Golf Paradise?

[PrairieParson]

As I am getting closer to retirement, I am looking for a place to retire that has decent affordable golf available. Affordable for me would be under $25 dollars a round. There are some cities/ counties that have nice public courses in this price range. Both Madison and Milwaukee Wi. have nice public golf courses, as well as many nice privately owned but public courses in the area. Amarillo Texas has 4 well maintained public courses.

Does anyone have a recommendation of similar areas in the south, which would allow for a longer golf season?

[flopdarock]

have you ever thought about volunteering as a marshall or starter? i know alot of retirees that do that an play alot of golf for free...
id check out the real estate market on the internet in an area that is abundant with courses/houses in your price range... also in an all year golf weather area

[Golfing Dad]

Where I live the golf courses are in good shape, I can play all year round and it costs $10 for twilight and $8 for super twilight walking. If you walk you can pay $125/month for unlimited golf. Another nearby course is located in a retirement community. It has golf for $29 per month. You pay $8/round for a cart and you also get all the range balls you can hit.
This is in Victorville and Apple Valley California. The only bad part is that once you get off the course, in Victorville the crime is real high and the city council is very incompetent

[kpaulhus]

Florida. Jacksonville says a bit cooler that Tampa and you can get mid day tee times in either city for under $30. I personally think that there are better courses in Jax than Tampa, plus the city is much more laid back. Plus you have year round golf.

[Jcp907]

As I am getting closer to retirement, I am looking for a place to retire that has decent affordable golf available. Affordable for me would be under $25 dollars a round. There are some cities/ counties that have nice public courses in this price range. Both Madison and Milwaukee Wi. have nice public golf courses, as well as many nice privately owned but public courses in the area. Amarillo Texas has 4 well maintained public courses.

Central Florida-Northeast Orlando. Golfnow.com is your friend. Mayfair is 15.00 a round and I play the 11.00 round occassionally (includes cart). Heck, LPGA is 21.00 in the afternoons on the weekend. Check it out with zip 32714 and the Northeast has the best deals.

If considering memberships: Rolling Hills weekday only membership is 200 and includes cart. Errol Estates is 250 or so per month for 6 months, for the entire family and is full boat, including pool, tennis, etc! Several are 2500 a year including cart. Many places have waived the iniation fee.

[ryohazuki222]

Austin, TX is a beautiful city.

City course memberships for seniors are as low as $430 per year, plus only $2 surcharge every time you play. But if you want to ride... carts run a lot at $12.

[Shindig]

Does anyone have a recommendation of similar areas in the south, which would allow for a longer golf season?

Define "The South". I'm pretty sure that the Phoenix/Scottsdale (AZ) area has great resident rates - I looked it up recently. I wish I could remember where that page is. And the weather is beautiful.

Typical liberal society. Low crime here in NC because people know that anyone can legally have a gun on them to defend themselves and their property, the way THINGS WERE MEANT TO BE!

Can we keep politics on the politics threads, please?

[mdl]

Typical liberal society. Low crime here in NC because people know that anyone can legally have a gun on them to defend themselves and their property, the way THINGS WERE MEANT TO BE!

The violent crime rate in NC was exactly the same as in the US overall in 2007, and only about half a percent lower than in CA, which has an urban population more than double the entire population of NC.

[microcrayfish]

If the Southern Hemisphere isn't too far south for you, you could always more here to New Zealand . You can golf all year round and the golf is pretty dirt cheap compared to the U.S., from what I can tell. Joining a club won't set you back more than $700 or so for the vast majority of clubs (that's unlimited golf with no food minimums or anything like that) and green fees rarely get above $30 US. Second highest rate of golf courses per capita in the world doesn't hurt. People seem to think it's a pretty place to look at too.

[cepausm]

I would recommend The Villages. It is just north of Orlando, Fl.

www.thevillages.com

Has quite a few courses.

[kfowler]

If the Southern Hemisphere isn't too far south for you, you could always more here to New Zealand

Yes but aren't most bugs in New Zealand deadly?

Ideal situation is you golf in Michigan during the summer and Florida in the winter. Growing up in Tampa, I never understood why I always saw so many snow birds. After living in Michigan for five years, now I know.

[kafka01]

If i would want to play yearlong i would have second thoughts about Florida - in the summer that is. Isnt it way too hot and humid during the summer months to play golf, unless you are an earlybird, play 18 in the morning and call it a day?

Is there actually such a place where you can golf yearlong in reasonable temperatures? Hawaii should have pretty stable conditions or, how about the humidity?

[ddalet]

As I am getting closer to retirement, I am looking for a place to retire that has decent affordable golf available. Affordable for me would be under $25 dollars a round. There are some cities/ counties that have nice public courses in this price range. Both Madison and Milwaukee Wi. have nice public golf courses, as well as many nice privately owned but public courses in the area. Amarillo Texas has 4 well maintained public courses.

Move to the dominican republic. Safe, cheap. Lots of world class golf course, lots of world class women.

[kfowler]

If i would want to play yearlong i would have second thoughts about Florida - in the summer that is. Isnt it way too hot and humid during the summer months to play golf, unless you are an earlybird, play 18 in the morning and call it a day?

Depends on how much the heat bothers you. Ideally you play early morning but playing in the heat of the day is not bad either. As long as you drink plenty of fluids, you're fine. Walking can be out of the question though.

Funny thing about FL is it's cheaper to golf in the summer than winter.

[kafka01]

Funny thing about FL is it's cheaper to golf in the summer than winter.

Of course it is - i know a guy who just retired down there, but during summer he has no intention of staying and playing golf there and moves to more moderate climates. Thats true for a lot of retirees who can afford it - Florida during Fall/Winter/Spring is splendid, but during summer they know a better place to be - and that makes golf cheaper during summer. But thats true for every golf region with a hot summer climate.

[kennay92]

move to texas or somewhere down here.. we have some nice courses that are cheap. and you get to play year round golf..(if you can handle the summer heat coming from the north)

[uttexas]

Dallas/Ft. Worth has so many affordable public golf courses. I'd say you can play comfortably 300 days a year. July/August you should play in the early morning. January/February can have some prolonged freezing cold snaps every three years or so.

[mctaylor22]

As I am getting closer to retirement, I am looking for a place to retire that has decent affordable golf available. Affordable for me would be under $25 dollars a round. There are some cities/ counties that have nice public courses in this price range. Both Madison and Milwaukee Wi. have nice public golf courses, as well as many nice privately owned but public courses in the area. Amarillo Texas has 4 well maintained public courses.

You want golf paradise? Move to Alabama and play the RTJ courses. Yearly memberships are incredibly affordable and the courses are hands down, some of the best I have ever played. This is coming from a guy who was born, raised, lives, and has played a lot of golf in Texas. Yep, that's where i'm moving--Alabama.