Originally Posted by Debra.t.robinson (Post 2184942)

It seems as if this practice also protects long term residents from losing established routines.

Having a neighborhood or local group allows for a stronger community. Whether the group plays 1 or 2 times a month, or weekly, what a great way to meet and maintain connections with your neighbors.

Anyone can start a group, therefore, if this practice bothers you, start a group, establish a routine, meet more than 1 - 3 other people who share your interests.

Originally Posted by Tyson (Post 2184965)

This has been going on for more than 20 years. These groups support golf in TV all year long and all players must be priority. In peak season TV gives the leader around 4 courses to chose from. You'll never get TV to stop this.Get a group of 32 and you can join the fun.

Originally Posted by swooner (Post 2184972)

Not true. Per the Villages Golf Pro, all players are NOT Priority!

Originally Posted by swooner (Post 2184972)

Not true. Per the Villages Golf Pro, all players are NOT Priority!

Originally Posted by jnsbill (Post 2185001)

does this extend to the executive courses?

Originally Posted by JMintzer (Post 2184996)

Yes they are... To book as a priority group ALL golfers in the group must be priority members...

I'm in a Wednesday Championship Course group. They typically have 3-4 foursomes.

Since I'm not a priority member (not worth the $$$ since I'm still a part timer), they never put my name in the group tee-time request, because doing so would bump them down to a regular request.

Once the tee-time list comes out (Sunday morning), I check the groups and if there's a threesome, I add my name to that group. Most weeks, I can add my name. Occasionally, I get shut out.

But I'm not going to demand that the rest of the group lose their priority status when booking times just to make sure I'm included...

Originally Posted by swooner (Post 2184692)

It recently came to my attention that The Villages Golf Administration provides special privileges to groups of 32 or more members. This highly unadvertised practice enables groups of that size or larger to pre-establish regular recurring Tee Times at various Villages courses. At least two courses, OBH and Lopez Legacy, and possibly more, prebook these groups on a regular weekly basis to the detriment of Priority Members who compete for Tee Times through TV Tee Time System. These privileged groups include both Priority and Non-Priority Golfers.

Paying an annual Priority Membership Fee ($777) is supposed to provide certain privileges such as having priority for booking over groups that include non-Priority members. All groups in addition are supposed to be prioritized for booking purposes based on total group playing points that have been accumulated during the past 7 days. By pre booking groups of 32 or more players irrespective of these rules, Golf Administration has established a prejudicial procedure in violation of the benefits upon which they sell Priority Memberships.

After referring this issue to Golf Administration, I was essentially told, sorry, that's the way it is. It seems that they don't care if they violate the very precepts under which they sell Priority memberships to the detriment of all of us Priority members who play by the rules. If enough of you express your concerns about this to Golf Administration, perhaps they will be obliged to review and eliminate this practice that clearly violates the terms under which Priority Memberships are sold.

Originally Posted by arickis (Post 2185062)

This "32" rule also applies to the executive courses, and that is why it is so hard to get a tee time. There are no tee times available three days in advance on any ANY executive course in The Villages due to the special groups of 32 or more. A lot of the groups have ghost golfers who do not play but their Id numbers are used to fill the 32 quota. This starts in January and runs through April now. Renters are the main problem.

Originally Posted by JMintzer (Post 2184996)

Yes they are... To book as a priority group ALL golfers in the group must be priority members...

I'm in a Wednesday Championship Course group. They typically have 3-4 foursomes.

Since I'm not a priority member (not worth the $$$ since I'm still a part timer), they never put my name in the group tee-time request, because doing so would bump them down to a regular request.

Once the tee-time list comes out (Sunday morning), I check the groups and if there's a threesome, I add my name to that group. Most weeks, I can add my name. Occasionally, I get shut out.

But I'm not going to demand that the rest of the group lose their priority status when booking times just to make sure I'm included...

Originally Posted by jjombrello (Post 2185067)

Are you complaining about Mens' and Ladies' day golf? If so, they have been playing all of the 25 years I've lived here. Hasn't been a problem for any golf group I play in. If you want to play at the times these events are schedules, join the Mens' or Ladies' group.