[wilt2448]

I'm considering a move to Florida soon or possibly just wintering there and the Villages are on my list of places to check out.

I know there is free golf for residents at the executive courses. Do any of you avid golfers play the executive courses on a regular basis?....or are the exec courses mainly just for beginners and social golfers? I'm a fairly avid golfer and golf would be a HUGE factor to consider when I think about where I would want to be. Also how is availability of tee times during Jan, Feb and March at those courses?

If the executive courses are not for avid golfers then what is the price for residents to play the full sized courses at TV and also how is tee time availability during Jan, Feb and March at the full sized courses?

Thanks for any info. I am planning to visit TV soon.

Wilt

[Indy-Guy]

You get all types of golfers on the executive courses. I have found that early in the morning you get the better golfers most of the time. The availability can be difficult during Jan, Feb, and March. That being said if when you request a tee time if you are going by your self and you put in a bunch of courses and you make the window of play time large then you should have no problem playing a lot. The people that put into the system a foursome at 1 or 2 courses with a window of 45 minutes probably won't get on.

The resident rates on the champ courses for last winter were from Palmer at $55.00 to Orange Blossom Hills at $37.00. In the middle was Glenview, Cane Garden, Mallory Hill, and Havana all at $45.00. I looked for the rates for this comming winter and they must not be out yet.

[Russ_Boston]

I've only visited so I can't answer all the questions but from my observation:

The execs (many of them) can be very challenging and I think would be played at least some times by even the best golfers. I'm a 10.5 index right now and would feel right at home sharpening my short game on these type of execs.

Have you seen the Villages golf web site? It has many answers you many need such as price. Here is a link to the rates page: http://www.golfthevillages.com/tee-t...s-summer08.asp

There have been many other threads on this forum about how the tee time system operates. Just use the search button above to look for previous answers. It seems that most people say that if you are flexible to time and course you can get out even in the busiest of times. Flexibility is the key.

Hope this helps. Come play some of the courses and you'll be hooked like I am.

Russ

[golfnut]

I am an avid golfer and play the executive courses every day. I usually play a championship course 5 -6 times a month.

[Lil Dancer]

You can buy a priority membership for golf, which gives you a $15 discount on the championship golf rates. If you play a lot of golf, its worth it. It also gives you priority tee times. My husband and I get it, and we've never had a problem with tee tiimes for the 2 of us in the high season (Feb., March). In the summer and fall, the rates are cheaper, and there are less people here, so its not worth getting the priority membership then. We know a number of golfers who play 2-3 times a week on the championship courses, then 1-2 a week on the execs. Its a good way of cutting the costs down.

[another Linda]

My husband and I have spent March '07 and March '08 in TV and both years played almost every day. We've never had a problem getting tee times for just the 2 of us. We play a range of different courses including both the execs and the championships. While we certainly aren't great golfers (wow is that an understatement!!) many of the execs we find to be really tough.

[wilt2448]

Thanks to all. This sounds like good news. I have a few friends who winter in the Ft Myers area and according to all of them it's about $60 minimum for a round of golf during Jan, Feb and Mar. Since I would be playing several times a week that's out of my price range. I won't be going to Ft Myers.

The Villages is sounding better and better.

This is a little off topic but I'm also considering the Tampa Bay area. How much would one expect to pay to play 18 holes during Jan, Feb and March there?

Wilt

Wilt I think you said you haven't visited the Villages yet. If that is the case, forget about golf questions. Once here you will never want to leave :bigthumbsup:

I just reviewed my post Wilt and I did not mean to sound flippant. It was just my opinion. Tks.

[Frangyomory]

No free golf unless you walk. My husband is an AVID golfer and prefers the championship courses. He is about a 6 handicap and finds the executive golf courses don't always allow for a full 18 holes continuous. Seems you have to make two tee times?????? Priority membership is about $800 and you would have to play quite a bit to make it worth while for the cost but then, we are year 'round residents.

You should come on down and try a few of the courses and see how they meet your needs. In any event, you won't find this many golf courses in one community anywhere and if you are a "walker" it really is FREE !!!

[Russ_Boston]

To add to Fran's post:

If you have a priority membership OR you pay the trial fee (about $145 per household i think) you can ride in your own cart on the execs free. Correct my math someone.

[Dutchman]

Wilt

I have also investigated the Ft Myers and Tampa areas. In Ft Myers the city runs 2 courses, Ft Myers CC and Eastwood. The reciprocal membership is reasonable, about $1250, but you must live inside the Ft Myers corporate limits to hold a membership and carts are extra. AT the FMCC walking is allowed any time. The Colonial CC in Ft Myers has a membership as part of the home purchase in the "golf" section. The "lake" section may not have a membership but can pay-as-you-play. They also have reciprocal agreements with many of the courses in the Ft Myers area for play in the off season.

Tampa Bay Golf & CC is a 55+ community along I75 north of Tampa. Their membership is about $2300 but you're limited to 1 course.

In TV I am projecting about $3000 a year to play an assortment of the championship courses 3 time a week with a priority membership which also includes the trail fees for the executive courses. Elsewhere on this forum someone has done a rough analysis of the payback for the priority membership.

[Frangyomory]

The fee for priority golf is $740 and if you want priority pool add on $80.

We feel it is a bargain considering what we paid up in Fredericksburg, VA.

[graciegirl]

I truly understand your question. My husband is an avid golfer. About a 15 handicap. Four holes in one. Played some wonderful courses in his life, including St. Andrews in Scotland and Pebble Beach in California, etc. He knows the difference. I am a not a hacker, I can keep up, and I know the rules and don't chat, but Henry is a died in the wool golfer.

He said he liked Cane Gardens better than the Palmer, but there really were no bad courses here. I haven't played them. We just bought three weeks ago, and have only stayed there one week total.

He didn't say it, but it would not be his dream to always have beginners or slow play or play with people who were not serious golfers. He is the one who really wanted to live here originally.

I think that you are going to be totally surprised and captivated. We both are.

[dolpterry]

Just next door to TV is a course called Miona Lakes ,very nice full length course (great greens,lots of trees and small greens) very tough course unless you hit very straight.
They offer a platium membership about 1850 for singles and 2350 for familys but this also includes golf to to 3 other courses ( lakeside in inverness,citrus springs near dunellion,and silver springs shores in ocala). Also free use of the cart and free range balls.