A HISTORY OF GOLF IN THE VILLAGES COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON The Villages would not be the same without golf, and there have been many events that have helped shape the game here in Florida's Friendliest Hometown. Since the very first golf course opened in The Villages in 1985, there has been a slew of exciting events and grand openings that have attracted golfers from all around the world. Celebrity visits, televised championships and millions of rounds - golf has a long and storied history in The Villages that has all led to it being a center point of The Villages experience today. Let's take a look back and revisit some of the highlights. The Villages founder, Harold Schwartz, enjoys a round of golf at the original Orange Blossom Hills Country Club in the mid-1980s. MAGAZINE 31