[mneumann02]

When I bought my new golf course home from The Villages Real Estate in 2014, the agent said I was paying over a $100,000 premium for my view of the golf course, a large lake, and the fact there was no golf cart path behind my house. Because of golf course drainage issues, the golf course is now proposing to plant evergreen trees that will partially block my view and add a golf cart path behind my house. When I expressed my concerns to a Ricky, who was behind my house this morning and who I was told was in charge of all the golf courses, I got an arrogant attitude of they can do whatever they want.

So my questions are:
1. Can the golf course do whatever they want, even if it means decreasing the value of adjacent properties? (I'm trying to avoid hiring a lawyer if there really is no recourse.)
2. What is Ricky's last name, title, and email contact info. Same information for his boss.
3. I've tried contacting the CDD and Sumter Co. and can not get a straight answer regarding their need to get a permit. Do they need a permit?
4. Has anyone had success dealing with The Developer to get them to be a good neighbor or taking legal action against them?

Any truly helpful information or comments are appreciated.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by mneumann02

When I bought my new golf course home from The Villages Real Estate in 2014, the agent said I was paying over a $100,000 premium for my view of the golf course, a large lake, and the fact there was no golf cart path behind my house. Because of golf course drainage issues, the golf course is now proposing to plant evergreen trees that will partially block my view and add a golf cart path behind my house. When I expressed my concerns to a Ricky, who was behind my house this morning and who I was told was in charge of all the golf courses, I got an arrogant attitude of they can do whatever they want.

So my questions are:
1. Can the golf course do whatever they want, even if it means decreasing the value of adjacent properties? (I'm trying to avoid hiring a lawyer if there really is no recourse.)
2. What is Ricky's last name, title, and email contact info. Same information for his boss.
3. I've tried contacting the CDD and Sumter Co. and can not get a straight answer regarding their need to get a permit. Do they need a permit?
4. Has anyone had success dealing with The Developer to get them to be a good neighbor or taking legal action against them?

Any truly helpful information or comments are appreciated.

When you buy any home you take a chance on any property adjacent to it changing. I don't know who Ricky is, and he may have said it just like that; "They can do whatever they want". Or he could have been a little more diplomatic and meant the same thing.

I bet your "realtor" or agent said that you were buying a view lot, and view lots are expensive. Trees on golf courses often add beauty and this could turn out nicely.

Some people have bought view lots of cows and ended up with views of commercial property. Some folks in Duval had nothing behind them and then had a large assisted living building. All over the state, the country and the world, there are NO guarantees of what can or will happen to property that is owned by someone else.

[Kerry Azz]

Could be worse you could’ve bought on Hacienda and been looking at apartments

[retiredguy123]

I don't think you will win this one.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Kerry Azz

Could be worse you could’ve bought on Hacienda and been looking at apartments

The Hac-y folks probably paid $5k extra, they got their investment back.

[Jim 9922]

From what I have observed, golf course "management" is "empowered" to do more or less whatever "it takes" to correct perceived problems and improve conditions and play as they see fit. At least the executive courses have a far less likelihood of ending up as apartment/housing complexes or parking structures as they are owned (or eventually will be) by the CDD's.

[jacksonbrown]

The property owners north of 466 have formed a "protest" group. Click here for more.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Jim 9922

From what I have observed, golf course "management" is "empowered" to do more or less whatever "it takes" to correct perceived problems and improve conditions and play as they see fit. At least the executive courses have a far less likelihood of ending up as apartment/housing complexes or parking structures as they are owned (or eventually will be) by the CDD's.

No golf courses have ended up as "apartment housing" in The Villages. A defunct Country Club Restaurant is becoming apartment housing....limited to the same older people and property restrictions we all have. There will be no kids. There will be older people. Seems to me to be a tempest in a teapot.

I think the OP is talking about a Championship Course, I am guessing Evans Prarie. I imagine it is disappointing to have a golf cart path where there was not one before, but trees shouldn't be a downer.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I would suspect that unless you have it in writing that there would be no changes to your view, you are out of luck.

A salesman might tell you something but his word is not necessarily binding and the onus would be on you to prove that he said it.

[Two Bills]

If as stated the OP paid $100,000 extra for the view, and the peace of no golf carts at the back of his house, and that is being taken away, I think he is entitled to be hacked off.
Some legal advice to see if you have any chance of redress would initially be money well spent.
OP will get no sympathy or worthwhile advise on here from the 'Developer can do no wrong Brigade!'

[Stu from NYC]

Interesting to see what happens in the near future. Hopefully the new apartment buildings will be very limited.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

If as stated the OP paid $100,000 extra for the view, and the peace of no golf carts at the back of his house, and that is being taken away, I think he is entitled to be hacked off.
Some legal advice to see if you have any chance of redress would initially be money well spent.
OP will get no sympathy or worthwhile advise on here from the 'Developer can do no wrong Brigade!'

Bill. Maybe in U.K. there is redress for something like this but I think this gentleman would be wasting his money on a lawyer. ( This is the first time I have ever disagreed with you Bill)

The Developer's have used very skilled lawyers to cover things like this.... and they aren't novices. It isn't that I don't feel sorry for him and probably the folks who are changing the direction of the water are wishing they didn't have to build a new cart path. I guess I pretty much think that the builders do very little wrong, but sometimes water has to be redirected. I feel sorry for this fellow. Wonder what the water issue is on Evans Prairie where they are planning to change the path of the golf cart path????

Anybody play a hole that is soggy???? Come to think of it, I think Henry said he did. I will ask him when he returns. He knows every Championship Course here like the back of his hand.

[EdFNJ]

Do people REALLY pay "over $100,000 EXTRA" to watch people driving around on golf carts hitting balls and to see water? $100,000 !!! WOWZA !! Maybe I can sell viewing of my 10' deep back yard with my neighbors palm tree for $50 an hour from my bedroom widow with all the spring water you can drink and I'll even put out a 4' pool with goldfish to look at! I guess I'm just jealous but I would definitely be upset if it had been taken away .... despite the fact I'd be SOL if it was taken away.

I just realized, I can see a golf course from my roof. Guess I got a good deal.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

Do people REALLY pay "over $100,000 EXTRA" to watch people driving around on golf carts hitting balls and to see water? $100,000 !!! WOWZA !! Maybe I can sell viewing of my 10' deep back yard with my neighbors palm tree for $50 an hour from my bedroom widow with all the spring water you can drink and I'll even put out a 4' pool with goldfish to look at! I guess I'm just jealous but I would definitely be upset if I had .... despite the fact I'd be SOL if it was taken away. I just realized, I can see a golf course from my roof. Guess I got a good deal.

Some premiers off Pinellas were $150k for golf views. Don't forget the $500k lots over looking the swamp down past Belle Glade.

[Bjeanj]

Originally Posted by jacksonbrown

The property owners north of 466 have formed a "protest" group. Click here for more.

Good luck with that. You might feel better, but do not expect a different outcome. It is Developer property, and they will maximize their investment, trying to balance with aesthetics. They might miss the mark, but that’s probably their aim.