Do the Executive Courses get any better?
 

We've been golfing on the Executive courses, and there is no ruff. The part of the course that's supposed to be ruff(longer grass), is like a tiny brown grass cover. And the fairways on a lot of courses are the same.

The only part that's green is the T box and the green.

Has it always been this way? Do they ever fix it? Maybe need some water.

This IS both the dormant season where most grass in this area is not very green, AND the busy season where the courses get a lot of use.


But, they really never look plush. They see a LOT of rounds of golf.


However, the price is nice.

I don't believe that when they water the executive courses they care about the "fairways". You see most executive courses are mostly par 3's and par 3's are normally played from tee to green.Thus the reason I believe the tee boxes & greens are kept in great shape considering the amount they get played!

Oh how I wish I lived in that world and it was MY reality!!!

The worst green I've seen is the on the 6th hole at El Diablo. That green is really in bad shape.

I have not really experienced that. I have played on some lovely executive courses.

First off it's "rough" not "ruff"...
 

which is " a projecting starched frill worn around the neck, characteristic of Elizabethan and Jacobean costume."

and the rough gets green with spring and summer, but never really long like you'll see on courses designed to have penal rough...which being executive courses are not designed that way...in general. Still if you want the challenge play them from the black tees.

Played Roosevelt today and the greens were very spotty and dry...........not sure how to describe as am new to golf. Normally greens are much more plush and these were not.

I like the executive courses and find them to be just fine the way they are.

I do too...and the price is right.

Overseeding - another thread about grass?
 

What you are seeing is that any grass that is not over seeded will tend to go dormant and look brown this through the winter. On the executive courses they only over seed the tees and greens on all par 3s. On the championship courses they over seed the tees, greens and fairways. Even on the championship courses the rough goes brown and is sometimes very very short, almost non existent. That lack of grass can make some delicate short shots around the green some of most embarrassing I have ever played :D

Here is an overview I found of why they do it...

Overseeding begins in The Villages Oct. 1 - Villages News: News in The Villages, FL and surrounding communities

I play twice a week and some of the courses have really bad greens like heron for example. Some places bare ground. Others are in great shape. As for rough you have to go outside the villages where some courses must use different grasses because they actually have some grass around the greens. Most golfers have a problem chipping from the hard pan around the greens so i prey there is not a trap in my way and bump it up with a 6 iron.

I agree - the worst green of any course I've played in TV. The green is in a very bad place, mostly shaded and the trees drop a lot of stuff all around and on it. Notice that there is little vegetation growing off the green as well. The ambassadors say that they've tried to improve it, but nothing has worked yet. El Diablo is a nice layout though.

Since golf is free on executive courses, it wouldn't pay to spend the money, to green up fairways etc, when (as stated) most all the holes on executive courses are Par 3's. That would be 33 courses to feed, when not needed. As long as greens and tee boxes are green, I'm happy. Just wish everyone would help in taking care of greens and tee boxes, by fixing ball marks and filling in divots with sand? I don't think it would pay, to make rough tougher, when play needs to keep moving in a suitable time frame. Executives get more play then some Championships, because of the price!!!! I am one of those Villagers, (when I play executives) thankful for what we have. Happy Golfing!

I love all the executive courses! I look at them as great practice courses. Not perfect but they make you try different shots. The greens are a challenge for the most part. Some are in rough shape, but they get play all day! It would help if more people would repair their ball marks, but. I feel I am becoming a better golfer because of these courses. Great courses to walk!