[Kathy Hall]

We are animal lovers, but when people walk their dogs on the golf course at night...unleashed...to eliminate on the course or in our yards, we get angry...not at the dogs...at the owners. We live on a golf course and we'd love to go out and chip and putt at night, but it's not allowed...neither is walking the courses...neither are unleashed dogs. The Daily Sun has put reminders that walking is not allowed on golf courses, but they put these reminders in the golf section...most of these people probably aren't golfers. We've even had bicycles and motorcycles drive by our lanai. Any suggestions on how to remedy this problem.

[zcaveman]

Traversing machine gun emplacements every 50 yards comes to mind.

[Barefoot]

Too bad the Developers didn't plan dog parks or walking trails (other than Springdale). They allow two dogs per household, and this is bound to cause problems if adequate walking areas are not provided. The Developers should provide facilities for the thousands and thousands of dogs they allow to live in TV.

They provide 32 golf courses, surely they could have a few scruffy fenced areas for letting dogs run. That would go a long way to alleviating the types of problems described.

[MnGirl]

What?? TV should provide? That means you and me, and I don't have a dog. When I did, they wouldn't let the dogs on the walking trails. Some think a trail is open land, and they don't have to clean up.
If you have a dog, and want to walk it, walk it in the street. If you want to let your dog run free, go to the dog park on 101.
Speaking of golf course, I see people cut across Fox Run going to and from the Summerhill pool.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by MnGirl

What?? TV should provide? That means you and me, and I don't have a dog.

Hmmm ... let me see if I understand your reasoning. As part of our amenities, the Developer provides golf courses for you and me, and I don't golf. Because I don't golf, does that mean the Developer shouldn't provide golf courses for anyone else? :dontknow:

[jvjaramillo]

Perhaps a "dog fee" should be implemented, like the "trail fee". If you live here and bring a pet, you pay a yearly fee for dog business. The fee would not have to be high, but a small fee would be appropriate. Those that play golf have to pay the "trail fee" yearly - a fee not required of those that do not play golf.

Everyone gets a statement from Teco, Seco, Lil Sum., etc. why not include a letter to "all" village residents as a reminder about golf course uses "after hours".

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by jvjaramillo

Perhaps a "dog fee" should be implemented, like the "trail fee". Those that play golf have to pay the "trail fee" yearly - a fee not required of those that do not play golf.

I had no idea there was a yearly trail fee for playing on Executive golf courses. (I did know there was a fee for Championship courses). That is news to me. I had understood golf was free on Executive golf courses (the only charge being for your cart if you use one.)

[billethkid]

There is a trail fee for using your golf cart on the executive courses.

As far as a dog fee....BS...NO WAY JOSE!!!!

[MnGirl]

I think this is a golfing community, or so stated. They have horse communities.
I just want everyone to understand, TV funding is us.
I do love dogs!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by MnGirl

I just want everyone to understand, TV funding is us.

MnGirl: I think we all understand that funding for amenities is provided by residents, and we can debate endlessly about which activities should be funded. Kathy Hall was complaining about people allowing their pets to run free on golf courses. I agree with her. We back on a golf course and I wouldn't dream of taking my dogs on it.

My point is that the Developer has chosen to provide amenities for many types of people. There are golfers, pickleball players, painters, exercise lovers, paranormal classes, etc., etc. Something for everyone. All of us pick and choose which activities we prefer.

By allowing two dogs per household, the Developer has indeed made TV into a dog community. It is why many people bought houses in TV! However the Developer neglected to provide walking trails or dog parks for the thousands of dogs it allows. As a possible solution, I suggested the Developer should provide dog parks. I'm not suggesting glorious, manicured and wooded areas with ponds. I'm suggesting that the Developer should fence off a few scrubby, undesirable areas for dog parks. There is currently a lot of friction between those who own dogs and those who would prefer a community without them. By providing a few scrubby dog parks, I think a lot of the ill will felt by some people against inconsiderate dog owners would be eliminated.

And Fumar, I know you're going to suggest putting them in with the Buffalo, don't do it!

I thought walking your dog on the golf course was against the law? Think that was in the Villages phone book somewhere which stated that local ordinances made this illegal??

From the The Villages Phone Book 2008 it says that there's an animal ordinance in the Town of Lady Lake and Sumter County which forbids dogs on the golf courses AND the polo fields. (page 35 in the White page section in the front of the phone book).

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac

I thought walking your dog on the golf course was against the law?

Tal, I think Kathy's point was that people aren't obeying the by-laws!
And they're on the golf courses at night (with or without dogs), and there is no-one around to kick them off. She was looking for a suggestion on how to remedy the problem. Calling The Villages to report it is obviously one way to address it. Difficult to eliminate the behaviour without providing an alternative place to walk.

[Just Susan]

TV could be called a Golf Community...they advertise it on the Golf Channel and there are somewhere around 32+/- golf courses. That is certainly more golf that most communities provide. So I guess it is a Golf Community and all resources should be directed that way.

Hmmmm, wait a minute TV has probably got even more pools than golf facilities, maybe it should be known as a Pool Community and more funding should be directed that way. With so many pools that must be why people move to TV.

But wait, I don't do either one and I am moving to TV. I am moving for the clubs and the activities. Now I know for a fact that there are more clubs and activities than there are golf courses or pools. I say we direct all funding away from the 1st two options, which I will seldom if ever use, and make all classes and clubs free and fully funded.

Oh dear, I was just reminded that there are probably more dogs than there are clubs and activities ...so I guess...

You get my point. The Villages is a community for us all. Our varied interests and focuses are ALL important. We are ALL important and we should ALL be tolerant of each other.

Hopefully we learned to share as small children.

My point being we have golf courses for golfers, pools for swimmers, clubs for clubbers, we've got animal lovers with no convenient place to excercise their pets. I don't have a pet. I would love to see dog parks (small fenced areas) in most of the individual villages. It will keep the poo out of my yard and off the golf courses.

Not sure I am close to anywhere in Lynnhaven where they could put in a dog park. The responsibility seems to be with the dog owners to clean up after their pooches when they go on others' yards. I even throw a bucket of water on the place around my neighbors' where my dog pees. That's when he goes on one of the neighbor's lawns.

[Barefoot]

Susan, beautifully stated. :bigthumbsup: