From the Golf Pro 2/20
New Demos available now in the Pro Shop!
New Cobra DS Adapt Drivers-Fairways-Hybrids…Used by Max Homa, Rickie Fowler and Lexi Thompson
New PING G440 Drivers-Fairways-Hybrids…used by Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala
New Callaway Elyte Drivers-Fairways-Hybrids…used by Xander Schauffele, John Rahm and Rose Zhang
Take your game to the next level with new 2025 technology to maximize your distance and accuracy!
Also coming soon – the new Tayor Made Qi35!
2025 Golf Club Fitting days—2025 is an astounding year for new golf clubs. The new technology in this year’s equipment is unequivocally the best it has been in years. The new clubs all have AI enhanced clubfaces with better performance throughout the clubface. And they all boast higher MOI with higher launch and lower spin characteristics which leads to more distance. We have scheduled Fitting Day opportunities for you to get fit for your new clubs. And remember most all of the manufacturers allow you to trade in your old equipment for credit towards your new equipment.
Here are the 2025 Fitting days for your reference:
Cobra – Sunday, March 9 + Sunday, May 18
Callaway – Friday, March 14 + Thursday, June 5 + Friday, September 12
Taylor Made – Friday, April 11 + Friday, June 6 + Friday, August 8
Ping – Friday, April 18 + Friday, September 5
All fitting days will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. – call the Pro Shop to book an appointment.
Bunker Renovation Project—The construction team will be working each week (weather permitting) Monday-Saturday.
The project is moving along nicely. We have now transitioned to Phase Four.
Holes #6 & #7 are now re-open and Hole #9 is now closed. So you will be playing 17 holes starting on #10.
Par-3 Course Holes #1-#5 are closed…play will be limited to only Holes #6, #7, #8 & #9.
On Holes #4, #5, #8 the new bunkers and surrounds are now open and will no longer be Ground Under Repair. Please try not to lock or spin your cart wheels on the newly reopened sod around the bunkers on Holes #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8.
On Holes #6 & #7 the bunkers and the surrounding new sod are roped off as Ground Under Repair. If your ball comes to rest in any of these areas, please do not play from within the marked GUR, but instead take relief at your nearest point, no nearer the hole with no penalty. We appreciate your cooperation as we need to allow the new sod to root in before we can play on it. Let us know if you have any questions.
March Golf Schedule
Saturday, March 8 – Men’s Club St. Patrick’s Tournament 8am Shotgun – Open Play Shotgun 1 p.m.
Saturday, March 15 – 18-Hole Women’s Saturday Cha, Cha, Cha Tournament – 8 a.m. Tee Times
Saturday, March 22 – Korean Club 12 p.m. tee times
Daylight Savings Time starts Sunday, March 9. The last tee time each day will move to 5 p.m. On Mondays the shotgun will move to 12 p.m. and the Driving Range will stay open until 3 p.m. On Tuesdays the Swingers 9-Hole Shotgun will move to 8:45 a.m.
Spring Aeration in March—We will be aerating the greens on the 18-Hole course on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18.
Nine holes on the Front 9 will be available at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 17.
The Swingers will have a 9 a.m. Shotgun on Monday, March 17 on the Front 9.
The Shonis will play the Par-3 Course at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, March 17.
Both Golf Courses, Pro Shop, Driving Range and all practice greens will be closed on Tuesday, March 18.
The Par 3 Course will be closed on Wednesday, March 19 for greens aeration.
Sand Top-Dressing in Rough—There are some areas on the golf course on which we are using the old sand removed from the bunkers to top-dress some bare rough spots. Please treat those areas as an Abnormal Ground Condition and take relief at the nearest point, plus one club-length, no nearer the hole with no penalty.
New Local Rule – Please be Advised
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.
Winter Weather and Daily Golf Course Conditions—Remember that at this time of year, weather becomes a daily factor and the resultant golf course conditions can affect play. Some things to be aware of are potential frost delays if it’s cold, potential cart paths only status if conditions are wet and rainy, and in extreme weather or wind conditions course closure if a storm creates an unsafe atmosphere to play in (rare but not impossible).
Please call the Maintenance Hotline at 408-223-4663 each day for an update on golf course conditions
And remember that the flag at the driving range will indicate the golf course status for the day:
Green Flag = Open for Play
Yellow Flag = Frost Delay
Red Flag = Carts on Paths Only
Black Flag = Golf and Practice Facilities Closed
Please Check in for Golf—Please remember to check in to the Pro Shop when you play golf. It is often difficult for the Pro Shop staff to see all the players who are teeing off on the first hole of the day. This is especially true now that we are starting play from Hole #10 during the Bunker Renovation Project. Checking in can be as simple as poking your head into the Pro Shop and saying hello. Checking in helps us immensely to know who is here in each group. And checking in especially helps mitigate billing errors. So please let us know you are here and ready to go play some golf, we always enjoy seeing you!
Tips from the Pro— Dance like Elvis!
Remember how Elvis Presley used to dance…up on his toes with his legs moving back and forth. Well this is not a bad image for the golf swing and what the lower body does. How often do you see a tour player finish the swing flat footed? The answer is never. A tour professional always finishes the swing on his/her right toe (left toe for left handers). And during the swing, their legs are moving and their feet are active. Sometimes their feet are even off the ground at impact ala Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler. This action provides leverage and ultimately more distance. So remember if your legs are stiff and inactive; try to activate them. Let the weight go right to left and follow the motion of the club. If you lack turn, lift you left heel on the backswing like Jack Nicklaus and Bryson DeChambeau. And always finish your swing up on your back toe!! I guarantee you will see improved contact and distance. Let us know how this works…Let me know how these tips work. To sign up for a lesson with me, email ssteele@the-villages.com