Golf Play Advice
 

I am coming to the villages for the winter season January - March, and want to play golf. I belong to a private club in New Hampshire, and play to a 14 handicap. I would like to talk to someone who could give me advice as to the best way to meet other golfers, get involved in leagues, tournaments, and regular play. My name is Paul Seccareccio

Cell - (617) 803 5509
thesacs@aol.com

Actually, even though I've been here over a year, I was recovering from surgery last winter, so I'd like to hear the same thing...best ways to get involved with winter golf.

I'd like to know as well--bought 18 mo ago but won't be full time until Oct-Nov.
I do know you need a Florida GHIN handicap to play tournaments, your northern GHIN # is not acceptable. Also, I don't think there are leagues as we think of them, there are many neighborhood golfing groups, so ask your neighbor golfers. Also look at Golf The Villages

We have been here 3 years. When we first got here we just got T times and met the people they put with us. We also met neighbors interested in golf and now we golf 3 times a week and have made some great friends. Just be friendly and respectful on the golf course and people will want to play with you.

One of the ways to meet other golfers is to put your name in when there are 3 men playing and they are missing a 4th.

The teetime system here is a little unsual, but if you're use to looking at a website and spotting an open teetime and putting your name in, then that's what we have here.

You won't be able to view the teetime site unless you're a member of villages.net, it's only $8 a month and it can go on your credit card automatically. You can probably suspend your account when you leave. You can make reservation with just a telephone, but it's complicated and you can't view times over a phone.

Since you are a single, and even though it will be high season, you won't really need to put in a reservation. That's a teetime 4 - 7 days in the future. Normally I never do that anyway, the weather is too unpredictable.

Joining the computer system and grabbing teetimes that way, is your best route. Look for a threesome and put your name (it will be your village ID number actually) in with the group. You can also call the clubhouse the day you want to play and ask if there is any open times. You will find out that many women play here in TV, so when you're online or calling in to the clubhouse, you may want to stay with an all male group.

One thing that is a bit unsual is, at the 9 courses that have 27 holes, there is no teetimes after 9:28 or before 11:56. You might say, that' weird because I like 10am for a teetime. Well then, you need to stick the executive courses to get that time. The reason for this time gap is, all the people who teed off between, say 7:28 to 9:28 will be swinging around to play their back nine. See all three of the 9 hole layouts have their own starter shack and all have identical teetimes. So when those groups are coming around to play their back nine, there is no room for new golfers to start their front nine.

I hope I didn't confuse you, but this is a reason you should take the orientation here for golfers called 'The Good Golf School'. It given on Thursday morning once a month at Colony Cottage Rec Center. It's free, you'll get all kinds of info on this system, the courses, ettiquette and a course pro will speak with the group. You will need to call and reserve your spot, there is usually 50 or more in a class. They will list the upcoming class in the sports page of TV Sun newspaper or you could call Colonty Cottage ahead of time and ask about the class. Good Luck on your golfing.

There is also Men's day and Ladies days organized golf every week, but since I have never participated, maybe someone else who has, can explain.

Every time you book a tee time you will probably meet three new golfers when you play.

I played with over 400 golfers in TV this past winter. 99.9% great people and some new friends.

Here's a website in case no one mentioned it Golf The Villages

There is info about everything golf. Be sure to click the links at the top. What I gathered is tournaments are only May through Sept because of the courses being so busy Jan Feb Mar. You could check at some of the courses off Villages property. If you need a list of those, PM me and I'll have my husband put together a list. There are many gorgeous courses in this area. I was going to suggest to play championship Men's day but according to the website I mentioned you will need a Villages GHIN number and to be a Priorty member of the course you wish to play.

Your GHIN # stays the same from your home course, it just needs to be transferred here (for a nominal fee, of course) to the Florida State Golf Association (FSGA).

Hi golfing eagles: One possibility is to get involved in men's/women's day events Men play various championship courses or executive on Tuesday and women on Wednesday. The tee time system has a menu for sign ups.

Personal Best Regards:

Paul, what is your weekly golf budget?
How many times a week do you want to play?
How many hours a day do you want to play?

Tuesdays Championship course
 

Pretty sure you have to be a priority golf member to play in the every Tuesday champion course tournaments.