[bigstu1]

I know I pay about $140 for the year for trail fee, rather then not paying and walking. I’m sure most golfers here pay it also, part timers play a reduced fee.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by UpNorth

Years ago, one of The Villages' advertising pitches was "Free Golf For Life". I'm sure that may have convinced many of you to buy into the community. But perhaps that could be the reason for lack of tee times during the high season, and poor executive golf course conditions. So, let's take a look at this alternative idea - open for discussion:

Executive golf costs (let's say) $10 per round. This would likely reduce the amount of marginal and casual social golfers who only play because it is "free". This would make more tee times available during the high season. And if you book your tee time and don't show up, it still costs you $10. No refunds unless you show up for a credit.

To compensate for the above, the amenity fee gets reduced for all. How much? Maybe $30- $40 per month? Don't know. But it would certainly appreciated by golfers and non-golfers alike.

In addition, the $10 per round fee covers the so-called "trail fee". You can walk the course or drive your cart on the paths at no extra charge.

Perhaps the fees collected could provide superior course conditions. Plenty of room for improvement.

A good booking website is all you need to manage the payment system. GolfNow has been doing it for years.

The $10 fee and amenity fee reduction above are just guesses on my part. Someone would need to balance the figures. But perhaps this would provide a better experience for Executive Golf, for golfers and non-golfers alike.

"Free Golf For Life"? Or better Executive Golf? Open for discussion:

It isn't really open for discussion. That isn't how The Villages is run. Other places run differently. I like it very much the way it is. Are you new?

[UpNorth]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

It isn't really open for discussion. That isn't how The Villages is run. Other places run differently. I like it very much the way it is. Are you new?

Not by a long shot. Are you under the impression that people aren't allowed to discuss things here?

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by bigstu1

I know I pay about $140 for the year for trail fee, rather then not paying and walking. I’m sure most golfers here pay it also, part timers play a reduced fee.

Reduced fee for part timers? Annual trail fee for full timers is $140, or $11.67 per month. It doesn’t make sense for part timers to pay the annual fee, so they pay $20 per month.

[LeRoySmith]

If or when I take up golf you can bet your bippy I'm going to take some serious lessons in golf etiquette and hook up with some old times that know the local dos and dont you dares

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by merrymini

I live on a championship course. Some of these people look like beginners and they pay to play on a championship course.People come on my property, hit my house, do not fix divets, and to top it all off, play pretty lousy golf. I watch them do it. There is no delusion as good as self delusion.

Even poor golfers enjoy the experience of playing a great course. The same way old drivers enjoy the experience of driving a great sports car.

Sure do see a lot of corvettes around here.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Acordionist

The associated maintenance costs of keeping the golf courses must constitute the highest portion of the amenities that ALL owners pay every month. Don't you think that it is only fair that non golfers should pay a lesser amount than golfers who enjoy that activity?

When WE (all of us) bought here, we bought the "whole buffet". WE all have the opportunity to take, or not, anything and everything on the menu. Going back to cash register and wanting a discount because you didn't want to have the liver Is Not An Option!
You agreed to the terms and conditions. Supporting your community and the lifestyle!
KOOL-AIDE, KOOL-AIDE, KOOL-AIDE!

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by UpNorth

So, plenty of snarky comments. What's your solution to lack of tee times during high season? Or slow play? Or poor course treatment by players? Or poor conditions? If nothing changes, expect "all of the above" to continue and possibly get worse.

There are certain realities in life, one of which is, things that are "free" or close to free are going to be:

Hard to access. Poorly maintained. Busy. Frequented by the unwashed masses. Less than desirable in comparison to non-free venues.

You were expecting 1st class, uncrowded and meticulously manicured free golf?

Step away from the Kool-Aid. Sip it slowly, don't drink in large gulps.

[UpNorth]

You get what you pay for.

[FloridaGuy66]

Originally Posted by UpNorth

Even at $1 per round it would chase some marginal players away. Right now it is "Freeloader Golf".

I seriously doubt that.

[kkingston57]

Personally like the idea.Appears that recently golf maintenanc budget is not sufficient. 1st thing this would do is that courses will have the money which would allow greens to be over seeded in the winter months.

Biggest problem is that too many people over use the exec courses. Met 1 guy who plays as many as 3, 9 hole rounds almost everyday and I am sure that there are others who do the same.

[jimmy o]

The bad course conditions are mostly due to the inconsiderate players. The oafs that don’t fill divots, rake sand traps, or repair ball marks. Some drive their carts across fairways or even right up to the green if they think no one is watching. Charging these morons $10 would nothing to change their behavior. A better solution would be kicking them off the course, then next time they’d be more considerate

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by UpNorth

Years ago, one of The Villages' advertising pitches was "Free Golf For Life". I'm sure that may have convinced many of you to buy into the community. But perhaps that could be the reason for lack of tee times during the high season, and poor executive golf course conditions. So, let's take a look at this alternative idea - open for discussion:

Executive golf costs (let's say) $10 per round. This would likely reduce the amount of marginal and casual social golfers who only play because it is "free". This would make more tee times available during the high season. And if you book your tee time and don't show up, it still costs you $10. No refunds unless you show up for a credit.

To compensate for the above, the amenity fee gets reduced for all. How much? Maybe $30- $40 per month? Don't know. But it would certainly appreciated by golfers and non-golfers alike.

In addition, the $10 per round fee covers the so-called "trail fee". You can walk the course or drive your cart on the paths at no extra charge.

Perhaps the fees collected could provide superior course conditions. Plenty of room for improvement.

A good booking website is all you need to manage the payment system. GolfNow has been doing it for years.

The $10 fee and amenity fee reduction above are just guesses on my part. Someone would need to balance the figures. But perhaps this would provide a better experience for Executive Golf, for golfers and non-golfers alike.

"Free Golf For Life"? Or better Executive Golf? Open for discussion:

The thing is, “marginal and casual social golfers” also enjoy playing and have as much right to play as “serious golfers.” $10 a round wouldn’t bother me, but there are thousands here who love golf but are scraping by with just a Social Security deposit every month. That $10 could mean they have to give up their major pleasure in life just so you and some pals can get a reservation more easily and play faster.

I play music at a bunch of rec centers, and I work hard at it, learning new material, practicing, and trying to play my best. Some people can only play a few chords and only know three or four songs and do the same ones every week. One thing I’ve realized, though, is that they have the same right to be there that I have, and part of my role as a participant is to encourage them, help them, make them feel valued, and make their time here happy. I’m thinking of some musicians who were frustrating for many of us, but they came every week and loved it. Then they were dead. What if I had said something that robbed them of their pleasure? We’re all in this together.

[Ignatz]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I just did a quick "back of the envelope" calculation, based on the # of homes, number of exec courses & maintenance per course. I came up with $8/month.

If anyone is really interested in how money gets wasted at the District level, go to one of their budget sessions, when Community Watch is discussed. Management thinks they're Howard Hunter (the SWAT team commander from Hill St. Blues) and we all know the CW staff is much more like the Keystone Cops.

Want to know how many garage doors they can check per minute of driving? They have the information. "17" if I recall correctly.

What to know how many miles and average CW vehicle drives per hour and at what speed? They have it.

Want to know how many cars they wave through a gate, in comparison to how many go through an operating gate? They can tell you.

What to know how many phone calls they have to make, per open garage door, before closure? They've got the #'s.

They have more organizational structure and more nonsense statistics than NYPD. What's worse, they can't wait to explain it, in excruciating detail, to anyone who will listen. I've been to 3 District Budget Meetings. In every instance, I've walked out after listening to the CW people for 10 minutes ... & CW still had over an hour to go.

Thankfully a lot of people feel differently about the value of the CW department and appreciate their efforts.

[srswans]

Originally Posted by UpNorth

… the reason for lack of tee times during the high season…

So you’re trying to solve the lack of tee time problem. Unfortunately, this is unsolvable because the developer did not build enough executive courses south of 44. 12 neighborhoods were built, (Richmond to Dabney), with zero executive courses - this is probably 10,000 houses. This is the main contributor to the tee time problem.

New courses such as Laurel Oaks are coming online soon but with them are also four new neighborhoods so nothing is gained.

Converting Mickylee and Richmond pitch and putts to executives is something that might actually help.