From the Golf Pro 2/6

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 Elye 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!

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 Three.

Holes #4, 5, 8 are now re-open and Holes #6, 7 are now closed. So you will be playing 16 holes.

On Holes #1, 2, 3 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 re-opened sod around the bunkers on Holes #1, 2, 3.

On Holes #4, #5, #6 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.

Posting Golf Scores—Although we will not be playing a complete 18-hole round of golf, posting scores will still be required during the duration of the Bunker Project per the USGA/NCGA protocols for maintaining a valid handicap…Golfers will need to post their scores on the USGA/GHIN App/Website or via the Villages Posting Computer in the Posting Room as such:

1. Hole by Hole Posting will be required – you cannot use the Total Score Option for posting scores for the duration of the project.
2. Post your score for each of the holes played that day and leave the holes not played blank.
3. The USGA Handicap algorithm will automatically fill in the holes not played to derive an “18-Hole” score for your record.

The Pro Shop Staff will be more than happy to assist you with posting scores during the project. Stop by the Pro Shop if you need any assistance at all.

February Golf Schedule
Saturday, February 8 – Men’s Club President’s Tournament 8:30 a.m. Shotgun – Open Play 1 p.m. Shotgun.
Monday, February 17 – President’s Day Holiday – 7:30 a.m. Tee Times – Driving Range Open all day.

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.

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

Roped Off Areas on Golf Course—There are several roped off areas in the fairways on the golf course due to saturated turf, specifically on Holes #1, #9, #12 and #16. The intent of the roping is to keep cart traffic off of these wet areas. These areas are not Ground Under Repair. So you must play your ball from within the roping. Please park your cart outside of the roping perimeter and play your ball as it lies, applying the 6-inch relief for Winter Rules. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mark Your Calendars for a great 2025—Remember to save the dates for this year’s major golf events. These are sure to be memorable events and lots of fun; and you do not want to miss them!

Swingers Exchange Day April 22 and September 23

Men’s Club Member-Member May 2, 3, 4

18-Hole Women’s Handicap Tournament May 8, 15, 22

18-Hole Women’s Invitational June 18, 19, 20

Men’s Evergreen Invitational July 10, 11, 12

Couples Invitational Sunday, August 3

18-Hole Women’s Member-Member August 14, 21

Men’s Club Championship September 13, 14, 20, 21

18-Hole Women’s Club Championship September 11, 18

Friday Twilight Mixers May 30, June 27, July 25, August 22, September 19

Glow Ball Night Golf – Friday, November 7 – Par-3 Course

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!

Tree Trimming— There is some necessary tree trimming being conducted on the golf course on Holes #6 and #7. Please be aware and safe and not enter any safety zones or roped off areas.

Tips from the Pro— Speed is Key…Hit your Lag Putts Close

How often do you hit your approach shot inside 10 feet? Or even inside 20 feet? Yet when I watch our golfers practice putting, they rarely work on lag putts of 30 feet or more. Think of your last round of golf and how many putts you had of 30 feet or more. I bet it was at least nine. So work on lag putting as much as anything else in your game and you will shave strokes.

Tips from the Pro—Left Knuckles Down

Take a look at the picture below…this is an example of what the hands should do at impact. If you slice the ball, you have trouble with an open clubface at impact like the red paddle on the left…

To eliminate that slice, you should strive to finish with your left knuckles down like the black paddle on the right. Try this more aggressive hand and forearm rotation through impact and watch your ball straighten out and sail down the middle of the fairway. Let me know how these tips work.To sign up for a lesson with me, email ssteele@the-villages.com