From the Golf Pro 11/28
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 three 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.
Pro Shop Holiday Sale
From December 10 to 24 all merchandise in the Pro Shop will be on sale right here at the Villages Pro Shop! Plenty of Villages logo merchandise for the non-golfers as well including crew neck sweatshirts, shirts and outerwear, and headwear in many styles.
All Holiday Sale Shoppers who spend over $40 will qualify for the Grand Prize with the winner being chosen on the final day of the sale:
Three free rounds of golf plus $50 on your range card!
10 Reasons to do your Holiday Shopping at The Villages Pro Shop:
1. Convenient – Shop while at your home within the Villages gates
2. No long lines – no long waits
3. Fabulous selection of all things golf
4. Exceptional Customer Service
5. Close Parking
6. Sale Lasts two weeks for your convenience
7. 10%-70% Off Sale Items
8. No Shipping Fees
9. Leave with what you want – no waiting for boxes to be delivered to your front door
10. No supply chain disappointments – it’s right here for you
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.
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.
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 started November 4 and continue through late November.
2025 Golf Events Calendar—The 2025 golf calendar of events is now posted and available to view on the Website Resident Portal. Keep in mind that this is a live document and is subject to change – any necessary changes will be updated on the Resident Portal as they occur.
December Golf Schedule
Saturday, December 14 – Men’s Club Holiday Tournament 8:30 a.m. Shotgun – Open Play Shotgun 1 p.m.
Thursday, December 19 – Open Play All Day
Tuesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve – Open Play tee Times 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. – All Golf Facilities Closed at 1 p.m.
Wednesday, December 25 – Christmas Day – Golf Courses, Driving Range, Pro Shop closed all day
Thursday, December 26 – Open Play All Day
Tips from the Pro—Balance the Scales
One of the biggest flaws I see when working with a student on the short game is that the backswing does not match the shot they are hitting. What do I mean by that? When chipping or pitching, the delivery of the club to the ball and the resultant trajectory and spin are all direct results of the backswing. When greenside chipping (aka chip and run), we use a one lever backswing meaning no wrist hinge…so the backswing is a wrist free hip to hip motion with minimal vertical lift of the club (like a putting stroke). This allows the ball to come off low with less backspin and more forward roll. When pitching a mid-length shot, the backswing is necessarily longer, incorporating a slight break of the wrist with more vertical lift of the club (waist high). The club must swing back longer with the wrist hinge lever added so that there is more speed created to get the ball airborne with a higher trajectory and more spin. The biggest mistake I see is the use of a one lever chipping motion to pitch it high…it simply does not work because one lever does not create enough speed to get the ball spinning and into the air. So the result is a flip to gain speed on the downswing and contact becomes thin and scathing instead of covering and compressing. Finally when hitting a longer pitch or a pitch over a bunker or stream, the backswing needs to be even longer with even more wrist hinge and vertical lift of the club (shoulder high). So when trying to hit a long pitch, do not inhibit the backswing, let it go. It is not full swing length, but very close. Stay still on the backswing and swing the club back nice and long. Be sure to hit down on the ball and brush the turf. And lastly, rotate your body and shoulders on the through swing to expose your body to the target. Finish on your left side with your body facing the target. To sign up for a lesson with me, email ssteele@the-villages.com