Amberwood 5th Dilemma
 

So, we'd been avoiding Amberwood since busy season started here...knowing how slow it often moves through that 5th hole. Usually 2 or 3 groups waiting to tee off on the 5th when you arrive. It's a tough situation, where you have to wait for the green to clear on this par 4. Last week we gave Amberwood a chance with a late afternoon tee time, hoping for a good steady pace...over 2 hours and 15 minutes later, we finished in the dark. In spite of the dreadfully slow play through 5th and 6th, weather was perfect and we all had decent rounds (a good time) after cracking open a couple cans of "patience".
Now the rub - as we waited with another group on the 5th tee, we watched as foursome (beginners?) ahead of us chopped, hacked and duffed all the way down the fairway, hitting multiple balls from each position...turning their rounds of golf into practice sessions. This 4-some were all walkers, so all those extra balls had to be shagged "on foot" as well.
I'm a big fan of the ambassadors (99% exceptional), but they were completely absent from the course during this fiasco. About 30 shots later, the group ahead of us took the tee.
Not sure of the solution to this problem other than:

- Perhaps starters reminding players - no multiple ball play.
- Better way to let new golfers know about the degree of difficulty of courses - have played with many folks that had no clue about difficulty ratings of courses, and watched them struggle, obviously frustrated and not having a good time.
- Player confrontation - enlightenment!
- Use of force/violence! (just kidding)

Meanwhile, Amberwood's off the play list till May!

I support the idea of avoiding Amberwood, (and I hope everyone else does too!)

Good, the more who boycott it the easier to get a tee time there! Love playing there.

Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded ....

sorry, not me!
 

It's my favorite! I usually play early, have not had a problem with waiting!

It sure can be frustrating when you have that happen. I agree the golf course is no place for beginner lessons. That's what the range is for. Unfortunately, I think a lot of new golfers are advised to play later in the day as the "experienced" or "serious" golfers usually play earlier.

I like the Amberwood course, but the 5th and 6th are a little short to be called a par 4 and par 5.

Par 4 and Par5
 

Use to be Par 3 and Par 4

They changed #5 to a par 4 so you could drive on it. This was an effort to speed up play. #6 was already a par 4 so they made it a par 5 since it was longer. I never saw the logic in that one.

Shorten 5th and make it a 3 - sometimes
 

It seems the simplest solution would be to shorten the 5th (move all tees way up; 200 from the blacks) during peak season, making it fit the profile for the longer par 3's in the Villages...we like it as is, but it's got to be the biggest bottleneck on any course here. The 6th should be a par 4, but that's another story...and usually it isn't backed-up...keeping it a 5, gives a good eagle chance with a couple solid shots!

Amberwood is a fine course...and could flow a lot smoother year round, with just a little...tee tinkering!