The Villages tore down the Hacienda Hills Country Club taking away the restaurant and watering hole enjoyed by golfers and the community alike, then replaced it with a pro shop without food and beverage services. Now they want to close the restaurant and bar at Tierra Del Sol Country Club without proposing any ideas and solutions for golfers and the community to enjoy refreshments at that location.
It was bad enough that they removed food and beverage services at Hacienda Hills, leaving staff the only option to recommend Tierra Del Sol as an eating and drinking option for golfers and the community, now that option is being taken away.
When suggestions were made for Hacienda Hills, to offer a beverage cart which would offer sandwiches and drinks, or a hot dog stand, or even a food truck, those ideas were cast aside. Now that the restaurant at Tierra Del Sol is closing, maybe a joint solution should be considered, like rotating food trucks for both Hacienda Hills and Tierra Del Sol.
The Villages has created a void for both championship courses yet offers no solutions. Yes, offering alternative food and beverage services at these two locations would make them “different” from other Championship Courses in The Villages, but by removing the restaurants at both locations The Villages has done just that, made them “different”. We need to think outside the box to make these courses what golfers expect for The Villages.
What people tend to forget is that the restaurants at these locations served not only the golfers playing these two courses, but also players from nearby executive courses looking to relax after finishing their rounds.
Don’t take away what the community has grown to expect, instead, step up with solutions.
Wayne Bentley is a resident of the Village of Orange Blossom Gardens.