"High Season" Executive Tee times ??
 

We're "snowflakes" and aren't usually in TV during the "crowded" season, so I need some help.

We are home-owners and have my brother and his wife coming in to play some executive golf the week of Jan 1. We will probably want to play at least 9 holes a day. I have always just gotten my Tee times within 3 days of playing so I could look at what's available on the different courses and pick what I want. I do pay the $8 a month for the on-line capability..

Question 1 - Will waiting until 3 days before we want to play be feasible during this time period (Dec 29 - Jan 5) or is it too crowded then to be able to get a tee time for a foursome that way?

Question 2 - If I do need to use the 7-day-in-advance "Reservation" system, I know we will go to the back of the line due to having 2 guests in the foursome. Can somebody tell me how much I have to "open up" my request to be sure of getting a tee time? I assume the safest thing is to say "any course, any time", but how much can I reduce that and still be sure of getting something? (i.e. I would prefer to play south of 466, since we're in St. James, but if I limit the courses to that, would I need to put "any time of the day" to be sure of getting a tee time or could i limit it to just in the morning one day (or just afternoon another day) depending on what else we have going on that day?)

Thanks in advance for the help - I love this forum!! :D

I would definitely book as far in advance as you can with all the latitude possible for playing times and courses. Even this past week if I look at whats available 2 days out almost everything is north of 466. I'm worried about the high season because so many houses have been built south of 466A with no increase in executives in that area and I believe most of those residents try to book closer to them which is between 466A and 466.
I know its not what you want to hear but I'm afraid thats the way it will be. If you're early risers try to book the very earliest starts as they seem to be a little more open.

You can probably find executive tee times during high season on one course or another, but they will be first thing in the morning or so late that you might not be able to finish nine before it gets dark. Also, there are many cancellations, so you might find tee times by calling the starter shack on the day of play to see what is available. Chances are much better if you are a single or a pair.

Use the seven day "request" and custom tune it to whatever you wish using the time or course perference. You will know 3 days before if you did or did not get a tee time. If you did not then you are in the same position as you have been doing all along per your post ie it is now time to look for a reservation.

You can put the request in up to 4 days out, and they all go into the same hat at midnight when they all either get tossed, or become reservations.

Just remember, you will get points every time you play, so as the week progresses and you have more points, you have to become more flexible in order to get a tee time.

I agree with ducati, it is going to be interesting this winter. You have several thousand new residents south of 466A and some in St. James and Tamarind Grove, most of whom are relatively young, enthusiastic golfers with no corresponding increase in Executive course. Could be a very interesting (make that frustrating) situation for a lot of people. We are in Hemingway and would prefer not to play north of 466.

I was amazed on Thanksgiving I was able to get a tee time on the course of my choice for us (2 residents) and 4 guests without a problem. I'm guessing I got that lucky because not many people were wanting to play Thursday around 10am.

My advice is to put in your requests and see what happens. If push comes to shove you can always go off campus which isn't ideal, but at least you will get to golf.

When things get full, it has been know to happen that a foursome with a guest or even HIGH point resident will not get a tee time. To be honest with you, when we have guests, we find its almost cheaper and less hassle to play on a course outside the Villages ....one suggestion is Baseline Golfcourse...I think its 19 holes with cart for $29/person and its not a bad course

By the way, the new Palmetto exec course, near Evans Prairie, is slated to open this month. First exec south of 466a.

How many times can one play golf in a week's time and NOT be classified as a high-point resident?

There is no such classification of "high-point"

That is an interesting point - is it possible to schedule a tee time everyday in the high season and have it filled? Assuming you get one of your top 5 choices and a range between 10 and 2 each day.

Not bloody likely! You need to put a much larger range of time and courses.

For the last 6 months, I booked for our 4-some on 9 or 10 courses and 3.5 to 4 hours.I play 5 or 6 days a week. In the last few days, it has become much harder.

Wow - what a response!
 

Thanks for all the info, folks! This forum is GREAT.

Just a short response. If u r trying to book a slot for 4 seven days out and 2 r guests, you can forget it. Guests go to the bottom of the list and u will likely be shut out. Better to wait 3 days before and then c what is available and then book. The choices r not as great, but u will know right away if u have a tee time.

You can still try to reserve a tee time 7 days out and if you get one you are ahead of the game. If you do not one then you go looking. That is my philosophy. Sometimes I am surprised when it works.

If you have a 5 or greater during peak season, as a resident, you are a high pointer!!

I got two guests on three different days in March last year. Our request started with the first tee time available in the morning and we got early tee times each day on courses nearby (Bogart, Becall, and Truman), which is what we prefer. I think your best bet are the early tee times as many people would prefer to avoid them.

some are playing the system
 

I recently tried to get a decent time with a three hour window and 6 courses selected.. I had a guest and was denied....I picked an open time and selected it playing with two "locals". Funny thing when I got there the scheduled second was "unable" to attend so the other folks I was pared with had a "convenient guest" replace the person requesting the time...I certainly hope the Villages puts a stop to this and it should be happening at the starter's shack.

I think you are saying that you had a request denied so you picked an open time via a reservation (inside the three days). If this is the case you did not need to put a locals name in to get a reservation. The only times points are used for tee time perference is requests. Reservations are booked as soon as you push the button. By doing the swap you just incurred your local a three point penalty for a no show. You should attended The Villages Good Golf School if you have not already done so. They do a good job of describing how the system works.

not clear
 

I did everything by the book..the couple I was paired with chose to manipulate the system by using someone's id and then replacing that person with a "guest". The starter approved it on the spot.I didn't want to get negative but I wasn't clear I guess.. It is a clear manipulation of the system to get a preferred time for a guest...I did attend the school, BTW and manipulation was not discussed.

I would not try to do this a lot of times..............the system checks for substitutions.

rp001 - don't think people are understanding you didn't do it, but the other couple did. I have heard of using this manipulation, but like someone else posted the person that didn't show got hit with a 3 point penalty, but I guess if they don't golf it wouldn't make much difference. Interesting scam, don't you think?

Yes, interesting. But not something you can do regularly. I know of some people who use the ID of neighbors who go north for the holidays then substitute their holiday guests into the reservation after the draw is done. The neighbors got a call from golf administration warning them that continuing to make reservations then either canceling or not showing risks losing privileges for a period of time.

This time around, Ed we must hook up a play around ot two together. You're one of the good guys. I'll be down in mid January