Talk of The Villages Florida - Orange Blossom Rumor

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr (Post 733475)

We do have lifetime membership in all the country clubs. Priority membership is an add on. I don't really know exactly what that means, but my understanding is that you get preferred tee times and a few other perks.

What surprises me down here is that up north, when you join a country club or golf club, you may play unlimited golf at no additional fee. The same can be said for many private and semi private clubs here in Florida outside of the Villages. The idea of belonging to a club and having to pay a green fee is foreign to me.

Now some clubs that have multiple activities have a fee for joining each of those activities. You pay dues to join the club and then you pay an annual fee to use the pool, play golf, tennis, lawn bowling or whatever. The so called called "country clubs" in The Villages are really just daily fee public golf courses. One does not have to be a member to play them so what is a membership worth? It's pretty easy for The Villages to advertise that we all have lifetime memberships to their "country clubs" when that membership consists of nothing.

I think that is a different experience than ours. Here is a typical country club in my old neck of the woods. The initiation fee is MANY thousand dollars. The green fees are $65.
Wetherington Golf & Country Club in West Chester, Ohio | Golf Course Rankings and Details

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajbrown (Post 733468)

Seems making OB a priority member only club would break the main marketing promise:

The Villages is the only place in the world where you can play golf free for the rest of your life on all of our executive courses. As a resident, you�ll also receive free lifetime membership in all of our country clubs including The Villages� Palmer Legends and Nancy Lopez Legacy country clubs�

As member I would sure hope I can go inside for a beer.

As far as Katie Bells? My memory says there was a time when the upstairs dining room was only for priority members and their guests. This would have been back when visiting my Dad in say 2002'ish. Anyone else remember that?

You are partially correct. When the Cattle Baron's Club opened at Katie Belle's, it was a member's only club, but the membership had nothing to do with priority golf membership. As I recall, it was rather pricey...maybe a couple hundred dollars to join. Apparently, there were very few takers since it only lasted a very short time, again as I recall, maybe six months at most.

Grandpa Gary should tell his grandaughter, we tried this membership thing once and it didn't work so don't bother trying it again.

The granddaughter part is true, heard from many inside sources. I have a hard time believing it would be a priority restaurant simply because of the location. Maybe palmer not not orange blossom.

Gracie, that's a great picture and I laughed pretty hard. I think if you can find a picture of the other end it will become a TOTV legend!

Quote:

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 733488)

Gracie, in addition to an initial membership fee, don't most country clubs also have a monthly food minimum?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajbrown (Post 733468)

As far as Katie Bells? My memory says there was a time when the upstairs dining room was only for priority members and their guests. This would have been back when visiting my Dad in say 2002'ish. Anyone else remember that?

Yes I do and it flopped. They called it Cattle Baron's. The name stuck but not the conception. No one wanted to join so it fell by the wayside.

Very poor idea.

Z

I hope the developers do keep OB in the family and under their operation/management. They don't let the restaurants go to the dogs like Havana did.

About 17 years ago we visited Kattie Belle's for the first time. At that time it was family operated and the food, service atmosphere was great. The same can be said for several other businesses that were family owned and operated. But it seems once they are turned over they lose what ever edge they had and soon fall by the way side. Many have said its because after a private owner goes in the rental becomes so high they can't square a profit. IMO the food and service at Kattie Belle's is awful. Unless you are going there to drink, dance and enjoy the entertainment, don't go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 733407)

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs25/i/20...lsolaStock.jpg

whenwords just don't cover the subject....excellent GG!

Putting a rumor on this forum is like putting a match in a can of gas.

btk

Quote:

Originally Posted by billethkid (Post 733653)

whenwords just don't cover the subject....excellent GG!

Putting a rumor on this forum is like putting a match in a can of gas.
btk

You have out done yourself with this one.............great line!