Bunker Renovation Project
The Golf Course Bunker Renovation Project started Monday, November 4.
The preliminary timeline for the project is five months through March 2025.
The construction team will be working each week (weather permitting) Monday-Saturday.
There will be 3-holes alternately closed during the majority of the project.
Currently Holes #1, #2 & #3 are closed.
Golfers will be playing 15 holes during the majority of the project.
More detailed information regarding golfing logistics, posting scores, tournament play, and guest play is available in the Pro Shop.
Thanksgiving Holiday Golf Schedule
Thursday, November 28 is Thanksgiving Day – the golf schedule is as follows:
7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tee Times on the 18-Hole Course and the Par-3 Course
The last tee time on both courses will be 1 p.m. – The Driving Range will close at 1 p.m. – The Pro Shop will close at 1 p.m.
Friday, November 29 is a standard Friday play day with tee times available from 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
Glow Ball Night Golf —Our first ever glow ball night golf event was Friday, November 1. 55 players participated, and everyone had a great time. Due to its success, we will do this every year henceforth–be sure to sign up next year, you will have a great time!
Golf Winter Schedule now in effect
The Pro Shop and golf play hours of operation will be adjusted around the resultant constricted daylight hours.
The Monday shotgun will move to 12 p.m.
The Driving Range will close at 2 p.m. on Mondays.
The Swingers Tuesday 9-Hole Women’s shotgun will move to 9 a.m.
The Shonis Par-3 women will move to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays.
The Ironmen Par-3 men will move to 1 p.m. on Thursdays (starting in December).
The Pinseekers Men’s 9-hole Club Friday tee times start at noon.
Winter Rules—From now until further notice we will play Winter Rules defined as 6-inch relief, Pick-Clean-Place, no nearer the hole everywhere including the rough.
Local Rules Update—We have added a new Local Rule for The Villages effective immediately. Goose Droppings: If your ball comes to rest on or near a Goose Dropping, and/or that Goose Dropping has adhered on your ball; you are entitled to lift, clean and replace your ball within 6 inches of its original location, with no penalty, and you may move the Goose Dropping to avoid interference.
Fall Maintenance Schedule
Fall Overseeding will continue through the end of November.
Fairway Sand Top-Dressing will start November 4 and continue through late November.
Let’s All Get Together Now—Be a part of our “Culture of Care” and follow these simple Golf Course Etiquette Guidelines…We can all participate in keeping our golf course beautiful by observing these nine simple acts of care:
1. Follow the 90-degree rule (longer hitters) or the Entrance Gates (shorter hitters) when entering the fairway.
2. Drive the cart from shot to shot keeping the cart in the fairway as you play the hole…please avoid driving in the rough as much as possible to maintain the integrity of the rough.
3. Do not drive within 30-feet of the greens defined by the yellow painted ground lines in front of each green.
4. Exit every hole through the exit gates – please do not drive on the mounding around the greens and proceed from hole to hole using the cart paths.
5. Respect any roping, cart directional signs and Ground Under Repair.
6. Fill all divots with sand mix.
7. Repair pitch marks on the greens.
8. Smooth out the sand in the bunkers with the bunker rake and return the rake at a right angle to bunker edge placing the head of the rake in the sand and the handle of the rake on the bunker edge.
9. Knock the sand off your shoes before walking on the green.
Let’s all make it a goal to leave our golf course in better shape than we found it, every time we play.
Tips from the Pro—Punch it Out…How to Keep it Low
The one reality of The Villages golf course is that we have over 900 dense trees surrounding our golf course in some very strategic (for lack of a better term) locations. So what do you do when you find yourself under a tree, forced to hit a low shot under some limbs? A punch shot as we call it is not a shot that anyone ever practices, but it is a shot that we will all face when playing The Villages. Here are some tips:
1. Pick a safe line to punch your ball out on…the more aggressive your line is, the more trouble you can encounter.
2. Choose a club that will stay low enough to pass your obstacle cleanly (like a 3, 4, 5 or 6 iron);
3. Remember that the harder you swing, the higher the ball will go.
4. Play the ball back in your stance with your hands forward.
5. Make sure the clubface is aimed at your escape route.
6. Make a smooth “chipping” type swing with a compact waist to waist motion
7. Remember the key is to get out of the trees and leave yourself a clear approach, so be weary of punching your ball through the other side of the fairway into more trees.
Good luck and try to practice a low punch shot the next time you are at the driving range, it just might come in handy sometime. To sign up for a lesson with me, email ssteele@the-villages.com
Caption: 55 players turn out for successful first annual Glow Ball Night Golf.
