[PoolBrews]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

Just a thought: Upgrading could cost m.o.n.e.y.. That would mean higher amenity fees, I agree it's very outdated, but paying more for a new system may be very unpopular ? Did you see the suggestion on this site that perhaps raising the fees to have better maintenance, especially on the executives ? It was instantly very UN popular, so, taking the negative view, probably not going to see a new, improved, real time system ! ?

I was in IT for 40 years. You can tell by the screens and the way the current system runs that it's based on ancient technology - specifically IBM AS/400 or the equivalent. These systems require you run an update on changes nightly, which is why you don't get same day changes.

The cost to maintain these old systems and to actually obtain expertise in this area is far higher than what the cost of a new system with readily available hardware, software, and modern skills would be. Now add to this the ridiculously expensive maintenance of the antiquated phone system they use.

Put in a new system, retire BOTH the phone and current online system, and they should actually save money if done right. In addition, it then be easy to offer an app for Android and iPhone that connects to the system and make it truly accessible by everyone. This is what I did for companies throughout my career. What they offer here is laughable.

[biker1]

It is hard to know exactly what the current situation is. Approximately 8 years ago, I was attending one of the “learn all about The Villages” day long series of lectures. I remember speaking with one of the golf representatives who told me that a new tee time system would be coming online in about 6 months. Obviously that didn’t happen. The easiest thing to do is nothing. The current system works and people are familiar with it. It probably brings in about $2M a year so it might actually be a money maker. While I would appreciate a newer system that addresses some shortfalls in the current system, I would not be surprised if the current system continues for the foreseeable future. I have never used the phone system. I read the instructions, shook my head, and then signed up for the $8 per month website access.

Originally Posted by PoolBrews

I was in IT for 40 years. You can tell by the screens and the way the current system runs that it's based on ancient technology - specifically IBM AS/400 or the equivalent. These systems require you run an update on changes nightly, which is why you don't get same day changes.

The cost to maintain these old systems and to actually obtain expertise in this area is far higher than what the cost of a new system with readily available hardware, software, and modern skills would be. Now add to this the ridiculously expensive maintenance of the antiquated phone system they use.

Put in a new system, retire BOTH the phone and current online system, and they should actually save money if done right. In addition, it then be easy to offer an app for Android and iPhone that connects to the system and make it truly accessible by everyone. This is what I did for companies throughout my career. What they offer here is laughable.

[dewilson58]

If you upgrade and have live access...................it will screw up the paperwork the Ranger Ricks have.

[MidWestIA]

Come out of the dark ages - Golf Now has numerous courses that online update The Villages can and should it's time

[jedalton]

\still runs on DOS operating system

[jarodrig]

Let A sleeping dog lie !!

The system is fine the way it is . You can look for open tee times the night before play .

If you have to wait until the day of play to decide you WANT to play , well…….then I don’t know what to tell you.

From now until the return of “high season “ , you’ll be able to show up early afternoon and play at just about ANY course ….

[firefighter4u]

I agree, the system is archaic and kludgy. The model T car was great for a while....

[dewilson58]

All those wanting an upgrade will be the first to post when the monthly fee goes to $20.

[nhtexasrn]

Originally Posted by toddsmig

TV hasn't updated their online golf system in decades. Especially same day, having to call multiple courses in the hopes of maybe finding a tee time wastes golfers' time, and the starters'/pro shops' time. Most courses nowadays (outside of TV) have "real time" tee times right on their website. As a reservation is made, the site updates immediately. Calling around course to course is archaic. Id#'s and the "points" system could all easily be integrated into a new real-time, entirely web based system.

Even updating the system to merely show the same day open tee times would help. That would at least eliminate calling all over.

[HORNET]

Been playing golf in The Villages for over 15 years, I use the tee time system with no problems. I plan my week and put my tee times and I do care and watch points. The Villages have made it fair to every and all Villagers. If want to play a lot, you will have high points. Sounds HOGGY to me. PS: If someone cancels then they get 2 points, if they don’t show up they get 3 points. Sounds FAIR to me!

[ahockeynut]

They should update for championship and leave exec on phone system

[evfan]

Originally Posted by toddsmig

TV hasn't updated their online golf system in decades. Especially same day, having to call multiple courses in the hopes of maybe finding a tee time wastes golfers' time, and the starters'/pro shops' time. Most courses nowadays (outside of TV) have "real time" tee times right on their website. As a reservation is made, the site updates immediately. Calling around course to course is archaic. Id#'s and the "points" system could all easily be integrated into a new real-time, entirely web based system.

I’m still new-ish to the Villages (~ 1 year), but I quickly realized the tee time system was pretty difficult to use. Just for some background, I don’t consider myself a good golfer but my past life was writing code for big data. Among the 5896 golfers whose GHINs are with the Villages, the average HCP (as of a few days ago) is 19.25 and I’m still in the mid 30’s (bottom 5%). I can't hit a driver to save my life. So I like playing as a single with (hopefully) few behind me just to improve and work on my game.

I wrote some code to help me visualize tomorrow’s tee times using a series of bar graphs of tee times, down to 15 minute blocks. In seconds, I can see on one screen all of the available tee times here and then I look for open foursomes for either type of course: championship or executive. I run my code quite late in the evening so I can wake up the next morning and decide where I’m going to go play. I sort the courses on the screen by GPS distance from my house. It also emails me a copy so I have it on my phone. I’ve successfully used this for about a year to play nearly 120 rounds on the championships (I’m usually off in the first hour) and I’m always a walk on. I also added code to show course closures and tournaments, but that was for completeness’ sake. Eventually I’ll attempt to add the aeration schedules when time permits.

I have enough daily historical data now to compute stats on which courses are the easiest to walk on for any given day of the week.

I pondered turning all of this into a mobile app (and maybe an Alexa skill) which would address the OP’s question. One issue is I briefly moved my code to run in the cloud, but it was just a little too expensive to maintain versus just running it on my own PC. In addition, there are some legal terms of service which suggest I can’t repost or commercialize the data. So that mobile app idea may be out the door. No, I haven’t talked with anyone officially about it.

It isn’t live data, but it works pretty doggone good for my own use as a walk-on. I’m only posting just to say this can be done.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by HORNET

Been playing golf in The Villages for over 15 years, I use the tee time system with no problems. I plan my week and put my tee times and I do care and watch points. The Villages have made it fair to every and all Villagers. If want to play a lot, you will have high points. Sounds HOGGY to me. PS: If someone cancels then they get 2 points, if they don’t show up they get 3 points. Sounds FAIR to me!

The point system is very fair for the Executives, not so much for the Championship courses. A guest of a priority member, regardless of points, gets preference over a resident. It’s hard for me to justify how that’s fair to the resident?

[togabill]

Originally Posted by toddsmig

TV hasn't updated their online golf system in decades. Especially same day, having to call multiple courses in the hopes of maybe finding a tee time wastes golfers' time, and the starters'/pro shops' time. Most courses nowadays (outside of TV) have "real time" tee times right on their website. As a reservation is made, the site updates immediately. Calling around course to course is archaic. Id#'s and the "points" system could all easily be integrated into a new real-time, entirely web based system.

How about not charging a point to play any of those pitch and putts? Also put them on a different reservation system.
When looking for a real executive tee time is difficult because 99.9% of the openings are on those pitch and putts. Maybe if there were no points people would play them more. Plus then you would be able to see real executive tee times that are open.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

The point system is very fair for the Executives, not so much for the Championship courses. A guest of a priority member, regardless of points, gets preference over a resident. It’s hard for me to justify how that’s fair to the resident?

That resident has the option of purchasing the membership enhancement. That purchase entitles the enhanced member AND HIS GUESTS to a higher priority for tee times. That's how it is fair and justified.

How does one justify frequent fliers getting higher boarding priority? Or pay $25 to get an earlier boarding place----same thing.