[Advogado]

Originally Posted by jamarcus

the better question is why does it cost anything. Golf and tennis are free but the gym costs extra......not cool

Nothing is free in The Villages or anyplace else. When buying here, you should understand what amenities are covered by the amenities fee and what ones are not.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Advogado

Nothing is free in The Villages or anyplace else. When buying here, you should understand what amenities are covered by the amenities fee and what ones are not.

Totally agree. (Is there a site that lists those covered/non-covered amenities?)

[graciegirl]

Where is Bogie Shooter? He always posts those kinds of links to all kinds of useful information.

Someone PMd me last night wondering where he was.

[BarryRX]

Originally Posted by Advogado

Nothing is free in The Villages or anyplace else. When buying here, you should understand what amenities are covered by the amenities fee and what ones are not.

Agree...I would love to have one of those great workout places that are featured as a free perk (not really free of course) in so many other retirement communities, and find it odd that we don't have that here. But I knew that when I bought my home. I could've purchased a home somewhere else, but I chose here.

[Newbeginnings]

I don't expect a free gym, but would like something like MVP closer to the south end of 466A. Gladly pay membership fees for a facility like MVP on the south end.

[2BNTV]

It would be nice to have gyms in the amenity fee but it is not.

"It is what it is".

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by djohnson

I don't expect a free gym, but would like something like MVP closer to the south end of 466A. Gladly pay membership fees for a facility like MVP on the south end.

If the demographics show that such a need exists then large corporations such as Golds Gym etc will come and open. I don't know how exactly that need is ascertained, but am wondering if the average age of most residents plays into decisions such as these.

It is simply a dollars and cents type of thing.

I doubt very few wouldn't say it would be great, but no one has yet found us to build here.

Must be a reason.

[manaboutown]

I agree with Gracie. It is the demographics.

As a lifelong gym rat where I live now in Newport Beach, CA, a very stay-in-shape health and body conscious community, I usually hit the gym midmornings. I am 70 years old and enjoy a handful of "gym-friend" men and women whom I greet and encourage as I see them regularly. What I have noticed over the past 20 years at this gym is that at about age 80 few men and women keep showing up and working out other than perhaps a few in a rehabilitative mode. I see some men in their 60's but more in their 70's because many men around here in their 60's are still working. Most of the midmorning attendees tend to be young mothers, maybe some off duty cops and firemen and younger folks in their 20's to 40's who work at bars and restaurants later in the day and evenings. I have no idea about early morning or after work attendees but they are not likely to be retired folks because it no doubt gets crowded and busy, as it is Saturday mornings.

There must be an age related bell curve type of distribution to describe who wants and uses a gym. Me? I cannot imagine life without hitting the gym although no doubt the day will come. My 69 year old brother, a life long tennis player has had to give it up due to disk issues. He has taken up pickle ball and golf. Although he finds golf frustrating, he enjoys it.

[rubicon]

To begin with it is impossible to satisify everyone. However as respects value (utility) for amenities fees, taxes, etc associated with living in TV, it depends. to begin with the golf fees at the champion Golf courses are higher than many off campus. And if you include a golf cart and perhaps a free lunch than the Villages courses are extremely high. What does it say about the Developer. In conjunction with the championship courses is an offering of Priority which is very costly. You would need to play 66 times to breakeven and that is utilizing villages tee time rates and not off campus. secondly under priority you would need to hook up with other priority members because playing as the only priority gets you little recognition. and to exacerbate the situation guests under priority are afforded priority over residents who have made a heavy investment in this community. You label it.

Free golf on the Executive courses is not free when you consider trail fees and the $8.00 per month fee for access to computer tee time system. You label it.
Amenitity fees support the rec centers and at each of the regional rec centers has a fitness center that charges per day, month or year.

In the district rec centers there are various classes that are provided free of charge but something tells me that will change.

I belong to MVP. It charges a very reasonable rate. In fact I was startled to learn how really unreasonable The Villages Fitness Center was until MVP bought out the developer.

MVP charges a monthly rate for group programs or individual workouts whereas the Developer charged separately. I was taking two group programs under TV Fitness center at a cost of 110.00 per month. and finally got wise to the fact that it was better financially to buy a year membership at roughly $400. You label it.

I offer this point of view to return to my earlier suggestion of ït depends".

I understand that residents may be paying more for the convience of having a course(s) close by. However when you consider that you are investing in the price and maintenance of a golf cart coupled with higher golf fees the price difference is enough to have many golfers play off campus. and remeber the reason most people move to The Villages is to play golf year around

The counterpoint to that is most people living here not have nor ever would join a country club with those kind of fees and charges . and secondly while the courses are nice here they don't exactly equate to the standards of the country club previously addressed because of they did you couldn't get on them wearing cargo shorts let alone blue jeans

I opine you decide

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by rubicon

To begin with it is impossible to satisify everyone. However as respects value (utility) for amenities fees, taxes, etc associated with living in TV, it depends. to begin with the golf fees at the champion Golf courses are higher than many off campus. And if you include a golf cart and perhaps a free lunch than the Villages courses are extremely high. What does it say about the Developer. In conjunction with the championship courses is an offering of Priority which is very costly. You would need to play 66 times to breakeven and that is utilizing villages tee time rates and not off campus. secondly under priority you would need to hook up with other priority members because playing as the only priority gets you little recognition. and to exacerbate the situation guests under priority are afforded priority over residents who have made a heavy investment in this community. You label it.

Free golf on the Executive courses is not free when you consider trail fees and the $8.00 per month fee for access to computer tee time system. You label it.
Amenitity fees support the rec centers and at each of the regional rec centers has a fitness center that charges per day, month or year.

In the district rec centers there are various classes that are provided free of charge but something tells me that will change.

I belong to MVP. It charges a very reasonable rate. In fact I was startled to learn how really unreasonable The Villages Fitness Center was until MVP bought out the developer.

MVP charges a monthly rate for group programs or individual workouts whereas the Developer charged separately. I was taking two group programs under TV Fitness center at a cost of 110.00 per month. and finally got wise to the fact that it was better financially to buy a year membership at roughly $400. You label it.

I offer this point of view to return to my earlier suggestion of ït depends".

I understand that residents may be paying more for the convience of having a course(s) close by. However when you consider that you are investing in the price and maintenance of a golf cart coupled with higher golf fees the price difference is enough to have many golfers play off campus. and remeber the reason most people move to The Villages is to play golf year around

The counterpoint to that is most people living here not have nor ever would join a country club with those kind of fees and charges . and secondly while the courses are nice here they don't exactly equate to the standards of the country club previously addressed because of they did you couldn't get on them wearing cargo shorts let alone blue jeans

I opine you decide

I label it a bargain comparitively from our past life. We have lived in Golf course communities for the last 40 years.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by sdavis44

Totally agree. (Is there a site that lists those covered/non-covered amenities?)

I don't know of any such site or written list. I would suggest that you send the question to the editor of the POA Bulletin. I think that the POA would be happy to compile and publish a list of the amenities and features of The Villages and of how each one is funded. I do recall that the subject has appeared in various Bulletin articles, but I don't recall ever seeing a comprehensive list.

In regard to fitness centers being added to amenities paid for out of the amenities-fee revenue, it will never happen because it will never get the necessary voter approval-- which would involve a waiver of the CPI cap on amenity fee increases. In other words, you either pay directly for your gym membership, exercise at home, or buy elsewhere.