[Alien]

Not a Villager yet, but spend a lot of time looking online at TV property and reading TOTV comments. I have been analyzing the annual cost for golf if we lived in the Villages and would like some feedback from residents.

My wife and I belong to a club in Ohio and one in South Carolina - normal situation of annual dues & unlimited play with trail fees for golf carts. If I understand the cost structure at TV correctly, the executive courses are at no cost, but the Championship courses are at an additional daily fee.

Seems to me that even if you pay the membership enhancement to join all the clubs ($925.00) and my wife and I play a Championship course on an average of two times per week (avg $25.00 ea.) that we would be spending about $5,800.00 annually.

I would likely play more rounds than my wife so we might spend $7,500.00 or more on an annual basis. This is equal to or greater than the cost of belonging to either of the Clubs we currently belong to.

I guess my question is this - we expect to play more golf after retirement and if so, it seems we could be spending more than if we belonged to a "normal" Club situation.

Any comments would be appreciated!

[jebartle]

Not sure if you figured Priority membership into the mix.....Also, always the option of playing golf off-campus, rates usually are about $10 less than the Villages, quality of course MIGHT not be as good as Villages...Also, there will be a trail fee on executives unless you pay trail fee....We are Priority members, I play the championships maybe twice a month, spouse at least 3 times a week....Our private course in NC annual membership was approx.$5500 not counting Dining Room minimum, so to answer question, rate in Villages is higher BUT when you live in paradise, Life is Good!

[NJblue]

One difference is that in TV you can play year-round whereas in Ohio this is certainly not possible and in South Carolina it becomes much more uncomfortable to play in the winter so you will likely get fewer rounds in there for your fixed fee. Have you looked at the cost per round considering the likely number of rounds that you can actually play per year in each place?


That being said, in evaluating TV versus other places, the cost of golf is only one component. The TV lifestyle, while it certainly can be golf-centric, is far more than just golf.

[batman911]

Another consideration is that in TV you have many courses to choose from.

[Taj44]

Originally Posted by Alien

Not a Villager yet, but spend a lot of time looking online at TV property and reading TOTV comments. I have been analyzing the annual cost for golf if we lived in the Villages and would like some feedback from residents.

My wife and I belong to a club in Ohio and one in South Carolina - normal situation of annual dues & unlimited play with trail fees for golf carts. If I understand the cost structure at TV correctly, the executive courses are at no cost, but the Championship courses are at an additional daily fee.

Seems to me that even if you pay the membership enhancement to join all the clubs ($925.00) and my wife and I play a Championship course on an average of two times per week (avg $25.00 ea.) that we would be spending about $5,800.00 annually.

I would likely play more rounds than my wife so we might spend $7,500.00 or more on an annual basis. This is equal to or greater than the cost of belonging to either of the Clubs we currently belong to.

I guess my question is this - we expect to play more golf after retirement and if so, it seems we could be spending more than if we belonged to a "normal" Club situation.

Any comments would be appreciated!

Our country club up north was substantially less, but it was only open 6 months per year, and you could only really get about 4 months of golf in because of the weather. In The Villages I find I only play about twice a week in the winter, because of weather cancellations, and I tend to play a little more in spring and fall when rates are cheaper, and coincidentally the weather is nicer. I've found if I play3 times per week, then maybe once a week on a (free) Executive course, that's all I care to play. I'm sure it comes out a little higher per round that what I paid up north, but on the plus side, it is year round golf, there are a lot of nice organized activites - men's and ladies day, tournaments, etc., and its convenient. We travel some too, so there are weeks at a time when we're not even playing golf. I like playing in my own cart in the winter, with pull down side covers and a heater, as opposed to playing at an outside course using their course golf cart which might not even have a windshield. I suspect your figure of $7500 is not far off, depending on how much golf you choose to play. You could probably cut down on that amount if you played the specials at nearby outside course, and didn't get a priority membership. The priority membership includes the trail fees, by the way.

[l2ridehd]

There are other things to consider. I can't comment on the clubs you currently belong to, but I belong to a private club in Northern VA. Cost to join, somewhere between 15K and 25K depending on specials they sometimes run. Dues $450 per month. Food minimum another $100 a month. Golf carts $20 every time you play. Occasional special assessments anywhere from $1000 to $5000. I have been a member for 15 years and the total special assessments averaged about $800 a year over that span. My monthly bill for dues, food, carts and other runs around $1200. This club is not the cheapest in this area, but on the low side of that group.

In TV I would pay the $925, probably 3 rounds a week that would average $20-$25 per round for about 45 weeks of the year. No cart fees, no food minimum, and no special assessments. Total cost $3625, and at the very most with more golf $5000 a year. Currently paying $15000 for one course. TV I have 9 and soon to be 12 courses. Seems like TV is a lot cheaper.

Granted, where I belong now is a great golf course and I can get a tee time any day of the week I want, but it is expensive.

[dillywho]

Originally Posted by Alien

Not a Villager yet, but spend a lot of time looking online at TV property and reading TOTV comments. I have been analyzing the annual cost for golf if we lived in the Villages and would like some feedback from residents.

My wife and I belong to a club in Ohio and one in South Carolina - normal situation of annual dues & unlimited play with trail fees for golf carts. If I understand the cost structure at TV correctly, the executive courses are at no cost, but the Championship courses are at an additional daily fee.

Seems to me that even if you pay the membership enhancement to join all the clubs ($925.00) and my wife and I play a Championship course on an average of two times per week (avg $25.00 ea.) that we would be spending about $5,800.00 annually.

I would likely play more rounds than my wife so we might spend $7,500.00 or more on an annual basis. This is equal to or greater than the cost of belonging to either of the Clubs we currently belong to.

I guess my question is this - we expect to play more golf after retirement and if so, it seems we could be spending more than if we belonged to a "normal" Club situation.

Any comments would be appreciated!

One other thing to keep in mind, the priority membership is not necessary to play the championship courses. You can still play any of them for somewhat less than a non-resident.

If you have not already done so, check out the website: www.golfthevillages.com for more information. You do need to have the priority membership to play the weekly championship playday events, the club tournaments, country club pools, etc. You can also play any of the championship courses a few of the hotter summer months for $6 (unlimited play) starting at 5:00 in the afternoon with no need to have a priority membership....this rate is open to all. As someone else pointed out, too, you have many clubs to choose from without monthly dues, additional assessments, required monthly spending, etc. for any of them.

Come on down; bet you'll love it and Welcome!

[Alien]

Thanks everyone - very good information. Hope to meet you soon on the course!