[Mulliganguy]

I agree with previous post about free golf being a big draw cause we’re not that good of a golfer to pay for it every time. But we enjoy the other amenities and the overall experience and beauty of TV’s; especially our neighbors and friends we have come to know and love! Very supportive of one another!

[Happydaz]

I don’t play golf but many of my friends do. They say they play golf more here in The Villages than they ever did before. Some of my neighbors started playing golf when they moved here and play 3-4 days a week now. Although I don’t play golf I was attracted to the Villages because of the numerous golf courses that dot our landscape. As a gardener I love seeing the rolling hills and open spaces that golf courses provide. Without these beautiful open spaces more houses would dot the entire area. I wouldn’t move to a neighborhood that was nothing but home after home. Golf courses in The Villages add to the beauty of our home.

[Signguy]

They build the golf courses first to create the water mitigation, that allows the homesite to no longer be in the flood zone. So unlike other communities, you are not buying a home with a view of where the developer will be building THE golf course. Here you move in and can play golf right away and/or participate in all the activities available.

The golf courses are critical to the development even being possible.

Decline in golfers demographically will still have millions of people retiring who would like to play golf well into the future.

[Cindysum90]

We had no desire to golf when we moved here so it had no impact on our decision. We now golf and enjoy it. I don’t really understand the question about free walking trails - they do have free walking trails and I do enjoy them.

[La lamy]

I don't golf, so I obviously still would have moved here. But if there wasn't oodles of pickleball courts, BUH-BYE!

[barbnick]

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?

Best decision I ever made 13 years ago to move to the villages. Golf was just another activity

[Gunny2403]

Meaningless in terms of decision to move here. Infrequently play

[Buckeye Bill]

I agree with everything there is to do here golf is down the list

[coconutmama]

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.

Best answer!
I played great yesterday. Today will be lousy. Cannot be consistent for anything 😆.

Yes, free golf was & is a big reason to still be here. We try to get out there 3x a week.

[Justputt]

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?

Almost no impact. I haven't played golf in more than a dozen years, and my friends would argue I wasn't playing golf then...

Our decision was driven by the environment. I'm older than my wife, and we've moved many times over the years. Each time we moved it took a while to meet enough people to have a decent set of friends. With our respective family histories, there's no doubt I'll box/dirt knap/dirt dive well before her. On the Lifestyle visit it was very clear that if you aren't meeting people and making friends that you must be hiding. People are very friendly, very will to talk, and easy to get to know. That combined with the number of clubs/activities, getting settled into a new area was easy. Maybe it's as simple as a bunch of retired/semi-retired folks have more time and less stress making them more open to taking the time.

[coleprice]

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?

Although my wife and I didn't golf prior to moving to The Villages 3 years ago, it is something that we "took up" after we arrived here. We love golfing and play Executive Courses at least 3 or 4 days a week (and occasionally Championship Courses), so it is VERY IMPORTANT to us. We also play water volleyball, Bocci, go dancing at town squares, etc. We look at golf as the "Anchor Activity" here at The Villages, but there are also many other activities, including Clubs to engage Villages residents.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by Happydaz

I don’t play golf but many of my friends do. They say they play golf more here in The Villages than they ever did before. Some of my neighbors started playing golf when they moved here and play 3-4 days a week now. Although I don’t play golf I was attracted to the Villages because of the numerous golf courses that dot our landscape. As a gardener I love seeing the rolling hills and open spaces that golf courses provide. Without these beautiful open spaces more houses would dot the entire area. I wouldn’t move to a neighborhood that was nothing but home after home. Golf courses in The Villages add to the beauty of our home.

Agree 100%. We've both have said the nice thing about all the golf courses, besides the obvious, is it creates beautiful green space and breaks up the density. As you drive around, very seldom is there no green space. This is truly a beautiful community in many ways.

As many here have said, free golf played a role, but it was really the total package, the weather and lifestyle that made this our happy place.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by asianthree

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

Golf should have been shut down also, golfers are not special.

[eweissenbach]

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 first heard of “free golf” for life in 2009 on a commercial on the Golf Channel. That drew my attention and I started researching TV online. I booked a Lifestyle Preview for April 2010 and have been coming ( renting for seven years, owning for seven years) for the last fourteen years part time. I would probably have never paid any attention to The Villages had it not been for the free golf for life statement on that commercial. And, once I got here, while not the only enticement, it was the major one. Still is.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by coconutmama

Best answer!
I played great yesterday. Today will be lousy. Cannot be consistent for anything 😆.

Yes, free golf was & is a big reason to still be here. We try to get out there 3x a week.

I play at least 3 sports inconsistently. Seems like reach certain level and struggle to be consistent.