Free golf for life
 

This golfer is taking advantage of free golf for life in The Villages. If you walk the executive courses, and are a resident of The Villages you get free golf for life.

Free golf for life
 

True, if you're younger and healthy. Many of the exec courses are not designed for walkers up in years. The distance between some holes is just too long.

Yep, that walk on Churchill Greens to number SIX must be 500 yards at least.

I don’t live in The Villiages yet, but I’m curious. Are there a lot of walkers on the Executive Courses? What’s your best guess of the percentage of riders to walkers?

I would hazard a guess at 90% cart players.
Wife and I always walk, and very seldom play with other walkers.
Canadians walk a lot because they don't like parting with the pennies, and us Brits because we were brought up to the game walking.
Only youngsters use golf carts in UK!

Long walk
 

From 5 to 6 on Mangrove has got to be a quarter mile, if not more. First time I walked Okeechobee, finished number 8 and thought they'd forgotten to build a number 9. Again, a hard walk, uphill, on bad knees.

The killer walk of all the executive courses!

I'd guess closer to 99%. I'd love to walk but I have back issues and have seven screws holding my left heel together. Walking is not an option for me and it is not for most people here.

Most of the older courses north of 466 are a pretty easy walk.

But this is my left foot so..........https://i.imgur.com/Up2n3Di.png

It’s not free you amenities fees are pitching in on up keep as with other amenities.

Low. I doubt 20%?

IMO Only two or three at most out of 9.

Very few walkers.

Or is it that Brits don't like parting with the pennies and Canadians prefer walking out of habit and for health reasons? :icon_wink:

All our Canadian friends are quite proud of their thrift!:icon_wink:

Sounds like the name of a movie! Get it?!

We are in our 72 and 73 and walk all the executive golf courses. If you are able to walk a mile or so, then I suggest you try walking the courses. Great exercise and it helps my back and knee pain.

Mikeonsimcoe
 

Canadians walk because we understand the simple concept of getting exercise while we enjoying the game. I've always walked and usually get the 'walkers' look, the truth is I enjoy the game more and it is great for your health. The alternative is apparent for the 90% who use a cart and can't play without one. Money has nothing to do with it.

Try walking, it becomes additive.

The walkers are mostly snowbirds. Don’t see them in the summer.

We don’t get free golf. We pay trail fees and it’s in our amenity fee. Those walk, don’t play trail fees.

Some are a little harder than others, but all are walkable. I have walked them all except in the new section. Great views for the walk.

Walk / Ride
 

How do walkers and cart players co-exist? As a cart player do you just pass by the walkers? Do walkers wait at the next tee box to let cart players by or do walkers cause backups. As I drive by a course and see large groups of carts at a tee is that due to walkers holding up play? I am going to return to the game after many years of living on the gulf and fishing being my primary hobbie, boat is gone so golf returning.

I'm a Canadian who walks for exercise and who believes everyone should unless they have a health condition that makes walking difficult. Yes, there are some long walks between holes but none that aren't manageable. Florida's healthiest hometown would be healthier if more people walked the exec courses.

I always look forward to the walk. I have been told not to hold up the carters, but I'm usually waiting for them.

It isn't about the money. I still pay my trail fee each year just in case I don't feel like a great walk that day.

Wow, your doctor needs to take a couple of classes in wood making. I know 7 year olds that can turn screws better than that. Lol, just a friendly joke. I sincerely hope your much better

Really???

Most green to tee drives/walks are very short.
On longer green to tee walks, cart players usually tee off if clear ahead by which time walkers have arrived and ready to play.
In 20+ years of golfing and walking the courses in TV. wife and I have never held up play, and the majority of walkers are the same.

Yea, FREE is an interesting word. I just had a conversation with an English about all the free healthcare in the UK. I don't know what percentage of our amenity fee goes toward the executive golf courses but for $1800 a year we get not only the executive courses, but the pools, rec centers, tennis courts, basketball courts, bocce and many other facilities. Even if half of the fee goes to executive golf, it's a steal to be able to play unlimited golf on forty different golf courses. Add in the $144 trail fee and we get to play golf 365 days a year on 40 different courses for a bit over $1000 a year. I agree, not exactly FREE but as close as you can get to it.

By the way, the trail fee is not mandatory and is common at golf courses where private carts are allowed. Actually at $144 a year it's the lowest price trail fee that I've ever encountered. It really shouldn't be an issue for anyone.

We pay a lot of money in Tax and National Insurance, for our 'Free' health care!:icon_wink:

In general, carts are not waiting for me when I walk. In many instances, I am at the next tee box before the carts because I can take a more direct path. There are a few instances where carts are waiting for me at the next tee box. Number 7 at Loblolly is a good example. Much of the time, there is someone else walking with me. Walking is generally not a problem for the pace of play.

An English friend posted something complaining about how many more services are "free" in Scotland, than in England. I can't find the post but if I do, I'll send it to you.

I honestly don't know how people live in the UK with the tax rates plus the National Health Tax. The country has to be in big financial trouble.

It's obvious. Brits drive on the wrong side of the golf course.

Thank you. I was reading down waiting to see if anyone was going to point out, that golf is NOT free. My neighbor
once said they loved free golf. I asked, do you pay amenity
fees?, yes, he responded. To which I explained, he was paying for that “free” golf.

Ohiobuckeye
 

I agree but as you & I know there’s always somebody complaining about something, but like you said , there’s about 50 of these courses that are FREE, what possibly could they complain about!

Executive Golf
 

I walk the executive golf courses 4-5 times a week and play ready golf with others who ride. I am usually the first one on the next tee as the riders must walk back to their cart on the cart path, then drive to the next tee. The exercise is great. Yes there are some holes where the distance from the green to the next tee is quite a walk but that is not the norm. I would venture to say that a group of 4 walkers will play faster than a group of 4 riders every day of the week on most executive courses.

ok,,not Free, but for $3.00 my husband rented before we purchased our beautiful golf car...

I usually walk, unless it is too hot. One of the pine executive courses south of 44 (I think it is Loblolly has the longest walk. You have to take off early and the cart drivers have all teed off by the time you get to the next tee. I am 78, reasonably fit. Just because you walk doesn't mean you carry a bag. Every course rents a pull cart for a buck. Most of the "serious" walkers own their own pull card but I would literally never pay for my own pull cart in 30 years.

Lol
Walkers par or birdie more often, so they outpace most cart golfers.

Good for Him. He's doing something he loves, for little or no cost, and getting good exercise too. That sounds like an ideal retirement to me as long as you are healthy enough to do it.

I figured my 3 wheel cart has paid for itself many times over!

No different, the furthest one back hits approach shot whether they cart riding or walking.