Practice areas
 

So who owns the practice area N. of the lake on 466A,just kinda' wonderin',Do you really have to pay a villages PRO to use that area,I thought we were supposed to receive something for our Fees

If you are referring to the area just inside the gate, that used to be the range that is now south of the lake near the fire station. It is now a short game area and you do not need to pay anyone to use it. There is a green at the new range on the opposite side of the building that is reserved for lessons by the pros that teach there. That may be the source of the confusion.

You can chip and put there on the practice area for free. The only thing you pay for is hitting a bucket of balls.

And you really didn't mean that..." I thought we were supposed to receive something for our fees".?

To play golf virtually for nothing is so huge to me who has paid a lot for golf for forty years. A LOT. Ditto Tennis.

No Mike, I am not confused at all,I was parked on the NORTH side of the lake watching a couple of Guys practice and a very rude man drove down where they were and told them that they were not allowed there unless accompanied by an instructor,I thought this was an open area......

GG:

Sounds like you were a 4.0 tennis player. Do you play Pickleball?


Chuck

No Chuck. I was a lousy tennis player. I meant that Tennis costs money outside the bubble. We had to pay for court time.

I was trying to make the point that we get a lot for our money here. I was all defensive again. Sorry. I love this place. It is like someone is pickin' on my kid. I have to chill.

There are a lot of people who love it too. It is our hometown. And we get a LOT for our fees. Now getting ready to go to a free lecture by two wonderful artists/teachers on color pencil techniques. In a gorgeous rec center. Another day in TV.

NO I don't work for anybody.

I hope someone clarifies this question. After our last round of golf, I was thinking of going down there to practice.

I didn't think you were confused. I was referring to whoever told you that you needed a pro to use that area.

I have a meeting tomorrow with golf administration and will ask that question and will post the answer.

Might I suggest a call to the sarasota driving range office ??

Thanks for finding out. :thumbup:

To over-communicate the area I am talking about. It is not the practice area with the two greens (one for putting and one for chipping) and a bunker; I knew we could use that. It is the grass tee area of the old range. I have seen clinics and groups being taught there and wondered if this was off limits for us choppers, especially in light of the fact the grass tee area at the real Sarasota range is closed and will be mats only until we get some rain.

I will say that George (Sarasota range attendant) indicated there was no restrictions to using the area in question.

That is interesting since I was down at Sarasota range today and spoke to the range attendant about this question. His answer was just the opposite. The only area available for individual practice is the area on the side of the palm trees near the greens. The area that used to be the tee area for the old range (on the Morse Blvd. side of the palm trees) is restricted. He told me they have to run people out of there and if they catch someone using it twice, they lose golf privileges. He didn't say how long and I didn't follow up on that point since my question was already answered.

I will still bring this up at the meeting tomorrow to see if I get a definitive answer from the top.

It was quite some time ago when I asked. Likely they had not decided yet, or he did not know. Tonight I will check if there are signs during my nightly ride. If there are signs, shame on people for using area, if no signs, shame on staff for not posting some to give people a chance to do the right thing....

Thanks again for following up.

OK. From golf administration. The practice area north of the lake at the Sarasota facility is split into two areas. The area near the greens is open for individual practice. The flat area where the tees were when the range was operating there is restricted to lessons with a Villages golf pro only. I was told there are signs to that effect posted.

As to losing golf privileges for abuse, I was told that is an option, but has not been used. However, if someone continually persists in using the restricted area after being told not to, losing golf privileges could be a penalty.

Hope this helps.