From the Golf Pro 3/13

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!

Upcoming Golf Club Fitting Days 

Callaway – Friday, March 14 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Come try Callaway’s new Elyte Driver, woods and irons. The Elyte is up to 8 yards longer with even more forgiveness than ever. The refined shaping promotes increased speed, while a new AI 10x Face is engineered to optimize spin and speed. And a revolutionary Thermoforged Carbon Crown is built to redefine mass properties in a driver. You have to hit it to believe it! You will be surprised how long and straight this club is. 

Please call the Pro Shop to book an appointment for all fitting days. Staff professionals will be there to help you determine the best club(s) to maximize your performance and lower your scores. 

And remember most of the manufacturers allow you to trade in your old equipment for credit towards your new equipment.

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. 

Bunker Renovation Project

The Front 9 on the 18-Hole Course is now reopened. The Par-3 Course is now reopened. 

Currently, holes #10, #11, #12, #15, and #18 are closed. Depending on the weather, we may be able to reopen holes #10 and #11 this week, but that is to be determined.

The project is being expedited so that we can re-open in April and not affect our major planned events in late April and early May. To accomplish this, there will be times that we deviate from the original plan of only 3 holes closed at one time. Residents and guests will be permitted to play extra holes starting on Hole #1 to accommodate an 18-hole round.

On newly re-opened holes, 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. Let us know if you have any questions.

March Golf Schedule

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

VGC Meeting—The next Villages Golf Committee Meeting will be Thursday, March 13 at 3 p.m. at Montgomery Center. Any Villager is welcome to attend.

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.

Tips from the Pro—Newer is Better!

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. If your clubs are more than 3 years old, you are at a significant disadvantage…Here’s why:

1. Shafts – Today’s shafts are better than former generation shafts because they use higher quality materials, more advanced design features, and are manufactured to tighter tolerances, resulting in greater stability, consistency in performance, and often a better feel, especially for golfers seeking maximum control and distance potential. Modern shafts incorporate cutting-edge materials like high-performance carbon fiber composites with unique resin systems, allowing for better stiffness profiles and improved energy transfer at impact. Modern shafts have more options than ever, especially weight profiles with new lighter weight shafts weighing as low as 35-grams for those who have slower swing speeds and are looking for more distance.

2. Clubheads – 

Larger sweet spot: The new clubs now all have AI enhanced clubfaces with better performance throughout the clubface including a much larger hitting area on the face, meaning even slightly off-center strikes still generate good ball speed and distance compared to older clubs where mis-hits resulted in significant loss of distance and accuracy. 

Advanced materials: Newer clubs use lighter and stronger materials like high-quality titanium, and lighter-weight carbon, allowing for more efficient weight distribution and better club head design for optimal launch and spin. 

Center of gravity: By strategically placing the center of gravity lower and further back in the club head, modern clubs promote a higher MOI resulting in higher launch angles, lower spin and better ball flight consistency, adding up to longer and straighter shots. 

Adjustable features: Most new drivers come with adjustable weights and hosel settings, allowing golfers to customize launch and spin to suit their swing and playing conditions in more ways than ever. 

Aerodynamic design: Modern driver heads are designed with aerodynamics in mind to reduce drag and promote faster club head speed at impact. Let me know how these tips work. To sign up for a lesson with me, email ssteele@the-villages.com