[kansasr]

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

[rsimpson]

Originally Posted by kansasr

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

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....

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

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

Golf is one of those.

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?

[sdeikenberry]

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.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

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?

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.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by kansasr

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.

Very valid point, I know several people, including my wife and I, who play the Executives way more during high season Championship rates. Between June and early November (when the clocks get moved back), we play the Championship courses almost exclusively.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by rsimpson

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....

And here’s another idea, if you’re such a good player, you are too good for the executive golf courses so please stay off them. They were built for everybody including beginning players. There is a time limit for each hole which makes sense but how far you hit the ball, or even if you hit it at all - is not a factor. I bet you don’t pay any more in amenity fees than the person trying to learn.

[Parteeinga]

Originally Posted by natjos

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. I went on 6 days before and asked for a starting time within a four hour spread. I had 4 points at the time. Didn't get any of the three days requested. I think that groups are forming leagues down south and rotating request so that there are request with only 1 or 2 points. I have golfed with people who are traveling an hour by cart to get to the north end to golf. My reason for owning in the Villages is quickly fading.

Have you ever thought that those of us in the south go north for golf is because we like a variety of courses to play. If you are happy playing the same course every time you play, maybe you should move to another community like Pembrook or On Top of the World.

I do not have any issue riding the hour in the golf cart from my house to play the northern most courses.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Parteeinga

I do not have any issue riding the hour in the golf cart from my house to play the northern most courses.

Retirement and enjoying the journey.

[michgary]

Originally Posted by TheWarriors

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

both times we had a very fun time,, plenty of laffs ,, but then we didnt take things so seriously like some do,,,

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

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

Was the decline in all age groups? Or was the decline in people under 40 years old? I saw an article that said the median age of a golfer in the U.S. is 54 and that it was millennials (anyone born between 1981 and 1996) that were not playing that much golf. With that statistic, a retirement community - and especially one that advertises that it is a golf mecca - should keep building courses. Perhaps in another 20 years, all of the millennials will start to retire and have no interest in golf. Or perhaps they will retire and find out that they now have time for golf.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by TheWarriors

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

We often have only 7 of us playing and so one group of 3 gets a lone guy nearly every time. It works out fine. The guy starts at his tee, we wait, then drive to our tee. Guy might finish first and then waits for each of us, sometimes giving helpful comments or making jokes. I mean he has three considerate and funny ladies to entertain him!

[michgary]

Originally Posted by Velvet

We often have only 7 of us playing and so one group of 3 gets a lone guy nearly every time. It works out fine. The guy starts at his tee, we wait, then drive to our tee. Guy might finish first and then waits for each of us, sometimes giving helpful comments or making jokes. I mean he has three considerate and funny ladies to entertain him!

Exactly right ,, its fun to meet people and have fun together,, nobody is a great golfer ,,, or if you are why are you playing there...

[michgary]

I have never met any women golfers who are not fun,, not on an executive course,, if you are a great golfer play someplace else and let 99 per cent of us have some laffs and make some long putts,,,

[Garywt]

Originally Posted by GizmoWhiskers

The fourth generation developers don't care about tee times. They want to sell houses and build paying Championship courses open to the public. They don't care about aesthetics, they want to pack the houses in. No beautiful mvp Golf cart paths out that way majority are diamond lanes. They couldn't replicate a gorgeous treed in mvp golf path and come out $$ on top. They are putting in practically no trees and real plant, just palms (now deamed weeds in parts of FL) and scrub bushes. 140,000 people (?) And a permanently closed gorgeous movie theater in Brownwood. The list goes on and on that shows the newest areas are lacking what used to be excellent above the standard industry draws for picking T V.

They are doing the bare minimum to keep T V "lifestyle" appearance.

A dream stays alive when there is a vision... the magic fairy dust is blowing away in the dust bowl surrounding the temporary "new" center of T V. The next one is being planned already.

There is definity a honeymoon season living in T V and the further south one goes the quicker that ends.
It is possible to have too much of a good thing.

They aren't keeping up with free golf demand any longer. But hey at least there is disc golf now in the Hogeye Preserve, so tee up, that'll fix the lack of golf courses being built.

Another full blown hater of our wonderful place to live. I for one think the cart paths and landscaping in the south is absolutely beautiful. I love driving down south and just enjoy it so much. This is not to say the north isn’t beautiful because it is. Everything is wonderful and there is so much to enjoy and it hasn’t changed as you can do as much as you want or as little as you want and have a great time doing it.