[jarodrig]

The good, the bad and the ugly!

Many of you will know that Truman (and I believe Roosevelt too) were closed late fall last year for “refurbishing”

We played Truman yesterday and I can’t tell you how disappointed we were in the overall condition of the course .

Starting with the greens , the surface of the greens were in good shape although very slow. However , the areas around the greens were horrendous !

There is little to no delineation between the greens and the collar around them . Sometimes it was hard to tell where the greens ended and the collars began .

The “collars” , if you can call them that, have been scalped down to the dirt level. No chance in heck of trying to have a nice chip .

Beyond the collars , lots of scalped and damaged ground which made the course “ugly”

The tee boxes were just OK but again , no delegation between the boundaries of where the tee boxes ended and the areas next to the tee boxes began.

The good part of the whole thing is that the weather was outstanding as well as lunch at Havana (that’s always great !😊)

Overall , this course can easily be brought up to a B rating or higher but the current conditions earn it a C.

Some may not agree and I’m not looking for your agreement.

The ratings on these write ups that I do are my opinion only.

I try to gauge my ratings based on the report that was published by The Villages several months ago who hired an independent group to rate the conditions of the executive courses after an outcry from us residents about the poor conditions.

[Stu from NYC]

Sorry to see this

[Old Traveller]

Truman and four other Executive courses were chosen to be fully renovated in 2025 by PWAC. Roosevelt should follow next year.

[UpNorth]

"Refurbishing" is not "renovation". They just closed the course last year and let it rest. Both Bogart and Bacall are being renovated right now. If you go by you will see piles of dirt everywhere and plenty of heavy equipment. I'm sure both Truman and Roosevelt will get something like this in the near future.

[Rwirish]

Can’t be true. Using the USGA to improve the courses!

No excuse for such horrible conditions and Truman is not the exception.

[Rocksnap]

Last week the greens were fast. This week, not so much. I’m thinking people expect to much from any course that they play for free, never mind at a time of year when conditions are hardest to keep, and the traffic is heaviest.
I’ve played several 18 hole courses outside the bubble over the last several months. Our courses are in better shape, usually by a long shot. Jus sayin.
I’ve never expected a PGA tournament ready course in TV, and therefor have never been disappointed.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Rocksnap

Last week the greens were fast. This week, not so much. I’m thinking people expect to much from any course that they play for free, never mind at a time of year when conditions are hardest to keep, and the traffic is heaviest.
I’ve played several 18 hole courses outside the bubble over the last several months. Our courses are in better shape, usually by a long shot. Jus sayin.
I’ve never expected a PGA tournament ready course in TV, and therefor have never been disappointed.

Free? I don’t think so. We all pay amenities even those who never use the golf courses. Who do you know that is sneaking in free?

[SaucyJim]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Free? I don’t think so. We all pay amenities even those who never use the golf courses. Who do you know that is sneaking in free?

Amenities fees are a mandatory expense not attributable to just golf. Annual household trail pass is a great option for full-timers. Golf is pretty close to free when you consider what you’d pay golfing three days a week.

Free? No. Virtually free on the face of it? Yes.

[Old Traveller]

Truman, Bacall, Bogart, Bonita Pass and Heron will be fully renovated in 2025. They announced yesterday that Roosevelt, Turtle Mound and Redfish Run will be fully renovated in 2025 and 2026. Cost of renovation will be approximately $1.2 MM per nine holes. The funds have been full reserved. The AAC north of 466 is fully renovating 3 Executive golf courses. All the greens will be renovated according to USGA specifications. The new hybrid grasses will used on the greens Tif Eagle or Tif Grand, which hold up better in the cold and hot weather. They will uses Zoysia for the fairways. All new bunkers with new drainage and sand. Belmont and Churchill are examples of what the courses look like and play like after full renovation. The greens will be very firm, but after a year of aerating they will be receptive, healthy and beautiful.

[Old Traveller]

Truman, Bacall, Bogart, Bonita Pass and Heron will be fully renovated in 2025 at a cost of approximately $1.2 million per nine holes. The PWAC announced yesterday that Roosevelt, Turtle Mound and Redfish Run will be fully renovated 2025 to 2026. These renovations are fully funded from reserve funds and will include new greens, going down 3 ft for drainage and a new base according to USGA specifications. They will use the new hybrid greens grass like Tif Eagle or Tif Grand that hold up better in the cold and heat. Zoysia will be used for the fairways and rough. All new bunkers with proper drainage and sand.
The AAC will be renovating 3 golf courses in 2025. Walnut Grove, El Diablo and De La Vista I believe.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Old Traveller

Truman, Bacall, Bogart, Bonita Pass and Heron will be fully renovated in 2025 at a cost of approximately $1.2 million per nine holes. The PWAC announced yesterday that Roosevelt, Turtle Mound and Redfish Run will be fully renovated 2025 to 2026. These renovations are fully funded from reserve funds and will include new greens, going down 3 ft for drainage and a new base according to USGA specifications. They will use the new hybrid greens grass like Tif Eagle or Tif Grand that hold up better in the cold and heat. Zoysia will be used for the fairways and rough. All new bunkers with proper drainage and sand.
The AAC will be renovating 3 golf courses in 2025. Walnut Grove, El Diablo and De La Vista I believe.

Hopefully someone who knows what he is doing will watch and supervise

[Mrmean58]

Originally Posted by jarodrig

The good, the bad and the ugly!

Many of you will know that Truman (and I believe Roosevelt too) were closed late fall last year for “refurbishing”

We played Truman yesterday and I can’t tell you how disappointed we were in the overall condition of the course .

Starting with the greens , the surface of the greens were in good shape although very slow. However , the areas around the greens were horrendous !

There is little to no delineation between the greens and the collar around them . Sometimes it was hard to tell where the greens ended and the collars began .

The “collars” , if you can call them that, have been scalped down to the dirt level. No chance in heck of trying to have a nice chip .

Beyond the collars , lots of scalped and damaged ground which made the course “ugly”

The tee boxes were just OK but again , no delegation between the boundaries of where the tee boxes ended and the areas next to the tee boxes began.

The good part of the whole thing is that the weather was outstanding as well as lunch at Havana (that’s always great !😊)

Overall , this course can easily be brought up to a B rating or higher but the current conditions earn it a C.

Some may not agree and I’m not looking for your agreement.

The ratings on these write ups that I do are my opinion only.

I try to gauge my ratings based on the report that was published by The Villages several months ago who hired an independent group to rate the conditions of the executive courses after an outcry from us residents about the poor conditions.

Be careful. You could get a letter from the District for posting pictures of private property without permission. Lucky for you they weren't taken using a drone. But you could be next.

[Old Traveller]

Mitch Leininger was the Director of Executive Golf, but he has recently resigned. Donald Jones took over Mitch's position as of March 1, 2025. He reports to David Williams, Executive Golf Administrator. These are the folks who are responsible for the renovations of the Executive Golf Courses. Other than invasive grasses, the primary problem with the Executive golf courses is that the Bermuda grass used in the original construction does not do well in cold wet conditions. The putting base was diseased underneath. The newer hybrids recently developed do much better in both cold wet and hot humid weather. The 10 inches below the surface needed to be replaced with the proper mixture of dirt and sand, according to USGA experiments and specifications. Another two feet below the 10 inches of the new putting green, the drainage base and drain tiles need to be replaced according to USGA specs. A hybrid zoysia grass is used on the fairways and around the greens.

The pictures taken in this thread are of our Villagers owned Executive golf courses. They are not pictures of the Championship golf courses.

[Old Traveller]

Donald Jones took over Mitch Leininger’s position as of March 1, 2025. He reports to David Williams, Executive Golf Administrator. These are the folks who are responsible for the renovations of the Executive Golf Courses.