Women’s 18-Hole Invitational in June!
The 2025 Women’s 18-Hole Invitational is June 18, 19, 20 – the golf course and some practice areas will be CLOSED at certain times – see schedule below and please plan accordingly – Thank you for your cooperation!
Wednesday, June 18
Women’s 18-Hole Association Invitational Horserace 3:30 p.m. – Last Tee Time on the 18-Hole Course 12 p.m.
Thursday, June 19
Women’s 18-Hole Association Invitational Round 1
18-Hole Course closed all day – Practice Putting Green closed until 1 p.m.
Driving Range closed until 10 a.m.
Friday, June 20
Women’s 18-Hole Association Invitational Round 2
18-Hole Course closed until 3 p.m.
Driving Range closed until 10 a.m.
June Golf Schedule
Wednesday, June 11 – Twilight Nine & Dine 4 p.m. Front-9 Shotgun – 1st Tee closed 2 p.m. – Back-9 Open All day
Saturday, June 14 – Men’s Club Summer Open 8am Shotgun – Open Shotgun 1 p.m.
Friday, June 27 – Twilight Mixer – 9-Hole 4:30 p.m. Shotgun + Dinner – Last available 18-Hole Tee Time 12 p.m.
Sunday, June 29 – 8 a.m. Open Shotgun – 1pm Alano Charity Tournament 18-Hole Course closed at 1 p.m.
Pedestrians on the Golf Course
Monday walkers…the following Mondays in July will have golf play prohibiting walking at regular times:
Monday, July 21 – the course closed for walkers from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
4th Of July Celebration
To celebrate Independence Day 2025, along with the fabulous party at the Clubhouse, we will be hosting a golf Putting Contest as well as Closest to the Hole contests for those that play golf that day.
There will be a four-hole putting contest on the practice green with complimentary prizes for the winners donated by the Pro Shop. The putting contest will run from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
There will also be Closest to the Hole contests on Holes #4 & #11 for Members & Guests who play golf that day with complimentary prizes donated by the Pro Shop.
Summer “Couples” Invitational – Mark Your Calendars!
Be sure to save the date for our 2nd annual Summer Couples Invitational! Sunday, August 3 at 1 p.m. Shotgun
4-Some teams – 2 Net Best Balls
4-Some Teams must consist of 2 Villagers and 2 Guests (all players must have an official USGA Handicap)
Pairs can be man-woman / woman-woman / man-man or any combination as such.
The day will include golf and a banquet awards dinner after golf with lots of prizes!
Entry fee TBD includes: green fees, cart fees, range fees, 1 free drink, banquet dinner and prizes.
Signup starts soon so get your team together! Let’s have some fun!
Junior Camps are back—sign up now!
Back by popular demand we will be hosting Junior Camps again this summer. Here are the July dates and times for the junior camps.
July 14-17 Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
July 21-24 Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Cost is $380 per Junior per camp…Call the Pro Shop at (408)-274-3220 extension #1 to sign up.
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. Do your best to push the rake instead of pulling the rake …we don’t want the new sand to build up on the edges of the bunkers.
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.
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
New Taylor Made Qi35 Drivers-Fairways-Hybrid—used by Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Colin Morikawa
Take your game to the next level with new 2025 technology to maximize your distance and accuracy!
Tips from the Pro—Tips for Playing the New Bunker Sand from the Greenside Bunkers
As the new bunker sand will take time to settle to its preferred payable depth, the sand will seem a bit deeper and thicker than you might be used to. Here are some tips for playing out of thicker and deeper sand around the greens:
1. You do not want the leading edge of the club to enter the sand first as that will cause the club to dig too deep into the sand and you will have trouble getting the ball out. So, open the clubface by rotating the grip on your hand clockwise until the clubface lays flat – imagine being able to stand a glass of wine on the clubface. Open the club face much more than you are used to. Also, as you swing back rotate the club open even more by rotating your hands to the right on the backswing. This will ensure that the sole of the club touches the sand first at impact and the club should bounce and glide through that sand without digging too deep.
2. Avoid swinging too steeply as again a steep angle of attack will cause the club to dig too deep. Instead swing the club back and through on a shallower angle. On the backswing keep your wrists quiet and keep the club low to the ground. Imagine a long “U” shaped swing instead of a steep “V” shaped swing. This will shallow your divot and help lift the ball out easier.
3. Don’t dig your feet in too deep. We’ve all been told to dig our feet in the sand for stability. But in deep, thick sand, we can sometimes dig our feet in too deep which lowers our center of gravity too much causing thin and fat shots. So step into your stance and just make a couple wiggles with your feet in the sand, being mindful to not dig in too deep.
4. On longer bunker shots employ the “chunk and run” technique. Take a club with less loft like a Gap Wedge or a Pitching Wedge. Move the ball a bit more forward in your stance. Focus on a spot 3-4 Inches behind the ball instead of the standard 2-inches. Swing the club firmly into that spot and it should come out lower with more roll. There is not much follow-through needed with the chunk and run technique. 5. If your ball buries in the sand, then keep the clubface square and do not roll it open. This will allow the club to dig under the ball and lift it out. It is also helpful to increase your grip pressure when your ball is buried as it will take a bit more force to get it out. To sign up for a lesson with me, email ssteele@the-villages.com
