Backup Plan for Villages Golf
 

Hi, my friends are visiting mid-Jan and they want to play good championship courses of the villages. However, I heard a lot about non priority members not being able to get a decent tee time. The latest Outside the Villages thread is 8 months old and it only covers Harbor Hills. I want some recommendations for close by ( less than 25 miles ) but GOOD Condition golf courses that you have played lately ( December 2022 and on ).

Thanks and Cheers!

Don’t worry about not being able to get tee times on champ courses in TV. Courses are empty, at least in the afternoons. Plenty of tee times available. I think high prices are keeping people away.

Just looked at Wednesday , between 10AM to 2PM I counted 50 open tee times.
Do they want the Villages experience or are they looking for something else?

Plan on an afternoon tee time.

Mission Inn Golf Country Club

Golf
 

Eagle Ridge is nice (36 holes), Arlington Ridge, Black Bear

Black bear is a bear of a golf course

Juliette Falls
 

Went through your same dilemma last year. Didn't want to be without a tee time. Juliette Falls was recommended by a friend. It's a very nice course. The only downside is it's about an hour drive. About half of the drive is through some beautiful horse country. Everyone said to keep it on the list for this year.

Eagle Ridge

The Links at Spruce Creek, Stonecrest, Ocala Golf Club, Continental, Lake Diamond, Arlington Ridge, Monarch at Royal Highlands, Deer Island, CC at Silver Springs Shores, Eagle Dunes are all rated 3 1/2 to 4 Stars on GolfNow - Havent played them lately my guys are coming next month

Baseline is a great course. Owned by people who once owned a nursery and their expertise is on display throughout the course.

I'd vote for Del Webb Spruce Creek Golf & Country Club, but you should be able to get a reasonable tee time at the Villages Orange Blossom Hills, Hacienda Hills or maybe Nancy Lopez. But IMO, you'll have to drive too far to get anything better outside TV.

I played Continental once and it was in horrible condition. Baseline is a nice little semi executive course. It is green but the fairways, fringes and greens are kept very long. Higher handicap players that I played with loved. I was hitting flyers all day.
The Championships in The Villages are expensive and conditions are inconsistent. I have friends that play exclusively play outside The Villages because of the price. I’ve played some in good shape and some that are terribly and everything in between.

It is pretty, but it's a very short course.

OP, previous posters have mentioned Deer Island, Juliette Falls, Mission Inn and Harbor Hills. They are all worth playing outside the bubble and all will cost less than any Villages championship course with the exception of Juliette Falls. If you don't mind driving a little farther I would suggest Orange County National which has two exceptional layouts.

A note about Deer Island: I played it about 10 years ago and swore I'd never go back. I must have lost close to a dozen golf balls in the rough. You literally had to step on your ball to find it. No idea if they keep the rough that long any more.

If any in your group are members of a private club, at home, consider asking your pro to make a tee time for you at one of the private clubs in the area.

Don't know of any private golf courses near The Villages. You would probably need to travel to Ocala or Orlando. But there are plenty of public access courses within a reasonable drive. But first check onto the course reviews before booking. Some may not be in the shape you are looking for.

Here's my knowledgable advice..
 

There's a very good chance you can get on Lopez, Hacienda Hills, or Southern Oaks, even without putting in a request. With a guest pass, Lopez is $78, Hacienda is $71.50, and Southern Oaks is $83 (yikes!).
Here are my rankings of outside courses, as a 9 handicap player. The caveat is that I've not played any of these recently, but I've played them all many times and have read all the recent reviews in preparation of playing outside the Villages until June 1st, as I do every year now.
1. Deer Island - great course, great condition. If you're not good, bring lots of balls. If the day is warm enough, you get to see gators too! It's worth the hour or so drive. $50
2. Mission Inn/El Campeon - close by, rare elevation changes, always great condition, but very difficult, not for crappy players. $85
3. Mission Inn/Las Colinas - close by, always in great shape. Surprisingly, $75, thought it would be cheaper than that.
4. Harbor Hills - close by, elevation changes, good condition. $50
5. Don't go to these nearby courses, for various reasons - Spruce Creek South, Stonecrest, The Lakes Golf Club.

Really???? Last played Juliette Falls about 3 months ago and it was $52 with a cart and lunch (hamburger and soft drink)

Never mind---just checked their website and they are $75 without the lunch----that's a 50% increase!!!

Continental just finished reseeding their greens and tee boxes and is in good shape, plus they usually have specials for afternoon golf... its a good back up but a good course with the improvements they've made.

I agree, live where we can see parts of two championship courses, see very light play, as the above comments noted, especially in the afternoons ! I agree, in tight financial times like these, the high prices probably do effect how often people play... but, January golf in Florida is not inexpensive anywhere, but there are other nice public courses other than the villages public courses (championship courses). If you want to travel as far a Clermont, Fl.... some really interesting golf in that area. Check out trip advisor reviews under "things to do" category.

Agree ! ! Of course some would argue that the "savings" by not paying villages rates, are wiped out by gasoline prices to travel to other courses...LOL !

WOW ! "inflation" is everywhere, 25% possible raise in water, recreation like golf courses increasing 50%, hamburger now about a 40% increase, is this really sustainable .... ?

The Lakes is a short course, almost "Executive", and not in that great condition, although improving. I wouldn't rule out Spruce Creek or Stonecrest. Stonecrest has new ownership and has done a good job of bringing the course back to playable conditions. Spruce Creek did a lot of overseeding and have greens that are in near perfect condition. You can play either for half the cost (or less) than a Villages championship course.

Nobody mentioned Saddlebrook or Copperhead courses which are tour level , and only 45 min and 1h15 min away.

Have had a condo an the 2 hole of Copperhead for 35 years and always been able to get my quests a tee time

They want villages experience. I just tried to request tee time for 4 including 2 guest and its not accepting the guest ID numbers. There are 7 numbers instead of 6 and says they are invalid. Can I even make a request using Guest ID numbers?

Cheers!

If I remember correctly, you will enter your friends as your Guest, under your ID number.

Correct. just did that.

Other Options
 

My local village is plannibg trips to these: Arlington Ridge, Del Webb Eagle Ridge, and Spruce Creek. They are very close to The Villages. Worth a look.

Ah-Ha that worked. Thanks.

I had trouble with this too. It's a little tricky. The first thing it asks you is whether you have any guests. You have to check yes here.