Why Are TV building more Pitch and Putts
 

Just a thought.

Instead of building more pitch and putts, TV should be converting one of the existing ones to an executive course. The P and P are the LEAST requested courses in the entire villages excluding courses way north. Just look at what’s available on TheVillages.net the day most recent assignments are made. Makes no sense to build another one !
Need more Executive courses south of 44!

You have multiple comments about pitch and putt courses. We get it, you don't like them.

Probably because most of us don’t use the reservation system and just call to see if there are openings. When I play the pitch and putt they’re usually quite busy.

I don’t like them, but thinking about it, why wouldn’t they. They cost less to build, use less land, and leave more space to build additional houses. And besides, people are continuing to buy new homes as fast as they can be built, which is what it’s all about at the end of the day. On the other hand, if homebuyers started backing away, and left strong feedback that they were buying elsewhere because of the lack of availability of real golf, the types of new golf being constructed would change. The only way it’s going to change is if prospective new home buyers complain through their purchasing actions! So, if you bought a newly constructed home recently, blame yourself.

Pitch and putts are quicker, easier, and take less space to build than an executive course. So the developer can build them and boast "free golf" with a fraction of the cost.

My wife and I love the pitch-and-putt courses except for the one in the Village of Richmond.

We carry fewer clubs than on an exec course and we don't have to look out for the stupid golf carts.

I have been playing golf since 1958 and the main thing I have learned is that hitting short shots makes it easier to learn how to hit the longer shots. The other thing is that, while it is nice to be intelligent, when playing golf it is best to leave your brain at home.

We have been playing golf since 11/2023... we love the pitch and putts. I wish they'd chop up a few of the executive courses to make room for more pitch and puts because the existing ones are always busy.

Another fan of the P&P, tends to be more fun for casual golf.

When you look at the number of holes, they are a small percentage.

Welcome to the game. After a while you will feel more confident and comfortable and may wish to expand your experience. I like p&p. It is like "beginer" golf and also good practice for your short game.

PS: keep your head down. 😉

They are NOT a small percentage if you compare them to the number of holes available below 44.

Well yeah, since there are no pitch & puts north of 44....compared to all of the holes of golf in The Villages, SMALL PERCENTAGE, 54 out of 747 = 7.2%

:bigbow:

And where would these same buyers find a fraction of the available golf found here. Not to mention a gazillion others things to do and enjoy here.

Marsh View is a challenging test.

Anyone can hit a driver and there are multiple people who use them on par 3 exec.

But a short game can take skill, and let’s face it most greens here can be a challenge because who ever placed that pin last night has anger issues.

Plus the walk on a P&P is forced exercise and that may be one of the reasons why they are not as popular. Some find it a challenge to walk from their house to the curb for trash, much less walk small venue

Add my vote in favor of P&P’s - want to see more constructed.

"Below 44" is a completely arbitrary measure. Why not compare to the percentage north of 44, or south of the Turnpike or East of Morse?

Bingo. I've been to the pitch and putts several times. I've booked a pitch and putt through the reservation system exactly one time. Everytime else I've either showed up at the starter shack and walked on to the first available spot or I called the starter shack on very short notice to grab one of the next available spots ahead of time. They're perfect when you find yourself with a 2 hour timeslot that you need to fill.

Heck, I have trouble walking from the recliner to the fridge. " Honey, will you carry me?"

///

The reason you are able to "walkup to the P&P" and get on is because they aren't as in demand as executive or championship courses. Why is TV building them? Much lower cost to build and maintain. Less real estate used for amenities and more for houses.

Can anyone tell what exactly the ‘pitch’ part of P&P is?

Right, but since all the p & p’s are south of 44, shouldn’t the relative comparison be as a % of the holes south of 44? After all, this thread is about why are they building more of them. The relevancy of the question is all about where golf is being constructed, and it isn’t north of 44.

Exactly why they need more executives and less glorified mini golf. Try walking onto an executive this time of the year and finding an open spot.

If P&Ps are so great, why aren’t there any of them north of 44? What caused the developer, after 30 years of building only Championship and Executive courses, suddenly decide to build P&Ps? If the demand for P&Ps was that great, they would have converted some executives north of 466A to P&Ps.

My guess they first decided to build a P&P because of the layout of the land.

The land where the Marshview P&P course is located has a lot of beautiful Live Oak trees and The Villages did not want to chop them down. Some genius had an idea to build a short P&P course that winds thru the trees and, in my opinion, it turned out great.

I live near Richmond and Marsh View P&Ps and they're busy almost everytime that I drive by them on my golf cart. Richmond P&P was obviously built as a buffer from the turnpike and it works. March View P&P is at Cattail rec center and also shares the same location as Lowlands Executive course, Edna's and Hogeye path. Even if some home sites were taken away there still would not be enough room for a properly laid out Executive course there and it wouldn't make any sense when there's already one there.

I've rarely (almost never) had to wait more than 30 minutes to do a walk-on for an executive. Normally much less.

Haven’t had an issue of finding short notice exec for last 5 years, no matter what month it is.

Find high season has multiple spots especially because colder mornings, keeps many no shows, and those who get to the course 20 minutes early go right to the line.

Usually reason one can’t find a time either system, or call same day is because one only chooses something close, their favorite, or certain levels. Willingness to drive to new areas is key to tee times, besides keeps your game sharper instead of plays the same course.

I play with a small group that will not travel more than 15 minutes and only want to play between certain hours. Shut outs are normal year round for them

A golf shot that is less than a full swing, but more than a small "chip" is referred to as a "pitch".

It's not a term that is used often in TV golf commentary. However, the "P" club, which in a full set is lofted one club more than a 9-iron is the "Pitching Wedge".

Something in the neighborhood of 40yards down to 10 yards might be referred to as a "pitch". The exact distances are not specific.

"The driver is the hardest club in the bag to hit. That's why they let you put it on a peg"-Harvey Penick.

That’s funny because look at how many on par 3 executives hit a driver from the green tees. Doesn’t mean they hit it well, but it is the go to club for many in TV. Ya know bigger head easier to hit.

My, dad never used a driver, scratch golfer for many years. As a kid he played every morning before and after school.

That’s funny because look at how many on par 3 executives hit a driver from the green tees. Doesn’t mean they hit it well, but it is the go to club for many in TV. Ya know bigger head must be easier to hit.

My, dad never used a driver, scratch golfer for many years. As a kid he played every morning before and after school. He didn’t own a driver so never had one in his bag.

P & Ps are busy only as a last resort, when one can’t get a tee time for 2 or more on an executive course.

Looked last week, 3 days in advance on executive courses, for 2 people to play. Only spots available were before 8AM or after 4:20PM. Plenty of P & Ps open for 2 or more all day long.

Our main objection is being charged points for fake courses.

I could say exactly the same thing as to why they need more championship courses and less glorified "pitch and putt" executives. But that is only because I don't bother to play executives. However, in reality, it is the executives that are hard to get a tee time on (i.e.: free), so more of them would probably satisfy the masses. (Read the entire post, I am agreeing with you :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:)

Actually, to be technical, the distance doesn't matter. A "chip" is defined as a short shot that rolls >50% of the distance: a "pitch" travels >50% in the air.

Yes, and you'll find most of them in the paper under "holes in one" after skulling a drive 60 yards with the flagstick getting in the way

From another point of view: if you compare acreage, it looks like a P&P takes roughly 1/3 the area of An Exec

Maintenance cost is lower.

Throughput of golfers is faster.

P&P's keep golfers some would rather not see playing ahead of them off the other courses ;)

Relative to the courses mentioned in the latest video, the P&P iappears to be something less than 5% of the land dedicated to golf.

There is a lot of land dedicated to golf South of the Turnpike.

Walk ons and no shows
 

Fascinating to learn of such "short notice" experience. We're still learning our way around. Enjoyed the P&P's even in the summer heat for the couple of months before our cart arrived. Still learning the "ins and outs" of the reservation system. Checking the "open times" for the next 3 days, we find only very early or "just before dark" slots available for two.

*However*, the past few decades have taught me that there can be disconnects between reservation/appointment systems and human nature. Seeing the gaming of systems with no regard for how it affects others is one of my lifelong pet peeves. "Overbooking" is one of the clumsy "fixes" that comes to mind. . .

We *have* noticed that "no shows" seem to be at least "not rare" at the executives. You have me wondering now if just showing up as a couple and waiting for an opening might be a viable option - at least at venues where chipping practice is an option - can *always* use more of that. Bears testing. I will say that some of the most friendly and helpful folks with whom we've dealt here have been the starters' shacks folks, with very few exceptions. Another thought about the likelihood of success with such a strategy is what one of the starters shared with us - that it is also not rare for a couple to reserve a tee time with two "guests", but then the guests miraculously never actually make it to the party. Might be just the type of folks I'd get a kick out of joining up with. :-)

Our limited experience with the reservation system has been kinda frustrating. My one attempt at including a long list of executive course "options" apparently was irrelevant, or maybe I just failed to understand the system. The course and time that we "won" was a ridiculously long ride away (via golf cart) and was *not* one that was on our rather extensive "list". Interesting adventure. A couple of similar such "long ride" adventures have convinced us that they're just not our "cup of tea".

We've recently returned to Mickeylee for a couple of outings and, as we're both still pretty mobile, have enjoyed ourselves. And, it's interesting to learn that there *is* a difference between hitting short to mid irons and hitting those wedges. Had gotten to where I was stobbing a lot of the wedges back in the summer, but now looks like those skills need some re-honing. :-) Maybe not a bad option for the "high season". . .

Interesting. Been playing most of my life and came from a family of golfers. I don't remember it being defined so specifically. Never knew that.
Golf teaches me something everyday (in addition to the the fact that I'm not very good at it).

I've been playing for 55 years, and I didn't know that either until a PGA pro told me that about 6 months ago.

But, from national golfer:

By definition, a chip shot is when the ball is going to run further than it carries
A pitch shot is defined as a shot close to the green where the ball will carry more than it runs out