Orange Blossom Rumor
 

Yesterday we went to the Hacienda Pool to cool off. We were pleasantly surprised to find they have table service just like Orange Blossom pool had. In fact our waitress was a former worker at Orange Blossom pool. When we asked her if she knew what was going on over there she responded by telling us that the developer's grand-daughter will be opening the new restaurant and it will be "Priority" just like Katie Bells. I know the pool was a priority pool but who ever heard of a country club in the villages being a priority club? The waitress said that will ruin that side. I can't believe the villages would do this. What do you guys think? Is this BS or what?

Nothing that the Morse family does surprises me.
Harold Schwartz wouldn't have created "Priority of anything" May he rest in peace!

His vision was give the Villagers as much free entertainment as he could afford, free admission to Katie Bells, Free pools, even free Cable and garbage removal.

The previous man who ran the restaurant did a good job, but no outsider could afford the hefty fees assessed by "The Family"

But to respond to your question, yes a Priority club.

:spoken:

Katie Belles is a "resident" only not "priority" establishment. Sounds like BS from an unhappy former employee at OBH let go on "short notice"by the former restaurant operator.

I agree with Chuckster. My rumor detector is going off.
 

Gracie, you have entered a new level of responses!! 'nuff said.......
Oh boy, that is funny. Gonna have to name that bull, make it a mascot.

What is meant by "Priority Club"?

Ok Gracie, I'm literally rolling in laughter!!

so if you pay $900 and get into the pools at country clubs and get better golf times..would a resturant be a great choice for the service? not sure it would be busy but one never knows...love the gg bull..make pic smaller and it will be in every rumor post:popcorn:

Gracie - where is the second picture so we can complete what needs to be said" ??

Seems making OB a priority member only club would break the main marketing promise:

The Villages is the only place in the world where you can play golf free for the rest of your life on all of our executive courses. As a resident, you’ll also receive free lifetime membership in all of our country clubs including The Villages’ Palmer Legends and Nancy Lopez Legacy country clubs…

As member I would sure hope I can go inside for a beer.

As far as Katie Bells? My memory says there was a time when the upstairs dining room was only for priority members and their guests. This would have been back when visiting my Dad in say 2002'ish. Anyone else remember that?

Katie Belles is priority? What do you mean by that? Katie Belles is open to all Villages residents and their guests.

Well that's what the woman was saying. We have a priority pool membership not a golf one. I couldn't see paying all that money for a priority golf when the executive courses are fine for me. I stink anyway. She just said the clubhouse will be for priority card holders and that they were putting in an outside/inside bar for people who wanted to sit outside by the pool. I'm guessing the tiki bar will go. Doesn't make sense to me. All I noticed is Hacienda was capitalizing on it all with table service and the talk of putting in an outside bar-b-que. Some people from OB were there and hating it. They like their side better I guess. At least they're not turning OB into another rec center like Silver Lake (which used to have great fish fries) or Chula Vista or even El Santiago (nice breakfasts and a great place to relax after golf) I hope it's just a disgruntled ex worker.

We do have lifetime membership in all the country clubs. Priority membership is an add on. I don't really know exactly what that means, but my understanding is that you get preferred tee times and a few other perks.

What surprises me down here is that up north, when you join a country club or golf club, you may play unlimited golf at no additional fee. The same can be said for many private and semi private clubs here in Florida outside of the Villages. The idea of belonging to a club and having to pay a green fee is foreign to me.

Now some clubs that have multiple activities have a fee for joining each of those activities. You pay dues to join the club and then you pay an annual fee to use the pool, play golf, tennis, lawn bowling or whatever. The so called called "country clubs" in The Villages are really just daily fee public golf courses. One does not have to be a member to play them so what is a membership worth? It's pretty easy for The Villages to advertise that we all have lifetime memberships to their "country clubs" when that membership consists of nothing.

"members", (property owners) get reduced greens fees, so it's worth more than nothing.

The best analogy I can think of is, as residents we have a free "social membership". Lots of clubs "up North" offer that (not for free). It lets you use the club to dine have some drinks and then pay a lessor fee to golf than someone off the street.

After further thought, my point original post does not hold much water as anyone can walk in off the street and dine and drink, so you are correct about it being close to nothing.....

I think that is a different experience than ours. Here is a typical country club in my old neck of the woods. The initiation fee is MANY thousand dollars. The green fees are $65.
Wetherington Golf & Country Club in West Chester, Ohio | Golf Course Rankings and Details

You are partially correct. When the Cattle Baron's Club opened at Katie Belle's, it was a member's only club, but the membership had nothing to do with priority golf membership. As I recall, it was rather pricey...maybe a couple hundred dollars to join. Apparently, there were very few takers since it only lasted a very short time, again as I recall, maybe six months at most.

Grandpa Gary should tell his grandaughter, we tried this membership thing once and it didn't work so don't bother trying it again.

Orange blossom
 

The granddaughter part is true, heard from many inside sources. I have a hard time believing it would be a priority restaurant simply because of the location. Maybe palmer not not orange blossom.

Gracie, that's a great picture and I laughed pretty hard. I think if you can find a picture of the other end it will become a TOTV legend!

Gracie, in addition to an initial membership fee, don't most country clubs also have a monthly food minimum?

Yes I do and it flopped. They called it Cattle Baron's. The name stuck but not the conception. No one wanted to join so it fell by the wayside.

Very poor idea.

Z

I hope the developers do keep OB in the family and under their operation/management. They don't let the restaurants go to the dogs like Havana did.

About 17 years ago we visited Kattie Belle's for the first time. At that time it was family operated and the food, service atmosphere was great. The same can be said for several other businesses that were family owned and operated. But it seems once they are turned over they lose what ever edge they had and soon fall by the way side. Many have said its because after a private owner goes in the rental becomes so high they can't square a profit. IMO the food and service at Kattie Belle's is awful. Unless you are going there to drink, dance and enjoy the entertainment, don't go.

whenwords just don't cover the subject....excellent GG!

Putting a rumor on this forum is like putting a match in a can of gas.

btk

You have out done yourself with this one.............great line!