Golf outside of The Villages
 

We have a group that plays the championship courses and we have found the courses throughout TV to be in other than championship condition. The greens have little grass, the fairways are not so hot and the tee boxes are all chopped up. We have come to the conclusion that GMS (Golf Management Systems, which is in charge of the condition of all the courses) is not only contracting with the lowest bidder to take care of the courses, but is hiring landscapers and not greens keepers. You will hear them offer as an excuse that the conditions are due to excessive play....that's a bunch of hooey. We have elected to eschew TV courses and play "outside campus" and what a good decision. We played Mission Inn, Howey in The Hills, and man, oh man, what a difference. The greens were immaculate, the fairways where in great shape, rolling hills, rolling greens....it is what a real golf course is supposed to look like. It's a challenging course and I just loved it. I won't tell you my score, but I got two birdies and an eagle.

Before that we played Black Bear, and again, what a contrast to TV courses. Beautiful greens, lush fairways, kempt tee boxes, rolling fairways.

If you really love golf and really enjoy playing great courses.....dump The Village's courses. Go off campus.....there really are good golf courses outside and they are very reasonable priced.....certainly competitive with the greens fees here. I have been a priority member since moving here a little over 8 years ago and I am thinking that I won't renew my priority membership. It cost me over $700 per year to play with a group, get the courses and tee times we want........to play on sub-par courses. With the $700 I will save, I can buy a new set of clubs:wave:

I hear you. Unfortunately, convenience matters to my golf group, so we put up with the crummy conditions in order to save driving. We have cut way back on the amount of times we play per week, though.

don't miss Julliette Falls and Red Tail. They are fabulous.

World Woods near Homasasa Springs has 2 18's that have been in the top 100 public courses in the country for years. Summer rate around $40, sometimes including lunch.

Shhhh....let's keep this just between us!

hubby "sweaty" has complained for years about the sloppy level of greenskeeping on TV golf courses. but no one listens to him.

Me thinks you've hit the nail on the head...:sing:

I total agree--- I have and will continue to post reviews of TV courses as below par and overpriced. I love golf and will drive to play a decent course with good conditions and use their cart. If the conditions improve (been here for 9 years and only gotten worse) and TV stops advertising itself as a golf community, will i stop giving bad reviews. You must hit them in their pocketbook -- complaints to management seem to do nothing - but maybe social media may do something, I have given up drinking kool-aid ---farmer on the west side of rt 301 will let you play his cow pasture for $4 - golf cart accessible :girlneener:

first it's really a shame that Mickey and his group have to put up with the awful conditions. I'm sure that some of us would have thought twice about moving here had we known the conditions would go downhill like they have. For Grillmeister, Orange County National recently redid all their greens to the newer grasses and they are spectacular. Well worth the trip.

Homes are selling well, right now...........................

Harbor Hills is a great course and it doesn't take much time to get there. We really need to get a message to Golf Management Systems and the "developer" that they need to take some positive action...we're sick and tired of the conditions and we ain't gonna take it any more.

I'm playing there tomorrow with 3 TV buddies. And plan to play outside on a more frequent basis. Also have dropped my priority status.

Unfortunately, OP is spot on regarding the overall shape of TV'S championship courses. Somebody needs to be fired IMHO. The design of TV courses are great and just right for senior's of all skill levels to play, but the maintenance leaves a lot to be desired.

It's fixable----so just do it!

maybe new owners like dancing with their "sweetie" at the square and not playing golf on decent courses

Golfing is our family's game
But we two don't golf the same
He is good and I'm just o.k.
But we both just love to play.

He began to golf when he was young.
As a new wife I held my tongue
He played at every opportunity
And left the kids back home with me.

Then we built in a golf community
And there was nothing left for me
But to join the madness and try it out
Other wives were giving me the shout.

For most of our life golf was the start
Of what we did and who took part
Lived on courses and breathed the game
Moved here to TV to continue the same.

It is what it is. You play the game
No two golf courses will be the same
Glad to have all the courses to play
at much less price than we used to pay

Poem over.

He has played some fine course on this planet.
He has played some fine players too.
He has racked up five holes in one.
one an eagle on a dog leg over the trees


He is happy and doesn't want to switch.
And he doesn't post on here but I will listen to you bitch.

I am happy that the real golfer in my family finally has the time to play all he wants to, and I am happy he is happy.