[Duppman]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

Golf complaints again…will it ever stop?

I certainly hope not. Great entertainment (I'm easily entertained) in the morning!

[gighilton]

I hear your pain over the $5 extra for GHIN. I have a GHIN in North Carolina but have to have another one at TV, IF I play in championship course tournaments. Men's day Ladies day, etc. If i only play on executive courses, no GHIN is required. There is a $5 discount if renewed prior to the 1st of January. So if you don't play tournaments that require a GHIN number or are a member of the enhanced membership, you don't have to pay anything! Save all 25 and thank The Villages for their graciousness this time of year!

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by gighilton

I hear your pain over the $5 extra for GHIN. I have a GHIN in North Carolina but have to have another one at TV, IF I play in championship course tournaments. Men's day Ladies day, etc. If i only play on executive courses, no GHIN is required. There is a $5 discount if renewed prior to the 1st of January. So if you don't play tournaments that require a GHIN number or are a member of the enhanced membership, you don't have to pay anything! Save all 25 and thank The Villages for their graciousness this time of year!

I did not know that your NC GHIN index wouldn't allow you to play in tournaments here. That just seems odd. I would have thought the index would be universal.

BTW, not sure what you mean when you say that members with enhanced membership don't have to pay for GHIN. We still pay. We get a $5 discount over the non enhanced population.

[forebubba]

Originally Posted by swooner

Last Wednesday I renewed my GHiN System handicap for 2024. For the first time in 30 years in TV I am not a priority member as I simply do not play enough to warrant the extra cost. After renewing the handicap I realized that they had charged me $5.00 more than they charge Priority Members.

That is as close to stealing as I can imagine. Both priority and Resident members receive the identical GHIN service. Nothing about it differentiates in any way based on membership status. What then, other than pure and simple greed justifies this repulsive practice?

If anyone has a rational explanation for this I’d like to hear it. Please spare me the normal TOTV comments like I’m cheap or insensitive or other foolish chatter that often accompanies minor complaints on this forum. If you have something intelligent to say I’d love to see your rational explanation.

I stopped the GHIN service years ago. I dont play in tournaments or on men's day. No reason to use it

[Steve]

Originally Posted by swooner

Wrong!

Are you saying I'm wrong because I remember the way it used to be? I've been here for 19 years next May. I don't know how long you've lived here but things have definitely changed over the years. I'm just asking if there is something new going on. Whatever it is, $5 is not worth getting all snippy about. If I'm wrong please explain why so you can educate me and the thousands of others on this thread hanging on your every word.

[JGibson]

I hate being nickled and dimed also but the $5 isn't worth this much of your time.
Let it go and enjoy the golf.

[ILLINOIS RAY]

If you apply logic of not charging more for non Enhanced membership to Handicap system, then Enhanced members should also pay same price to play golf, as it is the same course

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by swooner

Last Wednesday I renewed my GHiN System handicap for 2024. For the first time in 30 years in TV I am not a priority member as I simply do not play enough to warrant the extra cost. After renewing the handicap I realized that they had charged me $5.00 more than they charge Priority Members.

That is as close to stealing as I can imagine. Both priority and Resident members receive the identical GHIN service. Nothing about it differentiates in any way based on membership status. What then, other than pure and simple greed justifies this repulsive practice?

If anyone has a rational explanation for this I’d like to hear it. Please spare me the normal TOTV comments like I’m cheap or insensitive or other foolish chatter that often accompanies minor complaints on this forum. If you have something intelligent to say I’d love to see your rational explanation.

Enhanced AKA Priority gives those people better prices including the handicap system. As an aside very few retailers give discounts on products like GPS watches, rangefinders etc and TV does give a 10% discount on these products. Do not like changes made in the Enhanced program, but it still helps us getter better tee times. Last year our group required players to have an enhanced membership and we never got stuck with OB Hills. Prior year we got stuck there toooo many times.

In meantime city owned courses in S. Florida now can get $125+ to play a muni.

[Tyson]

Here is what's worse. I pay for my GHIN at my country club back home but the Villages wont recognize it and makes me pay for another GHIN to play any tournaments in TV. It was called priority membership for decades, and everyone I know calls it that.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by Andyhope

Priority members pay extra for the discounts . 🤐🤐

Saved $30 on a golf watch and they were lower than Amazon

[jjombrello]

It seems to me that your question has been answered, but if you choose not to believe them, call the golf division and talk to someone there who knows the fee structures and what GHIN membership costs without enhancement membership and what it costs with enhanced membership. The difference could be that the GHIN system charges a certain amount and The Villages discounts it $5 if one buys the enhanced membership.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by kkingston57

Saved $30 on a golf watch and they were lower than Amazon

I was not aware of that bennie. I would not have expected the prices to beat Amazon's. I would have figured it was a few % off a grossly overpriced product, which is pretty much my experience with pro shop clothing and golf bags.

[Albany]

Originally Posted by swooner

Last Wednesday I renewed my GHiN System handicap for 2024. For the first time in 30 years in TV I am not a priority member as I simply do not play enough to warrant the extra cost. After renewing the handicap I realized that they had charged me $5.00 more than they charge Priority Members.

That is as close to stealing as I can imagine. Both priority and Resident members receive the identical GHIN service. Nothing about it differentiates in any way based on membership status. What then, other than pure and simple greed justifies this repulsive practice?

If anyone has a rational explanation for this I’d like to hear it. Please spare me the normal TOTV comments like I’m cheap or insensitive or other foolish chatter that often accompanies minor complaints on this forum. If you have something intelligent to say I’d love to see your rational explanation.

I don't understand any of this. The GHIN system, which is a global handicap system, is not owned or operated by The Villages. Are you sure that the folks at GHIN haven't raised their price for the coming year? And I guess to keep my handicap in place regardless of where I play, Pebble Beach? Innisbrook? Augusta National? I would just pay GHIN the $5. But you state that you didn't take The Villages enhanced membership for the coming year because you just don't play enough on the Championship courses here in TV. That being the case, are you sure you need to pay for a GHIN handicap? I no longer golf at my private club where an established handicap is mandatory, so I dropped my GHIN subscription. And unless I play in a "sanctioned" event here in TV, like ladies or mens day, I don't need an established handicap. If the OP really thinks he needs an established handicap just pay the $5.

[USN-Retired]

You’re asking the wrong people, unless someone on this forum works for the Golf Division AND can give an accurate response! You need to call Golf Admin.

I believe the # is available on GolfTheVillages.com.

One element I can comment on factually, it is cheaper to renew your GHIN from when renewal starts in mid-November thru the 1st week of January than for the rest of the year. Exception is after July 1st it is half price.

I will add one final point … Enhanced Members also pay cheaper Greens fees & get priority in getting tee times. That’s part of the benefit of being an Enhanced Member. So it is a likely follow-on that they also get their GHIN for a reduced rate.

[Justputt]

So, the argument is over the cost of a 2 for 1 happy hour beer......?