Originally Posted by tophcfa (Post 2095352)

Just checked “Golf the Villages” and the new Championship rates are out. In general for a resident member, morning and afternoon rates are up $2 and the evening rate is up $1 from last year. Can’t compare Southern Oaks to last year since it wasn’t open, however, Southern Oaks is charging a $3 premium versus other courses considered top tier.

On another note, has anyone else noticed how empty many of the courses have been in May, especially during the second half of the afternoon wave? Perhaps the strategy of extending the busy season rates another month (through May instead of April) is not working out as planned and will be reconsidered next year????

Originally Posted by Pat La Rosa (Post 2095566)

The new rates for Priority Membership is $791.80. Same as last year with a couple of exceptions. The pools are not included and Executive Trail fees are not included. The is a $355.24 increase from last year. Talk about inflation????? I never used the pools and I only play executive once a week, otherwise I play Championship. They changed the reduced rates to June 1 this year. Yesterday I played at Cane Garden and there were 3 groups playing in the afternoon. There is no need to request a tee time now since most of the golfers are waiting for June 1st to start playing the Championship courses. I can't believe they don't see all the income they are losing by not going back to May 1 for the reduced rates. Maybe the Morse's should look at the revenue for May and June of this year and change their policy for next year. Just a suggestion.

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki (Post 2095650)

Literally, every week, there’s a post here about some course being in terrible condition. So it seems to me, we want nicer maintained courses.

In the last MONTH, the price of nitrogen is up 14%. That is just one chemical I found. Not sure if it’s used on golf courses or not, but in general, lawn/farming chemicals are double digit more expensive.

“Leading the way higher was urea. The nitrogen fertilizer was 14% more expensive compared to last month and had an average price of $1,031/ton, which is an all-time high price in the DTN data set.”

Inflation is close to 8 to 10%. Labor costs are up.
But yet, we complain about the greens fees. The golf course can’t lose money, it’s not sustainable for the developer.
Maybe the greens keepers know what they are doing, but they are under pressure to keep expenses down.
Which one is it - nice courses or greens fees?

Originally Posted by Bellavita (Post 2095937)

My husband has not played with the higher rates and I don't blame him. Its sad and we play the executive and they are in terrible shape. TV needs to tend to all the courses that we pay for.

Originally Posted by Lucas (Post 2095399)

The village golf course mow the grass way to LOW !

Originally Posted by drcar (Post 2096658)

Plus every part time employee for the villages that were making minimum wage got a 17% raise last October and will get a 10% raise this October. That is a BIG increase in cost.