I just checked the price for the best public courses in Georgia and in Alabama - two nearby states.

In Georgia, the course is The Lakes at Laura S. Walker. During the week, the standard rate is $15 for 18 holes ($12 for 62 and older) plus $20 for a cart. On weekends, it is $20 for 18 holes. There are specials right now that you can play for $22.99 for 18 holes including a cart!

The best course in Alabama is Ol' Colony Golf Complex. The green fees for Monday to Thursday are $65 with a cart – $40 walking. Weekends the price is $75 with a cart - $50 walking. And for golfers over 62, the price (Monday to Friday is $55 with a cart and $35 walking).

They aren’t accessible for golf cart from The Villages but they were the highest rated public courses in Georgia and Alabama. I saw an article from Golf Digest which ranked the top 75 public courses in Florida. None of the Championship courses were listed.

Played Glenview today and course was in fabulous condition. On that course price is fair($50 with a priority membership) Other courses not worth the money. Only wish owners could get other courses up to these conditions. Hacienda and Orange Blossom need a good bulldozer and completely re sod both.

I'm not sure which courses in Orlando are $200+ on a weekend (Waldorf Astoria, Bay Hill?), I've certainly never played them.

Throw out Orlando and compare something close by: Harbor Hills. Conditioning is comparable if not a little better than Bonifay, Evans Prairie, Havana or Belle Glade. For Villagers prices including a cart are around $45 during the week, slightly higher on the weekends. To me that is apples to apples except for the convenience of using your own cart. Some call that a convenience, to me it's less wear and tear and gas used to use someone else's cart.

To be on the Golf Digest list, you need to put forth and effort (i.e. let Golf Digest know you want to be on their list) and have “raters” (basically people who play all these courses and rate them) come and play the courses - and you need a lot of raters.

What is the advantage to TV by being on the list? Will houses sell faster or for more money?

I just checked the price of a public course in California - not even their best public course. Pebble Beach is $575 plus $45 cart fee.

PB is a bucket list course so they can afford to charge whatever they can get.

Executive courses are not free, we pay amenities and yearly maintenance upkeep. Agree if you walk you don’t have to pay up front, but there not free, somebody (every villager) paying.

As for championship courses advanced golfer like more of challenge and they elect to pay for it.

You are correct that they aren’t “free.” Our amenities fee pays for the majority of the cost to maintain and operate. Just like it pays for our pools, pickle ball courts, rec centers, etc. All the amenities we enjoy.

OK, OK, we get it.
Subsistute "already paid for" for "free" and you get the idea.

Executive course = no money out of pocket beyond trail fee
Championship course= greens fee out of pocket, around $50...

I think we all know that the executive courses aren't technically free.

If you check into a hotel and there is no extra charge for the beach or pool, I consider that the beach and pool are free. If you check into a hotel and there is a $50 resort fee to use the beach or pool, I consider that the beach and pool are extra. Just as in flying on a plane - if the Coca Cola is free, I consider it free. If I have to pay $3, I do not consider it free. I understand that the free coke is built into the ticket price but there is a difference between the two models. I was at a hotel once where there was a separate charge for the phone - which I didn’t even use. If the phone surcharge had been included in the price of the room, it would not have bothered me.

My suspicion is that they don't charge $35 (including cart) on a regular basis to everyone...

Really? They're not free? Gee, why hasn't anyone ever mentioned that before? :ohdear:

So, by your logic, the swimming pools aren't free, the rec centers aren't free, tennis/pickel ball aren't free, the walking paths aren't free... NOTHING is free!

Some can’t get pass the koolaid.

Well, at least the flowers are free. Oh wait, they're not free either.
Dang.

The entertainment in the Town Squares is free!