[jdguscinski]

Originally Posted by Jazuela

This response is the shorter version of mine. It speaks exactly to WHY I'm confused.

if you don't golf you won't understand.....the developer has a captured market. And they could make all of the golfing community happier (note, I say happier, as golf is not the only reason people move here). For serious golfers there is nothing worse than playing course on bare dirt, which is what most of the championship courses have turned in to!

[jdguscinski]

Originally Posted by Jazuela

That's pretty pathetic. Is it indicative of all the other courses? What do the best of the Exec look like? How many of the execs are in this horrible shape? How many are in *good* shape? How many are in "tolerable" shape?

Of the ones in bad shape, how many are in the process of being repaired?

almost all of the executives look like that! and always have. the worst part of it is that we residents "own" the executives and that is what we get!!!!!???? it's one thing to complain about the championship courses, that we have no say in, but the executives? embarrassing, total waste of amenity fees. I wish they would close 1/3 of all the executive courses and then spend that money on the ones that remain open. maybe they would be playable then? "free golf for life".....yes, if you have a desire to play a goat patch!

[jdguscinski]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

I am a golfer and I agree the greens (especially on the executive courses I've played) are in poor condition. I hope that over the summer they will be able to fix the issues. But I still love living here. I love all the golfing options, but it's not the only reason I live here. I've made great friends and I love all the activities. It's a well maintained, beautiful place to live. The "HOA" fee pays for so much more than golf course maintenance. And that fee is unbelievably reasonable.
What frustrates me is that so many people expect "The Developer" to fix things. "Fix the Villages Regional Hospital, fix the golf courses, stop selling homes because it's getting too big/too much traffic and I don't like that."
If there comes a time The Villages doesn't have what I'm looking for... I will move to a community that better fits my needs. But I'm not going to blame The Developer... I believe they are trying to do the right thing for the people that live here. And I certainly don't begrudge them for making a profit on what they are doing.

we aren't talking about the hospital, or any other misc crap. when we are talking about the championship courses, they are OWNED by the developer. so they are fair game for complaints to be registered towards! as far as executive courses, those are paid for by our amenity fees - so our CDD supervisors and PWAC decide how much money they get. this IS all about money, it takes money to water and fertilize. that is all grass needs to grow!

[57ChevyFI]

I played Belle Glade last week. No complaints.

[dewilson58]

Palmer good shape this morning.

[anothersteve]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Palmer good shape this morning.

Yeah.... but just wait till this afternoon!

Steve

[croughwell]

Try the Executive courses... They are in far worse shape. Many executive courses also have broken, cracked and sliding concrete carts paths and areas that obviously don't even receive water and the grass is hardly ever replaced in the high traffic areas. Fertilizer is generally what keeps grass looking well and it appears to be non-existent on many courses. I've only been here since November of 2018 and the decline in the course conditions over the previous 18 months has been incredible!

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by croughwell

...I've only been here since November of 2018 and the decline in the course conditions over the previous 18 months has been incredible!

With all due respect, I think you better redo the math.

jk

[Joanne19335]

Originally Posted by RockyMountainMan

I have been living in the villages for 7 years now. I moved from Colorado in retirement which was a long distance move. One of the reasons for moving here was that the golf courses were pristine and well maintained. I could have easily found another retirement area in Arizona but with a few less amenities but I chose the villages.

After playing mostly the championship courses over the past several months the golf courses in the villages have deteriorated to the point that they are no longer enjoyable to play...as I call them a "goat ranch." After speaking to one the managers at one of the clubs I asked why the courses no longer "overseed" with rye grass in the winter. After several reasons which I disagreed with, I have come to the conclusion that it is all about the money.

I hear, see and read about the wonderful growth of the villages and what a great thing it is for the quality of life here. After seeing the increase in traffic, lack of retail and commercial areas and the condition of the golf courses, I am getting the sense that the villages is becoming just another large city...yes city (pop. at 130K going to over 200K in the next several years).

Unless more attention is paid to the things I have mentioned earlier, I'm afraid the overbuilding and lack of maintenance will be a detriment to people thinking of moving to the villages.

I could not have said it better. I am also a golfer. As a priority member, I resent paying the additional prices to play courses with greens covered in sand. We are getting too big.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by croughwell

Try the Executive courses... They are in far worse shape. Many executive courses also have broken, cracked and sliding concrete carts paths and areas that obviously don't even receive water and the grass is hardly ever replaced in the high traffic areas. Fertilizer is generally what keeps grass looking well and it appears to be non-existent on many courses. I've only been here since November of 2018 and the decline in the course conditions over the previous 18 months has been incredible!

Unfortunately, all the executive courses are not in as good of shape as the country club courses. There are a lot of factors, including the amount of play, the care by the golfers, construction & maint. and of course........money.



18 months is a very short period of time. The courses have had good years and bad years.

[birdiebill]

I played Havana today and I thought the greens had very nice grass. They putted a little slow, but they were in great shape. Mallory last Friday also had great greens. Belle Glade a week ago the greens were in good shape but also a little slow. I agree with those that would like to see more grass on the fairways; you can not just sweep the ball off like we did on northern courses with bent grass or blue grass fairways. I have played Volusia and Turtle Mound with my wife in the last two weeks and thought the greens were decent. Bermuda grass grows best in the heat of the summer and seems to be coming in much better now.

Aeration is going to make a mess of all the greens this month, but it is necessary for the long term health of the greens.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Joanne19335

I could not have said it better. I am also a golfer. As a priority member, I resent paying the additional prices to play courses with greens covered in sand. We are getting too big.

Getting big has nothing to do with it.
Been here 17 years and the courses have been aerated and sanded for that period of time.
You can drop your priority membership when ever you like...….

[anothersteve]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Getting big has nothing to do with it.
Been here 17 years and the courses have been aerated and sanded for that period of time.
You can drop your priority membership when ever you like...….

I can't believe some "golfers" do not know what aeration is and why it's necessary, then get annoyed playing on aerated greens.
Also priority memberships are non-refundable, non transferable.
Steve

[arickis]

I have been here 12 years now and have never seen the courses, executive and championship in such bad condition. It mostly revolves around the overseeding that they do not do anymore. Arlington Ridge is in great condition due to their overseeding etc. I mostly play on the outside now, and when our playing partners ask why, I tell them because our courses are in poor shape. Other developements have gone the same route. Marion Oaks is a huge developement with 2 golf courses that were good 8 years ago. If you want to see what the Villages is going to look like unless they start taking care of their golf courses, take a look at Marion Oaks or Huntington. Very sad. I hope someone at the developers night speaks up if they get a chance.

[rustyp]

I was at Pinehurst the last two days. Spring has not been here too long in North Carolina. One of these things is not like the other. Don't blame it on the boogie. I forgot fairways actually have grass.