🌅 Happy Monday, Villagers! Whether your week starts with golf, music, or a quiet lakeside walk, we’ve packed this edition with stories and happenings to inspire. Dive in and make your plans. On this day in 1982, the first CD player went on sale in Japan, changing how we listened to music forever again. (Perfect timing for our music poll!)

📨 If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here.

Let’s dive in.

— Kevin Rogers, Publisher

Poll Of The Week

🎵 Let’s settle an age-old debate! Music has been the soundtrack of our lives, from sock hops and jukeboxes to disco balls, Walkmans, and beyond. Everyone swears their decade had the best tunes — but which era truly rocked the hardest?

👉 Cast your vote below and see where your neighbors stand — results in Thursday’s edition!

Whether you were twisting to Chuck Berry, swaying at Woodstock, moonwalking to Michael, or blasting Nirvana on your CD player, one thing’s for sure — Villagers know how to keep the beat alive. Hit reply if you’ve got a personal favorite artist or concert memory worth sharing!

💡 P.S. Our most popular polls have come straight from your ideas. Got a fun question the whole community would love to weigh in on? Hit reply and send it my way — your suggestion might be next week’s headline poll!

The Championship Courses of The Villages

A Villages Pulse Multi-Part Feature Series

Chapter 5 – Palmer Legends & Cane Garden: Golf Goes Big-Time

The early 2000s marked a new level of ambition. The Villages partnered with none other than Arnold Palmer to design and brand a championship course. When Palmer Legends opened in 2004, it offered 27 holes with names tied to Palmer’s career: Riley Grove, Cherry Hill, and Laurel Valley. The King himself visited The Villages, creating a wave of excitement that cemented the community’s national status.

Not long after, Cane Garden Country Club opened, featuring another 27 holes and a Key West–style clubhouse. With its wide fairways, palm trees, and water hazards, Cane Garden felt like a tropical getaway. It quickly became a favorite for both golf and dining.

This was the period when championship courses evolved from “great amenities” into signature experiences. Palmer Legends wasn’t just golf — it was pride, prestige, and a direct link to the sport’s heritage, not to mention an elevated fine dining experience.

Quick Stat: By 2005, The Villages had more than 300 holes of golf, earning its first mention in Golf Digest as “the world’s largest golf community.”

Miss earlier chapters? Read them here: Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4

Open House of The Week

🏡 Glenview Golf Course Living

• 💰 $?? GUESS THE PRICE! | NO BOND

• 🛏️ 3 Bed | 🛁 2 Bath | 📐 2,044 Sq Ft

• 🏌️‍♂️ Panoramic Glenview Golf Course Views (no cart path!)

• 🌞 Huge 46x19 Lanai with fountain & stacking sliders

• ✨ Updates: Roof 2020, Paint 2022, Water Softener 2021

• 📍 Village of Belle Aire — minutes to Glenview Country Club

📅 Open House:

• Thu, Oct 2 | 11 AM – 1 PM

• Sat, Oct 4 | 11 AM – 1 PM

👉 Luxury, privacy & golf course lifestyle all in one!

SPONSORED BY NOVA FILTERS

Florida water doesn’t have to smell like a swimming pool.

Tired of hard water stains and that chlorine smell? Nova Filters, a family- and veteran-owned company run by a Villager, is the go-to choice for cleaner, fresher water in thousands of local homes—including many Villages Pulse readers.

I had my Nova 3-stage whole house filter installed over a month ago and absolutely love the difference! My water tastes clean, smells fresh, and feels so much better on my skin. I’ve received so much positive feedback from Pulse readers who also took advantage of the deal back in July!

Their whole house filters, water softeners, and reverse osmosis systems make every tap taste like bottled water. With free professional installation, transparent pricing online, and a perfect 5.0 Google rating, it’s no wonder customers rave about them.

👉️ Get $24 OFF Today!

👉️ Call the main office at (352) 566-2649—and mention “Villages Pulse” to get $24 off your quick, hassle-free professional install. Act fast for earliest install appointment.

🌿 Villages Walk of the Week

Black Lake Park Walking Trail

Tucked just off Buena Vista Boulevard, Black Lake Park feels like a hidden pocket of calm inside The Villages. The trail loops around a small lake framed by towering oaks and cypress, with benches along the way if you want to pause and watch the waterfowl. It’s a fairly short walk — 30 to 45 minutes at an easy pace — but the peaceful scenery makes it feel like a getaway. Locals say it’s best in the early morning when the light hits the water and the birds are most active. If you’re looking for a quick walk that still feels like nature, this is one of the easiest, most accessible spots around.

🩺 Screening Spotlight

Sponsored By Life Line Screening

Villages Pulse Reader Elizabeth shared this with me recently: “I did not see your poll on carotid artery screening but everyone should do it. I did and it saved my life. I had 97% blockage. Just saying it can make all difference. That was in 2013!!!”

PSA Test: Prostate Cancer Screening for Men

A debated test, but worth knowing about

The PSA blood test measures prostate-specific antigen, which may signal cancer, or BPH, prostate enlargement. It’s not perfect—false positives happen. It’s not always about the number, but the changes in the number over time.

✅ Who should consider it: Men 50–70, or earlier with family history.

👉 Where/Who/Prescription: Ordered by a doctor, done at labs or clinics. Prescription required for insurance coverage.

💡 Takeaway: Talk with your doctor about risks and benefits before testing.

Upcoming Events

Want a Featured Event with a poster/image? Reach out.

Heartland Roadshow Gold and Silver | Hampton Inn | Sep 30 - Oct 4 | Details

Shirley’s Senior Hold’em Tourney | Oxford Downs | Today | 11:15am | Details

🏌️‍♀️ Ladies Basics of Golf | Palmer | Sep 30 | 9 am | Details 

Joaniefit Kickboxing | Sawgrass | Wed Oct 1 | 9 am | Details

🎨 🍷 Paint & Sip | Legacy | Thu Oct 2 | 12 PM | Details

🏌️ Full Swing Clinic | Palmer | Sep 30 | 10:30 pm | Details

 🏌️‍♀️ Ladies Only Full Swing Clinic | Palmer | Oct 1 | 1:30 pm | Details

Jukebox Bingo benefitting Dollars For Scholars | Eisenhower Rec | Sep 30 | Tix

Fall Craft Show | Various Rec Centers | Oct 4 | 9 am - 2pm | Details

🖼️ Fine Art Society Exhibit | Seabreeze Rec | Oct 4 | 4pm | Details

11th Annual Orchid Gala | Savannah Center | Oct 4 | Details + Tickets

Gypsy: A Musical Fable | Savannah Center | Oct 14 - 16 | Details/Tickets

🐾 Fore Paws" Golf Classic benefiting Humane Society of Sumter County | Oct 24 | Register

Have an event you want to announce to 7,300+ local Villagers? Email us the details and a link to [email protected]

Live Music Lowdown

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thanks!

Thanks for reading, Villagers! If you enjoyed today’s edition, hit forward and share it with a friend — that’s how our community grows.

P.S. Want to get your business in front of 7,300+ local Villagers? Reach out here.