[Sam Morrow]

To call TPC Tampa bay a "biggie" is ludicrous...it's way overpriced and under-designed.  That's one of the two reasons I became a golf writer - to warn people off courses like that.

Skip the Villages...your first choices for public options in Fla are World Woods, Streamsong, Sawgrass, and PGA Golf Club (Dye Course)...after that everything is a step down architecturally, but in the area in which you're talking about you can still have a nice day at Victoria or Southern Dunes.  But the Villages?  I've heard nothing positive about the golf course architecture there. It seems like a wasted opportunity to play somewhere better...

What's the other reason? Money, ho's, access?

[mike_beene]

Next time you have to do something that seems like busy work or a waste of time, remember somewhere there are people devoting time to a golf cart drill team.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Eric,

Take the ride down to Streamsong

You'll enjoy two GREAT golf courses, good accomodations and service along with 36+ a day

[Cliff Hamm]

Pat....Did Eric not state "I have played  many top tier private and resort courses ,  getting tired of being ripped off and having to  deal with forecaddies, $12 hot dogs, etc.  I could easily get access to just about any private club down there, but I am at the point where it just does not interest me anymore to pay $100 + when I can pay less than $50 and have an equally good time"

Everyone doesn't have megabucks or choose to use them to play ultraexpensive golf.

[Adam Clayman]

Eric, Nobody can comment on the courses at the V, because they've either never played them, or, are too intimidated to respond, letting everyone know they've played there. 

I do know that a few years back, a young man named Don Maidlow, who built Black Diamond Ranch and was the superintendent and builder of the El Diablo, was hired as their construction head. Both those course get praise from many posters here.

I for one encourage you to go and report back. Heck, if golf is a depreciating skill, I wouldn't want to play the biggies when i'm 92.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Just wait until you guys start playing Pickleball!!! It's very big in the "Active Adult" communities.

www.pickleball.com

[Ed Brzezowski]

Good Lord another hanging curve ball?

[Mike Schott]

Just wait until you guys start playing Pickleball!!! It's very big in the "Active Adult" communities.

www.pickleball.com

Om my f'ing goodness. I'd rather sit in a recliner and watch Matlock than play a game who's emphasis is on quiet (other than golf of course).

[Scott Sander]

Just wait until you guys start playing Pickleball!!! It's very big in the "Active Adult" communities.

www.pickleball.com

Om my f'ing goodness. I'd rather sit in a recliner and watch Matlock than play a game who's emphasis is on quiet (other than golf of course).

Nah.  That's just an ad for that particular paddle.  Pickleball is noisy as all get out.  Very physical, too.   If one is making the old "sport or not a sport" argument, the pickleballers have it over the likes of us, I fear.

[Carl Johnson]

Just wait until you guys start playing Pickleball!!! It's very big in the "Active Adult" communities.

www.pickleball.com

And: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vxf4p7wuxo

[Matthew Petersen]

Just wait until you guys start playing Pickleball!!! It's very big in the "Active Adult" communities.

www.pickleball.com

My father (the Sun City Grand resident) is obsessed with that game.

[Howard Riefs]

I just learned that my parents are moving to The Villages.  I'm still processing it...

Ed Eric, how were the courses when you visited in May/June?

[Ed Brzezowski]

I just learned that my parents are moving to The Villages.  I'm still processing it...

Ed, how were the courses when you visited in May/June?

This Ed went to Scotland. TOC, Crail, Jubilee, Carnoustie, Nairn, Kingsbarns and Royal Dornoch. Golf cart drill teams and rampant STDs are not on my bucketlist. However trying to drink every drop of Tenants in the land still is, I will win that challenge by God!!!

[Howard Riefs]

I just learned that my parents are moving to The Villages.  I'm still processing it...

Ed, how were the courses when you visited in May/June?

This Ed went to Scotland. TOC, Crail, Jubilee, Carnoustie, Nairn, Kingsbarns and Royal Dornoch. Golf cart drill teams and rampant STDs are not on my bucketlist. However trying to drink every drop of Tenants in the land still is, I will win that challenge by God!!!

A slip of the keyboard. Too bad my folks didn't move to Scotland. The golf sounds slightly better. Glad you enjoyed yourself and stayed safe in the process.

[Eric Strulowitz]

I just learned that my parents are moving to The Villages.  I'm still processing it...

Ed Eric, how were the courses when you visited in May/June?

I ended up passing on the golf, as a friend of mine raved about the Mission Inn, so I changed my plans.  The Mission Inn is not all that far from the Villages and  I cannot recommend  more a place to spend a few days of golf and great dining.  The place was stunning. perfect in every respect.  We then spent a week in Orlando, playing the Disney courses and a host of others  It is golfing mecca, we had a blast.

Maybe we will hit the Villages next time!

Best of luck to your parents!  Hope your parents enjoy many fun and healthy years at the Villages,

[Bill_McBride]

I just learned that my parents are moving to The Villages.  I'm still processing it...

Ed Eric, how were the courses when you visited in May/June?

I ended up passing on the golf, as a friend of mine raved about the Mission Inn, so I changed my plans.  The Mission Inn is not all that far from the Villages and  I cannot recommend  more a place to spend a few days of golf and great dining.  The place was stunning. perfect in every respect.  We then spent a week in Orlando, playing the Disney courses and a host of others  It is golfing mecca, we had a blast.

Maybe we will hit the Villages next time!

Best of luck to your parents!  Hope your parents enjoy many fun and healthy years at the Villages,

Howey-in-the-Hills, the Mission Inn and El Campčon -- might this place not be the best kept secret in Florida?

[Eric Strulowitz]

I just learned that my parents are moving to The Villages.  I'm still processing it...

Ed Eric, how were the courses when you visited in May/June?

I ended up passing on the golf, as a friend of mine raved about the Mission Inn, so I changed my plans.  The Mission Inn is not all that far from the Villages and  I cannot recommend  more a place to spend a few days of golf and great dining.  The place was stunning. perfect in every respect.  We then spent a week in Orlando, playing the Disney courses and a host of others  It is golfing mecca, we had a blast.

Maybe we will hit the Villages next time!

Best of luck to your parents!  Hope your parents enjoy many fun and healthy years at the Villages,

Howey-in-the-Hills, the Mission Inn and El Campčon -- might this place not be the best kept secret in Florida?

Have to agree Bill.   And it will probably stay that way, it is really out of the way in an area where there is great golf in every direction.

The resort was stunning, it terms of architecture and landscaping, it was flawless.  Both golf courses were superb.  El Campeon was unlike any other course I have played in Florida, some of the ups and downs were amazing.  #17 is the hardest par 5 I have ever come across, still cannot believe that hole to this day.

[Howard Riefs]

I think you should appoint yourself as their Consulting Realtor on this one, Howard.

Best of luck to your parents!  Hope your parents enjoy many fun and healthy years at the Villages,

Thank you both. I was pulling for Pinehurst, N.C., as their future retirement home, but it was not meant to be.  Looks like I'll instead have to get acquainted with the golf options at Howey-in-the-Hills, the Mission Inn, El Campčon and, gulp, The Villages.

[Pete Buczkowski]

I just learned that my parents are moving to The Villages.  I'm still processing it...

Ed Eric, how were the courses when you visited in May/June?

I ended up passing on the golf, as a friend of mine raved about the Mission Inn, so I changed my plans.  The Mission Inn is not all that far from the Villages and  I cannot recommend  more a place to spend a few days of golf and great dining.  The place was stunning. perfect in every respect.  We then spent a week in Orlando, playing the Disney courses and a host of others  It is golfing mecca, we had a blast.

Maybe we will hit the Villages next time!

Best of luck to your parents!  Hope your parents enjoy many fun and healthy years at the Villages,

Howey-in-the-Hills, the Mission Inn and El Campčon -- might this place not be the best kept secret in Florida?

Have to agree Bill.   And it will probably stay that way, it is really out of the way in an area where there is great golf in every direction.

The resort was stunning, it terms of architecture and landscaping, it was flawless.  Both golf courses were superb.  El Campeon was unlike any other course I have played in Florida, some of the ups and downs were amazing.  #17 is the hardest par 5 I have ever come across, still cannot believe that hole to this day.

Is that monster gator still there on the bank of 17 green?  I'll never forget playing there with my Dad a couple years back.  We saw a sign on the tee warning about Big Momma by the green and to proceed with caution.  The approach to that green is funky to say the least with the tree in the middle of the fairway and the wildly sloping green.  Anyways my Dad had to lay up by punching under the tree and hit it a little too long, near the creek but not yet in the water.  As my Dad walked over the hill he froze dead in his tracks, turned bright white and very slowly started backing up.  He was within 10 feet of Big Momma, with his ball right up against his scaly skin.  My Dad was pretty shaken up and took an X.  We got a great view of Big Momma from the green on the other side of the water.  It was easily 15 feet long and far and away the largest gator I've seen. 

As for the architecture, I really like El Campeon except for the extreme 16 and 17.

[John_Conley]

I have not played golf at the Villages.  Access is a problem.  I don't think a non-resident can get on the courses, even in the summer.

If visiting, not to worry as there is a ton of good, very good, and excellent golf in proximity.  One such example has been mentioned already - El Campeon.  Another nearby course that I always enjoyed is Harbor Hills in Lady Lake.

If you expand the search to 45 minutes you can probably pick up some real nice venues like Juliette Falls.  Unfortunately I think El Diablo is either closed or in such poor condition that you don't want to get near it.  Hope I'm wrong.  I haven't played up that way for a long time, but you find decidedly non-Florida terrain and should enjoy the golf.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

In light of the feature on "In Play" on Golf Channel tonight, here's an update:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/17/the-villages-florida_n_5504154.html

[Ed Brzezowski]

Well at least they were not " night putting" ?

[Rees Milikin]

I hope someone yelled "get in the hole"

[Ed Brzezowski]

Really?  Which one?

Sorry had to do it.

[JLahrman]

I can't wait to get old.

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