Executive courses - 5 best and 5 worst
 

I have been here about a year and have limited my golf to nearby executive courses.

However, for the next few months (before they get crowded) I am hoping to play one or two new executive courses each month and would like recommendations for the top 5 to play and the top 5 to avoid. Thanks.

My opinion:

Top 5 Southern Star, Yankee Clipper, Trueman, Pelican, Roosevelt

Lots of bottom 5

We travel throughout the Villages to play all the Championship courses but only play the Executives closer to home, so I can’t give you a complete list. That being said, put Pelican on the top of your must play list. Have fun : )

Not to side step the answer but I think there needs to be a distinction between current condition vs course layout and design. A couple of my favorite courses are in pretty bad shape right now.

Play them all.

My top five would be different from many others. It depends on where you live and how accessible various courses are, how difficult or easy they are depending on your preferences, how attractive you find them etc. My favorite courses are: 1. Becall 2. Roosevelt 3. Yankee Clipper 4. Palmetto 5. Tarpon Boil 6. Truman 7. Volusia 8. Southern Star 9. Lowlands (higher if it were closer) 10. Heron

Lowlands favorite layout(and has food trucks and beer after the 9th hole). Okeechobee, Escambia, Volusia(closed)and Sarasota. fun layouts and usually in the best condition of all execs. Like playing Truman, Roosevelt, southern star, tarpon boil, sandhill, mangrove, Bogart and Bacall. Most vary in condition, but are all playable for fun. if you're hitting the ball well they all play equally easy. I don't place any emphasis on putting as these courses get tons of play and are rarely seriously puttable.

Play expeditiously and with proper etiquette. Pay attention to the group in front of you and pace yourself with them in mind. Do not practice putting on a green because you have to wait on the next hole...it's impolite. Hit one tee ball only unless you've lost the first. Golf is not about hitting a tee shot till you get one you like. If you have to listen to music...wear bluetooth headphones or earbuds. No one needs to be forced to hear your taste in music.

Many treat the execs are their own personal playground and are inconsiderate and entitled...don't be on of them....please. Play ready golf...play when you have the chance without interfering with your playing partners and be ready when it's your turn.

I like Pelican, but so many friends either dread playing or outright refuse to play it

When we moved here we made it a priority to check off every executive course on the list, so we played them all. There are a few way up north that we are not fond of but overall we enjoy most of them. Anything to get us out of the house. We don’t mind traveling south to gray fox or north to briarwood. We just like to shake it up.

I like Pelican also because it's the closest thing to a Championship course without the green fees.

When we moved to the Villages, I started playing the local courses as many as four to six times a week. I decided to try playing all of the Executive courses with some Championship thrown in. Why not play them all. I ended up missing only the new Championship in the south, the front nine at Marsh Bend, and the pitch & putt at Fenney. It was a fun experience. Due twosome medical issues I have had to stop playing.

Like others have mentioned, be courteous, rake the traps, and most of all repair your divots on the greens.

OOOHH - new course map.
https://www.golfthevillages.com/imag...Map.pdf?v=1711

Too many definitions of top 5.
Some may like a course that’s more challenging i.e. Pelican

One of our favorites is Volusia, but it's been closed for over two months now (rebuilding the cart path on #3). Others at the top of the list include Gray Fox, Lowlands, Sweetgum and Truman. The ones near the bottom of my list are Red Fox, Mira Mesa, Oakleigh, Mangrove and Bonita Pass.

That said, we are appreciative having so many courses available to choose from. And, this time of year, one can get a tee time just about anywhere you want to play.

I’ve played pretty much all of them north of 466a a many south. I don’t know if I can come up with a top five but a few of my favorites are Oakleigh, Truman, Roosevelt and Amberwood.
Worst? I’d stay away from Pelican and Heron. Lots of blind shots and usually in horrible condition.

Why???? (I don't play execs, so it's a legitimate question)

seems to be the 5 closest to home are the best

Pelican is probably the hardest executive. If you’re new to golf, it’s not fun.

2 par 4s (one with a lake on the left the other over swamp)
1 or 2 long par 3
First and second hole are blind shots

It’s great for a challenge for better golfers

Results to date
 

So far, Pelican and Truman have 5 votes; Roosevelt has 4; and Lowland, Volusia, and Southern Star have 3 votes.

I'll have to take your word for it since i doubt I'll bother to play an exec. I guess it depends on one's perspective. Bethpage Black, Muirfield Village, Pinehurst #2 and Pine Valley are hard especially from the tips. More locally, Copperhead, TPC Sawgrass, and PGA National Champions course are hard. Pelican Executive course in the Villages----not so much. But I suppose one could build and executive course with nothing but replicas of the 9 hardest par 3's over 250 yds. from all around the country and it would be quite hard.

Pelican
 

I like Pelican because I think it's the most difficult executive course in the Villages.

The courses up north are always in top condition because of the distance. Amberwood and Oakleigh are great courses to play. I agree on Pelican being a tough course to play.

It’s all relative, Pelican is hard by Villages Executive golf standards. It certainly doesn’t come close to anything listed above. I like it because it has relatively few homes and nice scenery playing along the backside of Lake Miona (very much like Hibiscus at Cane Garden). I am concerned the course will loose some of its character because the much publicized million dollar mile hiking trail appears to run along part of the course. Trust me, if you get annoyed by pace of play and etiquette at the Villages Championship courses, you won’t be happy at any of the Executives. Playing the Executives requires a different set of expectations and a fair amount of patience. Golf on : )

I have only played one of them and Bethpage is hard from the front tees! If you can't hit it at least 250 off the tee, it is a long day (and I have had some long days on the course). However, I don't think you can compare any course in The Villages to some of the best and hardest courses in the world.

Hard is relative so for your typical Villages' golfer (many of them have taken up the game once they got here), I think that a lot of the courses are hard. From my limited experience, most golfers have trouble breaking 35 on the executive courses. I don't think I have ever played with anyone who has shot under par on an executive course. And I don't think I have ever seen anyone tee off from the back tees!

Really??? That's interesting.

But here's a story then. In 8 years I've played about 4 times on an exec usually with visitors. Last spring my son and 10 year old granddaughter were here so we played Palmetto. I had a letter from my pro certifying that she was OK to play even though she was under 14. The very nice lady at the starter shack was fine with it, but added "this is a level 3 course (whatever that means), so the girl might have trouble even from the front tees". My response was simple---"That shouldn't be a problem since she will be playing the black tees with the rest of us" She shot 34 never using more than a 6 iron.

5 Best Executive courses? "Best" parameters? Longest, hardest, most scenic, narrowest, lots of trees and shade, open field - links style, water, bunkers? What's your golf ability level? If you're an Executive Level 1 (high handicap) golfer, you won't enjoy any Level 4 and many Level 3 courses. A Level 3 or 4 (lower handicap) golfer can still enjoy working on their short game on a Level 1 course. Know your skill level and abilities, pick the course and tees that are best for you and those playing behind you. Know good golf etiquette, play ready golf. Cheers!

Executive courses
 

Best 5 Pelican, Oakleigh, Amberwood, Grey Fox and Turtle Mound

Exec Courses
 

Southern bias

I am asking for the reader's opinion of what is best. My parameter for best - if you knew that this would be the last executive course that you would ever play - what would it be?? Your last round of golf on an executive course - what do you choose?

No bias on my part. I live south of 466A and almost never play north of 466 because of the distance and the fact I am within a fifteen minute cart ride of eighteen courses. When I am in Missouri ( about six months) I play par 72 courses once or twice a week to a fifteen handicap. When in TV I enjoy the quicker, less expensive and fun Executive courses. To each his/her own.

Skill level matters
 

I like Bogart, Volusia, Sarasota, Turtle Mound and De La Vista. I stay away from Pelican, Redfish Run and Belmont. Skill level matters and I enjoy a smooth game that is not too serious. In the final analysis they are all enjoyable but some are better if you walk. Fore!!

Augusta National. OOPS----right answer to the wrong question:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Always an available Pelican tee time. It speaks for itself

Amberwood, Oakleigh, Hawkes Bay, Yankee Clipper, and Turtle Mound.

This is a great thread. Love seeing everyone’s opinions!

I love almost any of the Exec courses that have a par four too.

My tops are Volusia (the 3rd hole par 4) is great fun. This is the one where you can’t see the green from tee boxes, and the folks ahead are to ring a big gong bell when they are on the green for a go ahead ok to drive signal.

Bacall has two nice par 4s.

Sandhill is also quite good.

Agree on the north courses. They are in the best shape and not hard getting a tee time in the season. Best greens(executive) in TV.

Yankee clipper, Roosevelt, Bacall , Pelican , palmetto

I like Pelican when the bushes are trimmed back. Yes, I am a sissy!

If I could only play one more executive course here, I think it would be Sweetgum. Nice par 4. Pretty course.

We are so blessed to have so many. My hardest part is picking which one to play.

Final 5 to Play
 

Amberwood, Mira Mesa, Pelican, Roosevelt and maybe Sweetgum.