Golf was a major consideration as well as walking, biking trails. The landscaping on Morse and Buena Vista. Friendly neighbors and the way my wife has so many things to do since she doesn’t play Golf. The Villages is being on Vacation every day. Don’t understand why people have to find fault in such a unique place. The villagers is a large community but doesn’t seem so where we live, Linden, which has 99 homes I guess. We have a home in Annapolis as well and are Hybrids and go whenever our Grandchildren need us. Going to Hawaii for two weeks in March. 20 December our main water line burst and our neighbors, Joe, Fred and Bill contacted me and also The Villages and Richard drove down and turned the main off. Communications for the Villages was fantastic and my Brother, Linden isle stopped over and said Richard put a red flag at the location and no water damage inside. Drove down the day before Christmas and was using a shovel Christmas Day to find and fix the issue. 8000 gallons, only 64 dollars. Try that price in Maryland. Would still be running. 😳 We don’t have any complaints about living here just enjoying life and when I arrive home from early bird Golf I normally go on the Lanai and sit next to my wife and start another amazing day in the morning and if sitting on the Lanai at night watching the most Majestic Sunsets i have ever seen during my many Travels. Not everything is perfect but as close as it can be. Thanks to the Morse family for such a unique place.

We do know golf and other activities really isn’t free. We all pay for them whether we use them or not with Amenities and maintenance fees.

I am not retired yet. I moved to this general area because I own an ATV and wanted a place where I could ride it (Ocala national Forest) as well as the area having great fishing. I also liked how close it is to the beaches and still far enough away where hurricanes aren't as serious a threat.

Golf had zero influence on my decision, although when I retire I may take it up.

When I moved here I actually had no plans to live in the villages. I rented an Airbnb here while I looked around for a house in the Ocala area. For me, a swimming pool was an absolute must because I swim laps for fitness and because of the heat. Once I realized how many the swimming pools the villages had and the fact that I wouldn't have to maintain a pool myself, I decided to start looking in here. I wouldn't have moved to the villages without access to a swimming pool.

I wish they had more dedicated walk/bike trails though. I don't like contending with golf carts on the multi modal paths but I get it, the golf cart is king. Maybe someday in the future, if golfing declines a little, they can convert a golf course here and there to a walking/biking park.

Free golf was not that important. The amount of golf in general was along with softball and most importantly, family that already lived here.

[QUOTE=Rainger99;2289827]How important was free golf for life when you made your decision to move to the Villages?

If they didn't have free golf - but had free walking trails - would you have moved here?

Bet this is a like the flip of a coin and golf was a big part of my decision. But free golf is over rated for the more serious golfers.

Golf isn't free - you have to pay a trail fee. Then a fee for the tee time system. I don't golf anymore and would move but don't want to do all the packing. The Villages is now a convenience. I have been here since 2005. It was a novelty back then.

We too like the pools but wish the hours of operation went much later into the evening. idk, maybe the bugs would drive that wish away.....

If there wasn't golf in the area, free or not, I would not have a home here. All that being said, I find the Championship Courses to be way overpriced and the Executives crowded and often in marginal condition. But there are options outside the bubble that keep me interested during the winter months.

Your last line was the whip cream on our decision. Initially we thought that all of the residential grass was maintained by one company due to the uniformity and consistently good maintenance. Nice surprise when we were told differently. Weather not so good. We came from the warm(er) part of Florida.

Trail fee & Tee time system are both optional.

why here
 

You are missing the point - more ACTIVITIES here than anywhere and I mean you can walk anywhere. If that's all I wanted I'd be back in north Dallas now. Get online and look at the activities and groups-clubs

I think that free golf was the marketing line in the 1980s…now it’s active adult lifestyle. Even the developer knows that free golf doesn’t matter much to the newest villagers.

Free golf had minimal influence on our moving here. If free anything had an influence, it was the entertainment in the squares.

It was the cheap booze and so many fellow drunks that really attracted me to TV.
Love the golf as well, and I am still really determined to actually finish a round before collapsing into my usual comatose state.

Cheers!
:beer3:

Free golf was not a factor at all in our decision. We took up golf after coming but the lifestyle, aesthetics, and many options for arts, sports, etc. drew us here. We continue to believe it's one of the best decisions we've made after almost 16 years.