A couple of questions for the golfers out there...
 

1. Getting an account with thevillages.net? Is it necessary to join it to makes tee times or is using the phone easier? What other benefits do I see for the $8 per month?

2. Being a priority member to the championship courses? We both love to play golf and although the exec's are great to play free, we do like to something different than a bunch of par 3's and a occasional par 4.

Thanks for any input you have.

For now, I'm on a budget. This is what works for me.

1] I think the account is worth it. I look the night before and find open times all year round. Sometimes I put in reservations but not very often.
2] I did the math and the priority did not work for me. June - Sept it's cheap to play at 5pm. That's the time it rains but when it's not raining the weather is cooler. I canceled a lot last year due to rain. I've grown fond of playing none holes of golf and taking a break and going out again. It's great that 9 hole cost 1/2 of 18. That's not the case in most places.
With so many execs to choose from, I don't get bored with a bunch of par 3 's and 4's..

The villages dot net is an easier way to make tee times as you can not only put in 7 days ahead, but you can check on the day you want to play and pick the time and place from the openings that are available. Much quicker and more convenient in my opinion...

Played only championship my whole life because they didn't have exec's in Maine. Play them here, but only occasionally in winter because of the $$$. Playing nine is easier for me in the winter on the Championships and in summer you can play after 4 or 5pm for $6 or $7 all the wholes you can get in after sunset.

If you aren't a very good golfer you may find the championships a bit off putting as you are required to play expediently and if you don't you can be asked to skip holes...they do keep track of how long you are playing and how many minutes you're behind where they figure you ought to be...that said...if you are a decent golfer just ignore this paragraph... :-)

Phone system is tedious at best.

Thanks for the input. With the wife being newly retired, we are watching the pennies and where they go so we may give it a year before we consider a priority membership. I carry a single digit handicap so keeping up is no problem.

The Villages.net also provides additional links that can be helpful but if you golf it is the best way to make tee times, find tee times and manage your golf. As mentioned earlier, the phone is tedious at best. As far as priority membership it gives you an advantage on getting tee times, includes the trail fee on Exec's and if you play 2 Champions a week you will probably break even on the cost but you have to pay for the membership up front.

The phone system is pathetic....villages .net for tee times is essential

Love the computerized reservation system.

Kudos to the developer for making this possible.

It is a sophisticated system (with the many golf courses to select)

It even sends you an e-mail when your tee time assignment is made.

The Villages.net fee is per household.

We use the website almost every day to view open tee times for the next day on the executive courses. I like to find the open gaps on as many courses in our area as possible. Then, depending on the urge to play, weather or other plans, we walk on and often play back to back on different execs. This works great except for the busy winter season.
As for Prime membership... I think you have to play alot of championship golf to make it worthwhile. The membership does give you an edge regarding getting tee times in the busy season, especially if you are playing with other Prime members. Now that you are here, you'll soon find out what works best for you.

Starting on 1 June you can play the Championship Golf Courses after 5pm around $6.00, depending on the course. Just call the proshop for a tee time.

Priority membership.

The on-line tee time system is much easier than the phone system. Interestingly enough though, I have had to use the phone system to make a change that the on-line system could not accommodate. I suspect both systems are outdated.

What do you mean "outdated"?

I'm outdated. The tee time system is not.

I use the internet 3 days out to see & book what's open. You can't use it the day of golfing. On the same day you have to call or go to the golf courses.

LOL...me too, that's how I know about being outdated. But seriously, I just meant that when you have to use the phone system to accomplish certain things then the online system probably needs updating. And, of course, this is 2015 with newer systems out there as well as modern cloud based systems etc. This was not meant to be a condemnation of the current system however.

LOL, thanks Bogie. I knew that. I shouldn't post when we (actually not me) are spending money on Amazon. I had Prime on my mind☺

A couple of questions for the golfers out there...
 

No condemnation taken at all. A question for which I have no answer - are there newer systems that can handle the sheer volume of golf at TV? I would think that might severely limit such a change.

Playing the championships from May 1st through Oct 15th after 11am is only $20 or $21 and $24 at Palmer. The Priority will only save you just $3 off of that rate during those months. So if you want a Priority Membership, you might go with a six month membership. I did that the first year I was here. You can also do a menu type membership, you can select 2, 3 or 4 courses if they are the ones you'll be playing most. So a priority membership has many levels, and you also get credited for trail fees on the executives while you're a priority member.

We always play after 11am because I'm not a morning person, I don't like dew on the grass, and I like the cheaper green fees. Due to the wave system, afternoon teetimes start at 11:56, but there are usually open teetimes from 12:30 to 1:30 at just about any championship course during the summer months. That's a good reason to pay the $8 and get with the teetime system. Making a reservation 7 days in advance is not really necessary unless it's the snowbird season Jan-Apr.

FYI...............If you are a priority member you do do not have to pay the the trail fee charges. Its included for ALL courses. Also, Get the computer based system..We found the phone system tedious.
Also, if you join Priority you can use any of the CC pools (ie; Orange Blossom, Lopez etc)

As a Couple golfing twice a week each at the CC will more than exceed in savings the cost of a full membership. We kept records and saved over $400. on the yearly cost and of course able to obtain priority tee times.

After June 1, what does it cost to play a championship course in prime time, say 8AM?

take a look at golfthevillages dot com....everything golf is there including rates for each championship course.

We've always used The Villages.net located in LSL for $8.00/mo and it is well worth it. Prior to buying in TV when we rented, we attended the classes on how to make tee times and used (wait for it....) a cell phone. NIGHTMARE !!! Late to the dance but shortly after, we used the internet. Only way to go.

At the nine 27 hole courses a resident non-priority at 8am is $30 or $31 and Palmer is $37. Residents after 11am at the 27 hole courses is $20 or $21 and Palmer is $24. The rates at the three 18 hole courses are a little less.

http://golfthevillages.com/images/2015-2016Rates.pdf

Thank you. What a great site. Thanks again.