being planned, golf participation was declining, until 2020.
From 2010 to 2019, participation dropped from 26.12 million to 24.3 million - almost 10%. In 2022, it was 25.6 million, almost recovered to 2010 level (back to 2011 level). No one could have predicted that.

Golf participation US 2022 | Statista

Any idea how that statistic looked for the 55+ age demographic living in an active retirement community compared to a national average? Relevant statistics matter.

Just like horseback riding, croquet, and tennis, some activities just fade away after a few generations.

Golf is one of those. I am one among many in the 55 and under group that give zero $hits about golf - the only thing I like about it is the green open space it creates in a neighborhood is scenic and better than high density housing. I hope you and others continue to rabidly chase that little white dimpled ball so they will keep building the courses and forcing in the open space.

Played the pitch and putts and I am a 13 handicap. They were fun and conditions were better than some of the executives.

Appears problem is getting a tee time on exec courses. Very few, if any "exec" courses outside of TV. Champ courses different story. Some of the outside courses around TV are not worth traveling to.

And a lot more 5 hour rounds. Was there in August. Played a very nice course behind a group of guys who were there for a bachelor party. On bright side they did not bring their "entertainers" with them

Myrtle Beach and other areas of S. Carolina do have a lot of good/great golf to offer. Problem is that they are resort courses aka 5 hour round courses, unless you play at a private course.

I couldn’t do that to Women playing. I’m sure 99% of women playing don’t want an unfamiliar man joining them.

I've played in women's groups where a strange guy joined up. And within 10 minutes or so the man started giving us all "lessons". I was an 11 handicap at the time. Couldn't wait till the round was over. Luckily I didn't have to ride with the jerk.

Nice reply to the somewhat negative response.

You have to connect to the north if there is NOTHING built in south! The bridges are great and impressive. A few executive courses where you DONT need a bridge would be nice

What seems to be more missing in these discussions is the pressure put on the executive courses when the increased January rates on the championship courses go into effect. In my case, I go from playing mostly championship to mostly executive, until the rates go down again and I can play 9 in the wave

Championship Price Increases
 

You are correct - the continual price increases in greens fees for Champs (already too high) puts even more strain on the Execs.

Here's a controversial idea - if you cannot hit a golf ball more than 60-70 yards (or you whiff more that 5 times in 9 holes) play the Pitch-and-Putts. Then stick to the Level 1's for a while. Yikes....

It's lasted about 125 years in the USA and doubt it's going anywhere, fast.

What a lot of folks aren't realizing, is golf is being over-taken by "virtual golf". There's now a virtual professional golf tour. Why waste 100's of acres, when a computer can create the perfect golf course?

Originally Posted by Flyers999 View Post
I didn't play four times. I played twice and had two points for cancelling due to weather.

I doubt you cancelled due to weather. Golf Administration makes 1 point days when the weather is bad...sounds like YOU decided to not play and are carping about the cancellation points.

My friend is a member of a course up north that just invested in 4 golf simulators and they now have winter leagues that play on these virtual golf devices when the courses are covered with snow. Screw that, that’s what Florida is for.