Golf (free and fee) was 75% of MY decision to buy/move here and 40% for my wife. We need more Exec courses in the south, IN ADDITION to the four 'in the works' around East Port.

Golfed once a year when I was working, was not going to golf in the V. Friend here convinced me to start up, now I enjoy it. Did not purchase because of golf.

No, they're not. HOWEVER, during the pandemic, golf could be played OUTDOORS, 6 foot social distancing maintained, never had to touch anything that belonged to another golfer, and they had PVC pipe sticking out of the holes and you didn't touch the flagstick. SO THEREFORE THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE REASON IN THE WORLD TO SHUT DOWN GOLF

And I thought we had heard the last of the Villagers whining about golf continuing while their favorite activity had to be shut down.

Round of golf, or a round at the bar?

Now that's just crazy talk.

No, it's true. But that poster didn't consider his audience:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

We will own a home soon
 

We will own a home soon and can’t wait. I can tell you golf is my number one want. My wife likes the cleanliness and the feeling of being here.

Hubby and I do not golf so that aspect had zero influence on us wanting to move here. What did influence us is the infrastructure for golf carts is like no other in the entire world. I'm still in awe when I toodle around in the golf cart, traversing over bridges and driving through the tunnels. The absolutely gorgeous grounds and flowers through out is what sold us. Not to mention the manicured properties and common spaces. Although we do not golf, the open areas of rolling golf courses adds so much to my enjoyment of the beauty of this place. Everywhere we look as we drive along Morse Blvd, Buena Vista Blvd and Odell Circle (those are our "stomping grounds") there are those gorgeous open areas of golf courses.

We love it here.

I did not have a mind set when I posted the question. I was interested at what the response would be. From my personal experience, most of my neighbors (I estimate about 70%) do not play golf at all. About 20% are serious golfers playing several times a week and the remaining 10% play 3-4 times a month.

At this point, I calculate that 27 said that it had no influence on their decision; 15 people said that it had some influence; and 16 that said it had a strong influence on their decision to move here.

It is a good thing that a large number of people don't play golf because if everyone played, it would be impossible to get a tee time!

Golf was a significant factor for me but was zero factor for my wife. She loves the flowers and the landscaping. We both love the fact that the entire area is well maintained - no garbage on the streets and no graffiti anywhere. However, the primary factor for me was the weather, the taxes, and the affordability of the Villages. If the Villages had free golf at Championship courses for life but had cold weather and high taxes, I would not have moved here. Free golf was an added bonus.

If you walk, is golf free?
Isn’t walking good exercise?

Golf may not be totally free, but it's damn close! Just like our amenity fee, they're both a bargain.

I've golfed with more than a few people on the Executive courses that moved here from other retirement communities in Florida because they found the pricing for the Championship courses was extremely reasonable compared to places South Florida. Where it's over well over $100 a round at a decent course which adds up if you're playing 20 rounds/month.

The question I think of is yes golf is indirectly free but we all pay for thru our amenity fees specially does who do not golf and trail fees to use a golf cart Be curious how lower our amenity fees would be if they remove the golf portion of it

Have absolutely no interest in golf.

Reading many of the other responses has clarified a few things in my own mind that I hadn't thought of when I responded.
In a nutshell, I really like this place. I'm really happy to be here 8 months of the year. I am fortunate to be able to go north to a lake in the summer months, but if I didn't have a place on the lake, I could make a go of it here in the summer.
Today I played PB at the dawn's early light, came home and took a handful of naps, and then took a cart ride to a nearby golf course (5 minutes by cart) and chipped and putted for an hour or so. It was marvelous.

Where else could I have such a day? And the weather is not all that great right now, but it's good enough.