What part of your decision was based on Free Golf?
 

When you decided to move to the Villages what part of your decision was based on the Free Executive golf? Would you have moved to the Villages if there were no Executive golf courses here?

It wasn’t the FREE executive golf, it was the volume of golf holes. I would have come if I had to pay greens fees for Executive golf, as long as there were so many executive and championship courses.

It also was the number of other activities and the size - I think expansion makes TV more appealing, no way you can be bored here.

Impact of "Free Golf for Life"....................ZERO.

Exactly the same----I don't play the exec courses anyway

Well, it isn't quite free: there are the amenity fees, trail fees, pushcart fees, etc. But it IS far cheaper than any golf I could play on a regular basis back in Minnesota. And expenses aside...well, it is pretty hard to find you ball in three feet of snow.

I'd say that golf ranked #4, behind low taxes, beautiful weather, and reasonable cost of living. It was important to me but not essential.

We are members at private clubs up north, which we do miss members perks, along with a great restaurant.

So no, execs really wasn’t the reason we came in 2007, it was the in bubble championship holes, that we’re important, along with multiple activities. Those who seem to find free golf a perk, seem to be new at the sport, or age has declined their game.
Traded acre of beautiful bluegrass lawn for green weed stuff, but oh well.

Zero

I had my uncle, my aunt, and my parents have homes in TV. Not one of them golfed or bought a golf cart.

It was not the most important factor. If Florida had high taxes and cold winters we would not be here - even with free golf and all the other amenities.

But after narrowing our decision to Florida we looked at several other retirement communities. Once we did that, free golf was a huge factor. If the other communities had free golf and the villages didn’t, I am not sure we would be here. Don’t play pickleball or tennis or horseshoes or shuffleboard that often.

We don't play golf so strictly speaking it had zero influence on my decision.

On the other hand, free golf and the number of holes is just one aspect of the amenities provided in the Villages. The golf wasn't a draw but the overall amenity package, which includes the golf, was.

The execs are "free", and you get what you pay for. The championship courses are overpriced and mostly boring designs. No comparison to the private course conditions I enjoy up north 6 months out of the year. But it beats shoveling snow.

No impact on decision.
After we moved in, golf became one of many after the fact opportunities.

Proximity to a lot of golf courses attracted me more than the notion of 'free' executive course golf. I suspect I will use the execs to play a quick 9 holes after work, but it's having numerous championship courses nearby at a low cost is what I'm really looking forward to. For my wife, none of that is relevant. She is very much looking forward to the myriad clubs and activities that will be available to her.

We get free golf? Who knew?:gc:

The close proximity of many Championship courses (most 27 holes) to our home was a major factor. The Executives were kind of a bonus. As we age, we play the Executives more and my wife prefers them. During January and February I play the Executives often with my wife given that it’s almost $150 for us to play the Championships, and the conditions aren’t great until growing season begins around early March. Between June and the end of December I play the Championships almost exclusively when the rates are more affordable. My wife prefers the Executives year round.