To the Editor:
I understand the unfairness argument over the priority membership and am sympathetic having been single for a few years. However, it is a fact of life that couples get breaks in many, many places. A single person always pays more. The trail fee, cruises, holidays etc. are just some examples. Being a bit of a cynic though, complaining will probably result in one of two things happening. Either the developer or whoever is in charge of setting the trail fee will do nothing or they will cut the breaks for couples and make everyone pay the same as a single person. It was a similar situation with the learning center. A few people complained and killed it for everyone.
Many people who always had priority membership now do not take it out. You have to play a lot of golf just to break even. If you fall ill of are away for an extended period, it becomes difficult to play enough to break even. Unless you want to play men’s or ladies day, is priority membership still a good deal. I doubt it for most people.
On another note, I think golf in The Villages is getting too expensive for a lot of people, particularly in the fall and most especially in the winter season. There are deals to be had and clubs to join that makes golf cheaper outside of The Villages at these times. Wouldn’t it great if the overall cost of golf outside of the summer season was made more attractive to keep people playing The Villages courses and supporting the country club restaurants. Instead of potentially killing discounts for couples with no benefits to singles, why not campaign against the cost of golf in The Villages which would benefit everyone. Wasn’t Harold Schwartz’s dream to have country club living for everyone? Winter golf in The Villages seems to be heading towards being the domain of the wealthy.
Mike Tomlinson
Village of Palo Alto
