Fenney-ites - feedback on golf cart disconnectedness
 

My first post here. My wife and I are arriving in TV in less than a month and will begin our new home search. I'm wondering if anyone can share thoughts and feedback on living in the Fenney area and not yet being able to get to the rest of TV world by golf cart. We're aware of the plans and the time line for connectivity but wondering if those that have made the jump to Fenney end up feeling like being disconnected is no big deal after all, if it's not ideal but worth the wait, or maybe you feel like you're not a real villager until everything gets connected together?

I don't live in Fenney...............but I think those that do are real villagers.

I do too, and I am getting very protective of nice folks who post on this forum and already live there. They aren't chopped liver.

The way I see it even once the golf paths are connected, it would be a minimum of at east 3 miles to get to 44 and thats only to the Rohan Center....more to Brownwood!!! 3 miles may not sound like much but ...I doubt if you are going to enjoy doing that every day. Highly suggest a gas golf cart!

Really? That was not meant to be derogatory towards anyone. My intent was to ask if people feel like they are able to participate in the full experience while being disconnected by golf cart. It was not to imply that if you live in Fenney you aren't a real villager. That is all I will say about the comment and will not respond to anyone else putting words in my mouth. Maybe we can just start with - if you do not currently live in Fenney, then this post is not directed to you so please don't bother responding. I may be new to this forum but I am not new to forums in general. I'm well aware of the trolls that want to stir up stuff that doesn't exist.

It takes us 48 minutes to get to Lopez by cart. We do it on occasion but driving the convertible is just more fun. We do play golf at grey and red fox once a week, Place in off season is busy. Drive our car down, golf, eat at the grill, walk the path and head home. It’s no different than us driving up to Lopez. We rented from 07 until we bought in 2010.

I think wherever you buy your home you will feel like a villager.

I live in Fenney and would ask you this question. When you golf up north, how do you get to the golf course, assuming you don't live on one? If you choose to golf north of 44 at this time you would get there the same way, your car. There will soon be several more courses down here that you can get to via golf cart and more to come. There are a lot of golfers in The Villages, north and south, that do not own golf carts yet golf on a regular basis. When you get here you will soon realize that to be in Fenney or DeSoto is well worth the wait to have access to the north, who knows you may choose not to go up there once all it built down here. Good luck with your home search wherever you look.

W o w !!!!
 

I'm biting my tongue so hard it's bleeding. I'm getting soooo tired of people bashing Fenney I can't stand it. My answer to you is this, "If you have feelings to the negative about Fenney, stay where you are." That way we will not have our facilities destroyed by over-use. The Putt n Play is getting used VERY much by people driving vehicles, parking everywhere and few golf carts.

Fenney is in the beginning of childhood but will grow up soon enough with ALL the ammenities the Villages expect. Give it time...

I agree, when we purchased in Hillsborough people were bashing us for moving so far south. My wife and I have our individual electric carts and travel all over TV. It's about a 45 minute drive to SS and I suspect it will be similar to Fenney....we are now in the middle. It may be a couple years until we all get connected, but that time will go in the blink of an eye. Those below 44 will always be part of TV, that's why we all moved here. Where you decide to travel and what mode will depend on your individual likes. If I can be so bold, I suspect that those above 466 will be most disconnected since they have the oldest amenities and not near the variety of those below. So a case can be made for both extremes if you want to and it's important to youl

We bought in Fenney back in November 2017 and look forward to the day (coming soon!) when Fenney will be more connected. We plan to move down permanently when we retire in 4 years and in that amount of time we know it’s going to be great no matter where we live. I didn’t take your post as offensive....yes, we are somewhat isolated from the rest of the Villages, but everything develops over time as others have pointed out. We love our Fenney home, the people who live around us, and the amenities coming in the future.
Enjoy your visit...look around...and you’ll find the fit for you!

About seven years ago there was not one single home south of 466A. Now there are miles of them. The Villages doesn't "throw them up" but they have a well organized and choreographed method of building each home, with team following expert team. I don't think it will be long until Fenney is contiguous with the rest of us and they will be proud and glad to be pioneers.

I am proud of them already, but they studied hard to know that buying anywhere in The Villages was a good choice and they wanted new. We did too. Now our next door neighbor has joined the Fenney-ites. This place is amazing and very carefully thought out and constructed and well run. NO. I don't sell homes and have never met any of the Morses, but I would like to shake their hands. Not driving in a golf cart to the extreme northern section is only for awhile for people of Fenney.

Well said, graciegirl!

Great post TommyT! I just posted something similar over on the recommendations for things people would like to see in Brownwood thread. I too am getting tired of all the continual bashing.

Remember when Colony Plaza on 466 A was an isolated location?

I wonder where the next isolated location will be in about 5 years.

The post asking Northerners how they get to their golf course(s) hits the nail on the head.

I am in Fenney and love my neighborhood. Relationships with ones neighbors is more important than a golf cart. I enjoy the people here. We are planning on buying a cart in August, but my main transportation will be my car anyway. There are people down here that work like me. It is nice to be near the main arteries of travel. We are looking forward to the growth. We do not feel disconnected at all and feel blessed to have found such a haven.

After seeing the insert in the paper the other day , about all the stuff coming to the new south area, when completed , why would anyone even want to go to the old villages areas anyway.

We bought in Fenney in January. Will be there for two weeks for Spring Break and move down fulltime in June when I retire. We have been coming to TV for nine years. Have gone to hundreds of open house all over TV. We chose Fenney because it is its own Village at the moment. Does not bother us not being cart connected yet as that means I won't need to but a cart just yet. We have all the amenities that are everyplace else. I do have one issue, Villagers come down and use the putt and play but park in home lots that haven't been developed yet. That is going to be the one big problem in the future.

Fenney is the future of The Villages
 

We bought in Fenney and do not feel disconnected. From our previous home we would have to drive 5-10 miles to get to restaurants or shopping so it feels normal to drive the 4 miles to Brownwood or 8 miles to 466A. Bought a used cart to play golf down here. Each generation of the Villages seems to have improved over the previous one. Fenney is the next generation. Looking forward to new ideas from the Morse family and making new friends to enjoy life.

I live just south of 466A and people acted like it was way too far down back in 2013 when we bought.

Fenney will become as nice as any other village with all it’s own amenities. It is only a matter of time.

Welcome to The Villages, you’re going to love it.

New Amenities
 

Ref. The area above 466 having older amenities. The Villages is in the final process of purchasing 18 acres in District Four. The existing building will be utilized as a Rec. Center. A survey will be taken soon reference amenities to be added. Suggestions so far include a walking-nature trail, platform tennis, play and putt and a "walk in " swimming pool. Not including the Lopez CC pool, we will have seven pools in this district. Eighteen acres is a lot of property available to replicate the newer amenities in Fenney.

We are planning on moving to Fenney. As TV newbies, we probably won't buy a golf cart until it's connected. And having not lived in TV, not a big deal using a car.

We presently live in San Jose, so thinking driving around TV won't be so bad.

I am sorry but this is completely ridiculous and not based on facts.

North of 466 Villages enjoy 5 Championship golf courses and 13 Executive courses. ( Between 466 and 466A there are 4 Championships and 16 Executives, plus lots more people)

All the best full court Tennis clubs are located N of 466 (Glenview, Lopez, Hacienda)

The best and most active softball facilities are also located in the North (Saddlebrook, Buffalo Glen)

The largest entertainment venues are located N of 466 ( Savannah, Sharon, Katie Belles)

The only Polo Fields (which host a lot of great events besides Polo) are located N of 466

The only 2 bowling alleys in TV are located N of 466

The only Woodshop in TV located N of 466

2 dog parks n of 466, there is 1 S of 466 and 1 South of 466A

It might be more helpful if you would give readers actual facts.

Don't wait until all is connected. Your golf cart will be a means of meeting fellow Fenneyites. People will be cruising their neighborhoods and cart kibitzing will be popular.

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It will all be south of 44 soon.

I'm sure there will be golf courses, pools, rec centers etc down there in time, not so sure about POLO Fields, Savannah Centers, Bowling Alleys, Softball Fields, Woodshops etc etc.

The thing is, I can enjoy all these things NOW.

Will Fenney have a corridor for shopping like 441/27? That is one reason why I'm glad I'm in Mallory as it is nice and close to all the shopping. We are also close to the shopping offered on 466.

I'm hoping Fenney will have access to that type of retail and restaurants.

That's your view....there will be a soccer field, RC Boat and Car Course, Several Resort Pools, chip and putt plus putt and pay, additional archery, air gun and softball fields, pistol and rifle range, dog parks and dog activity parks plus others that haven't been announced south of 466A. There are many full court tennis courts, many pickleball courts and platform tennis south of 466A. Cross over 466A and you can add 3 champs and 7 Execs plus the 2 existing and 2 announced execs and 1 champ below 44. More to come. The Woodshope is geat for those that enjoy it but it is inadequate and I know many that have dropped out. I give you the Sharon, Polo and Savannah but again, specialty that is not included in the Amenity Fee and therefore not limited to Villagers. I suspect that as they grow down this way there will be less demand for those in the southern section to spend much time north of 466 as their amenities will be newer and unique.

I don't have a "view" I just look at what exists in reality.

You said this

Originally Posted by JoMar
If I can be so bold, I suspect that those above 466 will be most disconnected since they have the oldest amenities and not near the variety of those below.

Which I proved to be a joke, if you choose to believe that there are more amenities south of 44 that's your problem. It's just not true.

Gentlemen. We did the North vs. South thing before. I think we are all older and wiser than two little ones with lollipops who say, "mine is better". We all believe that where we live in The Villages is the best place in lower Paradise.

The sunrise this morning is magnificent. My view is best. ;)

Read today's paper, Thursday is the grand opening of the newest recreation center in DeSoto it also shows scheduled openings for may other amenities. Going great down here, lots to look forward to and the residents are all new, all looking for new friends and all a joy to be around.

You are dreaming

Part of the joy of living in TV is......it's not yours and mine......it's all OURS. New amenities, old classic amenities, I use and enjoy them all, by car or cart.....so lucky to live here!

I don’t think that anyone was "pitting" North against South.
I think erroneous info was being corrected. No lollipops were involved.

If it was me, I would purchase a preowned home. Fenney may turn out well, and probably will. But, there is so much to still be added to that area down there.

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Actually I heard the preowned homes move the fastest north of 466. Especially those north of Savannah Center. Don't believe me? Then check the lists each week. Their are less homes for sale in that area when you look at the listings.

Not to mention those living north of 466 have that huge reserve fund still intact. They have used this already to update Saddlebrook, El Santiago and now the new Baptist Church property. The last time I looked the fund was around $25 million.

Golden rules
 

“The Golden Rule says, “He who has the gold rules.” Anonymous OP, as you can readily see we have “Spirited discussions” on TOTV at times and many different opinions about many different subjects. That’s fine with most of us as long as it doesn’t get personal. The purchase of a home here in The Villages is a huge investment. We are all individuals from various parts of the Country (World) and backgrounds with different wants, needs and hobbies but first and foremost we are all Villagers. Welcome to TOTV and good luck with your search for a home in the location that suits your lifestyle the best. :wave:

Exactly.

I live in the Brownwood area, however, I rarely use my golf cart because it seems everything I do is so far to the north that it's just easier and less time consuming than the cart. I expect you will find the same living down in Fenney. Fenney is a good 3 to 4 miles from the southern end of TV and another 5 or 6 from the northern end. Brownwood has been open for about 5 years now and still has many many vacant shops, not growing very fast, so you will still need to go to LSL and SS for the busier and "better" town squares. I just got used to the idea that I would not be using my cart as much as I would have liked, and it's really not a big deal. I expect you will find the same.

Thanks to most of you who responded with your feedback without being offended. It never ceases to amaze me how some can find offense from something that had no offensive intent or implication. If my choice of words with respect to "not feeling like a real villager" offended you, then you were probably looking to be offended to start with. As I explained, what I meant by that was related to the full TV experience vs. possibly feeling one isn't getting the full experience because of the temporary disconnectedness. This is something I see as temporary and not a big deal but my wife isn't quite sure she would feel she was having that full experience without being able to hop on a cart and go anywhere TV has to offer. That was the reason for my original question. My wife and I have visited TV many times, as many do before ever becoming residents, so we are quite familiar with many things TV. We are on the younger side of the demographic but are looking forward to becoming villagers soon.

And, no, there is no apology in the above, explicit or implied, because if you took offense to anything in the OP, it's your problem to deal with, not mine to apologize for.