Security of golf carts
 

We are coming for a visit and will be renting a golf cart for about a week, staying at the Brownwood Hotel. Wanted to get some advice on whether we should get a locking device for the golf cart when leaving it overnight or going to a restaurant for an extended period of time with no visibility. Something like the club that goes through the steering wheel and the frame of the cart? Thanks, any advice is greatly appreciated.

Assume you will have insurance to cover the liabilities. Honestly, while there is the occassional cart theft but it is extremely low. Don't know about the hotel, but we have been here almost 6 years, have two carts, take them everywhere and depending where, they sit for hours. We found best security is to take your keys with you.

Ok, thanks for the advice. Very good to hear that.

Yes, take the keys................but most cart keys are interchangeable. And any nickel criminal can cross two wires to get a cart started.



Who R U renting from??..............The Villages??............not the most desirable cart to steal.


Ask the hotel what their history has been with issues.



Low crime around here, but there is always a chance.


Enjoy.

The hotel says they have 24/7 security. Appreciate the feedback.

You will have no problems going to LSL by cart. SS is going to be a hike. Lopez is a destination. But if you plan on buying in Brownwood area taking a drive north is not a big deal. GPS on phone works well. If you get lost someone will help. Take your time, enjoy

:coolsmiley:
I say, go to each town square with a golf cart.......enjoy the journey.
Be sure to get off the main streets and head into Villages.
Just don't poop in anyone's yard..........it's frowned upon by some.

Verify you have insurance coverage, especially liability. This has been a grey area on rental carts in the past, may be different now.

Isolated? 25 minutes from LSL, 10 minutes from a bunch of executive and championship golf courses, regional and neighborhood pools, pickleball and tennis and shuffleboard. Bluefin, City Fire, Gators, Too Jays for food. How is that isolated?

Do not know the answer but you could bring a chain and lock from home and use it on the steering wheel. My guess is you will not have a problem, although I once started to drive away in the cart next to mine. The keys are generally universal.

If you're talking about the new hotel, I was by there last week and golf carts aren't allowed access to the hotel.

Cart parking
 

Ask the hotel what security they have. Ask TV cart rental what insurance they have. They should have something in place.

While here invest 8 bucks into The Villages GPS App as it has all the restaurants, shops, squares as well as the golf courses and is as accurate as regular GPS, and you don’t have to put an address in as the places you may want to go to are already programmed. Hope while you’re here the entertainment opens up. Enjoy!

It's not. I'm 5 minutes away and I live in the best location in TV.
(& there are 1,000 best locations in TV)
We could have picked any where in TV & we selected this location.


:ho:

we often leave valuables in our rented cart just to test villager's residents/guests/transients/daily laborers' honesty - will test brownwood next month
interesting note re 24/7 security - that suggests whoever's watching the monitors has the largest bladder in human history

We're not in Atlanta any more Toto.

We had an incident when we rented a golf cart during one of our visits, prior to buying. I came out of the supermarket to get into my cart, and it wasn't there. I got in touch with the golf cart store, told them what happened. They had me look around the lot for another rental cart nearby and I saw one just a couple of spaces and one aisle away from mine, in a nearly empty lot. They got in touch with the renter of THAT one, who reported that they were driving their rental - which turned out to be mine.

After a harrowing hour, with ice cream melting in the bags (Winn Dixie kindly replaced them), the other renters returned and we switched carts.

What I've learned from the experience:

If you leave your golf cart somewhere, put something in the scorecard clipboard to identify the cart as yours. Nothing that can actually identify YOU personally... but something that someone else will see and think "hm - that's not mine." Maybe a bright orange post card that says "Jimbob's Cart" or a score card from any golf course with all 9s in each score box (no one will forget that this isn't their's, I promise!), or a business card of some company in the state you're visiting from.

Agreed, and the villages app gps directions can be in a car, a cart, or walking. You will find that important as each requires a different route.

The people who bought a home near Brownwood are isolated. Someone should tell them.

Some people have such strange hobbies.

You will not be isolated from TV proper. The golf car paths extend from Brownwood all the way up to Sumter and well beyond. We've driven the path from Sumter to Brownwood. The only direction they can't go is South across 44 and the Turnpike. Not yet at least.

We have been there twice in our golf cart. I think you are mistaken...

Buy insurance, it's much less hassle.

Are you looking to buy a home? We are listing our house this week.
1017 Dentsville Lane in the village of Largo. Good luck to you.

Check with your car insurance to see if they will cover.

That is a new situation. I went to the women's expo shortly after the hotel opened and went by golf cart and I drove my golf cart. I wonder why the hotel would stop golf carts from parking there now??

I've never heard that to be a problem but best ask the golf cart Place make sure it's covered and the hotel where's a good place to leave it at night

You leave articles as bait in your golf cart . Hmmmm very interesting how some people’s minds work ( strange hobby)

Reference to note about Brownwood Hotel golf cart access:

Absolutely incorrect. Follow the path on the outside around the bunglows towards the hotel - you'll see a crossover to the hotel parking lot. This gives golf cart access to the hotel and the medical center.

I invested $10, and about 30 minutes and changed the key switch to a uniquely keyed automotive ignition switch, this will at least slow down a thief. It also has the advantage of having an accessory position that can be used for a radio.

Don't know how you got that idea. Carts can easily access the area.

From Brownwood, take Brownwood Blvd and cross Powell Road (must use the tunnel) to get to Traverse Plaza. Drive to Flippers Pizza at the end of the Plaza, and then cross the road (Leland Lane) to the hotel's parking lot. Easy.

Same route to access the new Medical Center next to the hotel.

Do you honestly think the Developer would build a hotel and a prime medical center without golf car access?

Rent the cart and enjoy. I think it's the only way to experience TV. A lot of good advise here. I would personally suggest you ignore the one negative poster here. Haven't seen anything from that person that is remotely positive.

Been here 14 yrs never a problem. But as the previous comment said you will be in a newer more remote area and there a little more accessible . Check with rental company for insurance . Should be cheap to insure .

I would cancel my reservation at the Brownwood hotel and try one of the villages lifestyle reservations as it's very inexpensive and comes with the golf cart included in the nightly price for about $100 a night total. This gives you a beautiful full courtyard Villa house to use which gives you a kitchen and privacy as it is fenced in. It is in the same general area as the Brownwood hotel as right next to Brownwood square. It's a much better deal than staying at the hotel and you'll have neighbors who can give you suggestions of things to do etc. My cousin and his wife stayed there recently and said it was a fabulous deal and a very nice home. Good luck

Yes, you should.
My sister and brother in law had theirs stolen right out of restaurant parking lot while they were inside.
Never recovered.
It can't hurt to take precautions and avoid the hassle of finding it stolen, dealing with police and resulting paperwork.
Good luck!

You will not be isolated To Brownwood you can get anywhere north in the villages and when the bridges are done you’ll be able to get south to Fenney. It slow and relaxing and a great way to travel and see everything

I thought I read someplace that Lifestyle visits would not be taking place until the Fall due to the virus thing. Anyone else hear something similar or did I dream it?

kathy

I think you dreamed it....have friends doing a visit the end of June....at least as of last week. I guess that could change but for now, seems they are good to go.