Flat Par-3s?
 

I spoke with a non-Villages acquaintance who has been down to visit friends and golf in The Villages several dozen times over the years. She told me that almost all the golf in The Villages are flat courses filled with par three holes.

Since I've only golfed a couple executive courses, do those who have golfed more of TV find her claim to be fairly accurate?

That would certainly explain the reported 2011 statistic of over 1,800 (5 per day!) holes-in-one on TV courses.

She knows nothing about it. There are 40+ executive courses that are primarily par 3's----that's the definition of an executive course. There are 13 "championship" courses with 36 9's (10 with 27 holes, 3 with 18) and with the exception of Southern Oaks and the Pensacola to Destin rotation at Bonifay they all have only 4 par 3"s (Yes, I know Destin to Fort Walton has 5). The two rotations mentioned have 6 par 5's, 6 4's and 6 3's.

There are several reasons for so many holes in one:

***There are over 3 million rounds of golf played here each year
***Since there are over 350 holes of executive golf and probably 300+ par 3's on them, the odds increase
***a lot of the holes in ones are, well forgive my attitude, "rinky-dink"-----65 yards with a skulled driver from a very short tee

"Flat" has nothing to do with it

Key to your statement “non-villages”.

Lived in Fla. entire life. Most of the village courses(executive) have more elevation changes than courses near the coast.

Do beleive that there are a lot of hole in ones hear due to fact that most people hit low balls which do a lot of rolling on the greens. Lower handicap people hit ball high which reduces the rolling and lessens likelihood of a hole in one.

Lastly when you play executive courses you are hitting at par 3's 8-9 times a round as opposed to 4 on most par 72 courses.

She knows NOT of what she speaks......OBVIOUSLY!

Oh no!!! Was this bait?

I thought 9-hole was the definition of an executive course.

Thank you for your insights. I am glad to hear that the courses are more than just a pitch n putt on steroids.

Billiethkid, this was not a troll bait post.

Thanks All!

Executive greens are so wavy, that it's hard to improve my scores.

agree with buzzy, pitch and putt on steroids, no, I can use my driver on some executive holes from the blacks. I used my 4 today on all the 180+ holes with wind against me.

greens are small and definitely not flat. . though there are still some wet spots on Red Fox, and high hitters need to repair their divots, as the greens are not PGA hard. .

We played Panther at Orange National this weekend and I had better approach shots there than at Red Fox. . . . still an amateur. .

It would seem to me that the description of mostly flat and mostly par 3s aptly describes the executive courses. It is true that some of the greens have some slope, but the description would vary according to persons experience. Certainly, from my perception, you couldn't call these courses hilly. This is Florida!

Let me understand! You spoke with a NON - Villager as your basis for Information. Wow...no wonder your confused!

Actually, they are the opposite of flat. The golf courses (executive and championship) are part of the rain/water management system. The elevation changes allow them to retain water (and not go into houses) during hurricanes.

Another key point, whoever she visits, only sets her up at exec courses, so she only plays level 1 par three’s. One has to wonder why come several dozen times if she is so dissatisfied? Maybe she is not a championship, player, or chooses not to spend more than $12

There's a lot of rough comments above and the person posting was being serious.

Sounds like someone who is considering going to Dell Webb with 1 golf course, 1 pool, one clubhouse and $600 HOA. Adios!