Let the carnage begin.....
 

Another Christmas of "free" golf on the championship courses. Scorecard so far:

38 Golfers have played the hole I live on (par 4)
78 divots taken
6 divots filled with sand
12 bunkers entered
1 rake used
Can't see the tee, so ? # of divots on tee
Unknown # of pitch marks on green, but from a distance looks like there have been 0 repairs
Most practice swings----11
Most "whiffs"---- 6 in a row
Most "mulligans"---4 in a row, all shanked into the hazard.
Best club throw-----about 35 yards
Best cart driving---tie between across edge of green and sideswiping a palm tree
Best etiquette----forgetting to put the flagstick back in

Can't wait to play the "manicured" course tomorrow:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Sigh. And we get raked over the coals if we dare to comment

Which course so we will know which one avoid?!?

Sounds about the same as a normal day!

No point. It's going to be the same on all of them. It's a nice Christmas present, but there is some excess damage. If I were doing this, I'd use the reservation system to set up a lottery---golfers could enter their desire to play free today, with a course time preference, and let the computer sort it out. I would make attendance at good golf school or a handicap under 18 a prerequisite to enter.

In the true spirit of Christmas, you could go out there and clean everything up that you can see from your house!:angel:

..............a handicap under 18 a prerequisite to enter.

A fair majority of those I see on the local champioship course daily, would struggle to qualify for a handicap.

I can't see how the handicap prerequisite would really do anything.

I regularly play in groups where there are some 18+ index guys who know proper etiquette and some around with a 12-15...that still have to be reminded to take care of 'our' courses. :oops:

I don't play executive courses, but I'm guessing that the allure of free play today is what is bringing out those that normally play the executives and would otherwise be intimidated of the championship courses...and don't want to spend the money?

If it is that, then the executives must be taking a pretty good beating from these same clueless (or just plain lazy/jerk) golfers. :shrug:

I would, but I'm leaving town in 3 days. Not nearly enough time to make a dent in it.

All true, but there is a much better chance that a golfer with a half reasonable handicap knows etiquette than those that have never been on a real course before. I don't play exec courses either, but I can only imagine they resemble the lunar landscape.

Just think, the renters start coming in droves next week. I pay XXX and I'm on vacation, let someone else take care of the course.

1. You do realize the championship courses are not owned or funded by us residents unlike the exec courses. The developer can do whatever pleases them.
2. I also live on a champ course. I played today and seen nothing like you described. I also was on my patio most of the afternoon and observed no carnage. In fact hardly any play after 1:30 today.
3. We had this same conversation last year. Perhaps I detect a little not in my back yard swaying your observation or perhaps you live on a non desirable course.

Can't imagine spending that much time watching others play golf. Didn't see much disrespect where we were, and the afternoon was light. Hope everyone had a great Christmas with their family and friends

Honestly, I hope I am wrong and what I observed was the exception rather than the rule. I'm not sure if any of the courses here are "non-desirable", but if you put Evans Prairie in that category, then I'm guilty.

Do a search....this same thread has come up the past 8 years.
Somehow the courses have survived.

I have a higher handicap, but I know how to take care of the course. I fill my divots, repair my ball makes plus one or two others, and rake out bunkers. I did not need to attend the good golf school to do this. Low or high handicap, exec or championship course, it comes down to the player's respect for the course and others.

Carnage on the Golf Course
 

Methinks a Golf Course is a perfectly good waste of a good Rifle Range.. Perhaps we should convert a few...

Perhaps I should have proposed x years of golfing experience rather than a random handicap. The idea was to avoid rank beginners if they have no idea of golf etiquette.

Does everything have to be to the letter of the law? GE, I take it as a wonderful sense of humor. No violence or Ice Picks, Fireworks, Sidearms, just some locker room humor from an avid golfer. Oh I forgot locker room humor doesn't go over to well anymore! I love it. Keep it coming. :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Methinks a Golf Course is a perfectly good waste of a dog park. Kidding of course! Too many gators in the ponds. :)

Love Of The Game
 

The nice thing about this stage in my life coupled with living in The Villages is that I can play golf about as much as I want or not. I have a choice from a number of championship and executive courses. The game is really now a game and as such I dropped maintaining my handicap altogether along the way

I seldom ever keep score on the executive courses but still play by the rules of golf . I walk the executive courses and carry a bag for exercise. i enjoy listening to the birds feeling the breeze on my face chatting with guys i often meet at the first tee.

Sometimes the course is not what it should be but its a course. Courses like human beings should be taken as you find them

Of late the executive courses have been in good shape. I play with guys who play at all skill levels but understand the prominent point is that we share the love of the game together.

But mostly for me its the thrill when at some point I will succeed and strike the pure shot.

Better yet a Trap,Skeet or a sporting clays range

Sad, but now they will be back on the executive courses....

Well said. The executive courses are a great walk and I enjoy the many people I meet.

Back to OP'S original post, I agree golf etiquette is really lacking by too many golfers in The Villages. Of course, golf should be fun and for most of us who no longer play "competitive golf" it's a high priority. However, there is no excuse for not fixing ball marks, raking traps, filling divots and practicing golfing etiquette as we have fun playing golf here in The Villages. And don't forget to play "ready up" golf so we can all have fun. Fore!

Hi Bay Kid: Went out this morning for my 9 hole walk and greeted the grass, hello grass, hello trees, hello birds, hello sun and oh the aroma of freshly sprayed fertilizer.

One could be in church and thinking about playing golf or out playing golf thinking about God

Thank you---exactly my point from the beginning until the psychics descended and read more into it than there ever was