Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 2306965)

If it ain't broke, why fix it???

Originally Posted by dewilson58 (Post 2306957)

No issue with your wrong number of courses, just including the number you stated.

"vernacular"???:
a) the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.
b) using the form of a language that a particular group of speakers use naturally, especially in informal situations

Do you mean you are using the words "The Villages" more generically???....including the Districts??

The Villages is a land development company..........develop & sell.
Mowing & fertilizing are not core businesses.
When profitable / efficient, they sell off non-core functions (CDD's, water treatment, etc.).
I think that's what you are missing.........it's not centralized, hasn't been "forever" and is not what a land development company focuses on.

:ho:

Originally Posted by Pondboy (Post 2306910)

My guess would be that they are in the “Land Development / Home Building” business and not the golf course maintenance business. They contract out all their maintenance ; landscaping, mowing, ponds, water, etc.,

This way they also don’t have to worry about providing health / retirement benefits to all the extra staff.

They also don’t have to worry about lawsuits should anything go wrong.

Originally Posted by Pondboy (Post 2306910)

My guess would be that they are in the “Land Development / Home Building” business and not the golf course maintenance business. They contract out all their maintenance ; landscaping, mowing, ponds, water, etc.,

This way they also don’t have to worry about providing health / retirement benefits to all the extra staff.

They also don’t have to worry about lawsuits should anything go wrong.

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2306974)

When I used the words "The Villages", I was meaning the CDD's & all the other entities involved with golf in The Villages (but you already know what I meant). Folks in The Villages seem to lump the entities all together, so I used "vernacular" ... it's such a good word.
...

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2306917)

I'm using the words "The Villages", in the vernacular & as for the number, I keep reading different #'s. 50 is a close enough approximation of the number of golf courses in TV, isn't? I can do some research and may come up with the exact number?

I don't think my point changes, if it's 38 or 43, does it?

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2306837)

So I have a question.

Having been in the golf course business, I'm baffled by The Villages approach to golf course maintenance.

Two of the biggest problems facing golf course managers all over the world, is the cost of equipment and the difficulty of staffing (the other is weather).

Because in much of the world, golf is "seasonal", it's difficult and costly to maintain staff, particularly when you have to layoff 75% of your staff, during the off season. The Villages does not face this dilemma.

Because the golf courses are so localized, a 1st Class General Superintendent (read that as highly paid) can probably manage a staff of 8-10 "local superintendents".

The cost of equipment to maintain a golf course, is a big deal. Should a course buy its own "rolling equipment", even if it's only going to be used a dozen time per year? Should a course buy its own Aeration equipment, both hollow-tine & deep, when a course is only going to be aerated twice a year? How many Power Rakes can we justify? How large of a "sod farm" should we have?

With over 50 Executive Golf courses to be maintained, The Villages could use that equipment, 365 days/year.

The same theory goes for heavy-equipment, given The Villages always seems to be renovating 4-6 courses.

So my question is, has The Villages ever managed their own golf maintenance and/or renovation projects? If not, why not? The "economies of scale", seem to dictate that approach, does it not?

Just a window from the outside looking in, but it seems that The Villages golf operations could be much more efficient, productive and professional, if it were all centralized, under professional leadership and direction. Am I missing something?

Originally Posted by Marathon Man (Post 2307079)

Yes, they do. But that is because most residents have not taken the time to learn how our community works. There are many who that believe that the Morse family owns everything inside 'the bubble'.

Since you have time, I suggest that a good place to begin is to develop an understanding of all the parts and pieces of "The Villages". It is well worth the time. Take a look at Resident Academy (hopefully the still offer it).

Originally Posted by MarkD1981 (Post 2307069)

Outsourcing will not shield you from liability. Lawyers will follow the money and The Villages has plenty. Jurors are sympathetic towards plaintiffs.

Originally Posted by mkjelenbaas (Post 2307135)

Maybe it is centralized and that is why so many of the courses are in HORRIBLE shape??

Originally Posted by NotGolfer (Post 2307107)

A couple of people on here hit it on the head---T.V. is a business and it's to build houses. NOT provide you stellar (fill in the blank) whatever you feel we need. Would it all be wonderful and nice? Yep!! Central Florida was a rural area and not a metro one. People here came for "Life-styles"---loved what they saw and decided to move here.
:

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2307225)

It is not.

The CDD's & the Developer out-source all golf course maintenance.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the outside contractors have business relationships with the people involved with the aforementioned entities, but that's strictly wild speculation.

Originally Posted by John Mayes (Post 2307231)

Not all championship courses are sourced to outside maintenance crews. Two or possibly three courses are maintained by maintenance staffs that are employees of TV’s….not the district. SO is one course maintained by a staff employed by TV’s.