[smalldog]

Smalldog SEZ
I am a full time resident and having all manor of difficulty getting a excutive course Tee time that is not at the break of day or late afternoon ........
since I am here in the summer also I feel that this is due to the dreaded snowbird renters that have arrived .. I feel there should be some type of amendment to the tee time system so that us frogs have an equitiable shot at getting a tee time within a desireable time frame
Comment ??

[dillywho]

Originally Posted by smalldog

Smalldog SEZ
I am a full time resident and having all manor of difficulty getting a excutive course Tee time that is not at the break of day or late afternoon ........
since I am here in the summer also I feel that this is due to the dreaded snowbird renters that have arrived .. I feel there should be some type of amendment to the tee time system so that us frogs have an equitiable shot at getting a tee time within a desireable time frame
Comment ??

I, too, am full-time and we have the same situation. Thank you for not saying that you can't get a tee time, but that you just can't get the prime times. (I hear so many complain that they can't get a tee time.) Fortunately, for the most part, this is only true the first three months of the year. Not all the seasonal residents are renters, though. Some are only here 3-6 months out of the year and still pay the ammenities fees all year. The fees are not suspended just because they are not here. I don't have a problem with their being here or renting the property out for that matter since they do pay and renters also have to pay the trail fees which are not included in the ammenities. What I do have a problem with is the renters having guests who also play the executive courses. This just compounds the problem. (I am not against the resident/homeowner having guests..just the renters who don't own anything here.) Hope this isn't too rambling and/or disjointed. If so, I'll try to clarify.

[Laker14]

Wannabe here...with questions...

1. what is a "frog." I'm sure it is a colorful name for something other than a green amphibian.

2. Do the snowbirds get some sort of preferential treatment over the year round residents when it comes to getting starting times? If so, why? If not, why can they get on at prime time, and not you?

[redwitch]

A frog is someone who lives in TV permanently -- we're here until we croak.

Basically, priority tee times goes to those who don't use the courses as often. So, snowbirds, renters, visitors get the better times year round but it really only affects anyone during snowbird season. My guess is that the developer does it so that renters and guests want to live here even more.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by redwitch

A frog is someone who lives in TV permanently -- we're here until we croak.

Basically, priority tee times goes to those who don't use the courses as often. So, snowbirds, renters, visitors get the better times year round but it really only affects anyone during snowbird season. My guess is that the developer does it so that renters and guests want to live here even more.

Red, thanks for the explanation on frogs.

so, If I understand you correctly, whoever makes the times sets aside several hours a day, say 10AM to 2PM, for example, and no matter what time you, as a permanent year-round resident/owner, call to set up a tee-time, those times are reserved for renters who are there only for the winter months. You can't get them because they are saved for snowbirds, somehow?

I'm just an outsider here, not wanting to step on toes, but that seems wrong to me. I can see allowing the renters EQUAL opportunity, since they are paying the buck and using the owner/landlords amenities pass, but PREFERENTIAL??

MAKES no sense to this wannabe.

[ijusluvit]

A "frog" is someone here till he croaks.

There is no discrimination against full-time residents, but the tee times are become less available the more you play. The system keeps track of how often you play in each 7-day period. Each time in that period that you reserve a tee time it reduces the chance of getting the next one.

The "prime-time" reservations during Jan-Mar are almost all taken by priority members, most of whom use the villages.net computer reservations system. (there are fees for both of these.) The computer opens up a new day for reservations at midnight. These folks all jump on at that time and get the times and courses they want in many cases. If there is even one member of a foursome who is not a priority member, or somebody has played several days in a row, the group request may well be rejected. It's amazing how few times are left by 12:30 am.

[redwitch]

I really don't see it as preferential treatment. Let's face it, whether they're renters or snowbirds, they're paying for amenities. If renters, it is usually snowbirds paying those amenities. So, the snowbirds pay for 12 months of amenities and, if they're lucky, get to use TV facilities for 6 months out of the year. I think they deserve some "preferential" time. Imagine what our amenity fees would be if the froggers had to pay year round while snowbirds only paid for when they, their renters and guests were here.

As to the seasonal renters, without them, many of us couldn't live here. They pay exorbitant amounts to stay for a few months. Basically, they pay the amenity fees plus plus. And, since we don't begrudge our friends and visitors when they come to play, why should we begrudge those seasonal renters their friends?

I think we really need to get down and thank the snowbirds. They make it so at least some of the businesses survive until the next season. The keep our fees at reasonable levels. They set it up that we get to enjoy TV year round and are only inconvenienced for a short period of time. For that, I think we should quit begrudging the lines, extra traffic and loss of the "best" tee times for a few months. And, don't forget, some of our best friends are snowbirds!

[Laker14]

Interesting.

I see I didn't really understand. Thanks for the explanations.

[chuckster]

The term priority tends to muddy the waters regarding executive golf. Priority (paying an annual fee) only benefits golfers who use the 9 championship courses. It also covers trail fees for executive courses and access to the country club pools(included in the annual fee). It has no benefit for executive t-time requests. As someone mentioned earlier, it is strictly a points issue during any 7 day period. You get 1 point for the reservation received and if you cancel within 24 hours 2 extra for a total of 3 points. Your total points determine you ability to get a t-time. Points disappear after 7 days (a sliding 7 day window, if you will).

It balances play among all residents/renters, etc. During the busy season it is best to give yourself a large time window and not stick strictly with prime time. Try for example from 9am - 3pm.

To get more answers call the t-time office as I did. 352-750-4558. They are really very helpful in explaining your point accumulation.

Hope this helps.

[Fourpar]

I agree. I play 4 - 5 times a week (both 9 & 18 hole courses) and have found that during this season, you must widen your window of acceptable for both courses and times. I had one request denied in Dec. but that was because I put in for 1 course and a small time window. Don't make that mistake anymore. Now, I don't always get the course I want, nor the time I want, but I always get A Tee Time. I can live with that...until "The Season" ends in a couple of months.
Actually I think the system is done pretty well considering the huge number of golfers using it. Face it there are only so many times available. The developer has created a system that is "fairer" than most I've seen elsewhere.

[Sally Jo]

Redwitch, I agree with you 100%. I've never understood why so many people dislike the snowbirds. As you stated, we couldn't have all that we have without them. All my friends seem to see is the exta traffic and longer waits at the restaurants. It is nothing compared to most cities of any size at all. I guess they have forgotten.

[OutsiderWithInterest]

`

[mommullr]

I am a snowbird renter. We took the priorty membership, got online through Villages.net to access on line tee times. Alas, we have not had requests made 7 days in advance granted and two this week have been at 4:47 and we have been unable to finish. It seems that there are too many golfers(a good thing) but not enough courses to allow us all to play. I am sure it is a seasonal thing but it does cause the snowbirds distress as well as you frogs.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by mommullr

I am a snowbird renter. We took the priorty membership, got online through Villages.net to access on line tee times. Alas, we have not had requests made 7 days in advance granted and two this week have been at 4:47 and we have been unable to finish. It seems that there are too many golfers(a good thing) but not enough courses to allow us all to play. I am sure it is a seasonal thing but it does cause the snowbirds distress as well as you frogs.

I am assuming you got the priority membership to play the championship courses...if so I just looked 9:40 Tuesday evening and found the following:
For Wednesday open tee times between 7:08-8:00 29 tee times for 2 or more players,
8:00-8:43 11 tee times, 12:19-1:00 7 tee times. Thursday and Friday had about the same number of open tee times.

If,however, if you are looking for times on the executive courses there was one tee time on Friday.
I know it does not help right now, but there are 3 new executive courses being built near Cane Garden.

[dillywho]

Originally Posted by mommullr

I am a snowbird renter. We took the priorty membership, got online through Villages.net to access on line tee times. Alas, we have not had requests made 7 days in advance granted and two this week have been at 4:47 and we have been unable to finish. It seems that there are too many golfers(a good thing) but not enough courses to allow us all to play. I am sure it is a seasonal thing but it does cause the snowbirds distress as well as you frogs.

You may or may not know, but just in case you don't, the priority membership means nothing when it comes to the executive course tee times. The only thing it does for you is to pay the trail fees for those courses (in addition to the championship membership and trail fees). Hope this clarifies part of it for you.