[chrisinva]

"Free golf for life" - no attraction. "Walking trails" - big attraction!

[natjos]

Free golf was the main draw. Walking is already free

[HospitalCoder]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

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?

It was the biggest factor for us.

[elevatorman]

Golf was not a big factor for my wife and I.

[gettingby]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

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?

I moved here because my wife made me. We’re from Florida and I wanted to move to the mountains but this is as far north as she wants to go. I really like Florida for several reasons but the one thing I can’t stand is the summer heat. By 10 am I’m looking to be indoors and it last 5 months. Oh well, that’s the price for paradise.

[Blackbird45]

I'm a New Yorker and before I retired, I worked many jobs here in Florida and always said I would never live in this state. I don't play golf, but live here in TV for its safety, cleanliness, affordability and connivence. My primarily MD, Publix's, and restaurants are a 3-minute drive, gym 8-minutes, and if that's not enough all my neighbors are all about my age and friendly. I did live in another smaller community for about 2 years and found I would have to drive off the property to get what they offer here.

[Remembergoldenrule]

Originally Posted by buzzy

Free golf was a big draw for me in 2011, and still is. I don't play well enough to pay for it.

Just took first golf lesson and played first pitch and play and I’m now totally hooked. Think the par three walking course is perfect for me. Never would have done it if weren’t living here. Glad for break from weather. Wish they would convert the old movie theater at Brownwood to bowling alley. Two alleys in Spanish Springs are full. Need one at Brownwood.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by chrisinva

"Free golf for life" - no attraction. "Walking trails" - big attraction!

Walking trails---less than zero attraction
"free" golf--meaning exec courses---didn't figure in the equation

The lack of snow
Golf cart access to just about everything
12 (at the time) Championship courses
Many dozens of rec centers, pools, tightknit friendly (for the most part) neighborhoods
Nightly entertainment (until we knew better) at the squares

All of that was the draw

[Jcals]

Golf was not part of our decision to move to TV.

[Desiderata]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

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?

Free golf was a huge factor for me when deciding to buy here. There were so few walking trails it wasn’t even a factor. Other than the new, short trail by Miona, I’m not aware of any N of 44.

[HoosierPa]

Originally Posted by gettingby

I moved here because my wife made me. We’re from Florida and I wanted to move to the mountains but this is as far north as she wants to go. I really like Florida for several reasons but the one thing I can’t stand is the summer heat. By 10 am I’m looking to be indoors and it last 5 months. Oh well, that’s the price for paradise.

That’s why we put In a pool. Best time of the year now is summer. Never go inside in the summers

[asianthree]

OP looks like some came for free golf, many posted “free” wasn’t in the mix.

Looking to see how many were in your mind set or curious if some came to enjoy outdoor activities?

[IndianaJones]

Golf is one thing - wife was the other. I grew up here & would have never considered Central Florida but she loves it. Gets too cold in winter, way too hot in summer, no sea breeze, etc. We called this part of Florida “South Georgia” - real FL starts south of Orlando. But the golf is decent & it doesn’t like like many of the residents here walk much although there are good trails in the area.

[ROCKETMAN]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

Think the villges needs to move on from free golf.
Golf is a dying sport…most “younger” people here arent moving to TV for golf.

Actually on a national level rounds of golf are up since the pandemic.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by ROCKETMAN

Actually on a national level rounds of golf are up since the pandemic.

Golf Numbers were up during the pandemic. Indoor activities closed so golf saw lots of new players