golf cart times
 

Looking to rent for a month there soon to check place out. Looking at a few places in Woodbury. I have already been informed this is a little way from the town squares. What I am trying to find out is how much of a way. Approximately, by golf cart, how long time wise on average would a drive be to Spanish Springs, to Lake Sumter and to Buttonwood. Ultimate goal if I make the move is to live in a more quiet area but only be a short drive from activities. Don't know if that's possible, that's what I am trying to find out. Actually have a list of questions but for now will stick to one per post. Thanks.

If I was looking for a convenient neighborhood but one that was quiet and tucked away, the Village of Winifred would be a good choice. You are literally only minutes away from 466 and shopping and LSL, both within ten minutes by cart. However, whenever I go through that neighborhood it seems so quiet. Woodbury is definitely away from things. Anything north of Savannah Center is getting a bit further from LSL, Brownwood and the rest of the southside. Winifred is very central. I live in the village right next to Buttonwood, in Tamarind Grove. I go to Glenview to play golf and it's 26 minutes by cart to get to Glenview and that's south of Woodbury and I also know a couple of short cuts and don't dally when I drive. You're looking at 45 minutes probably to go to Buttonwood from Woodbury by cart, LSL would 30 minutes.

Here's a map, I centered it on Winifred.

Google Maps

I would recommend renting for a month somewhere more central like Virginia Trace or Caroline that way when you want to explore to the north or south you don't have all that far to go. Maybe by the time you come down the trolleys will again be running and you can take the tours. TV is huge and it will take a lot of time and effort to see it all.

Very familiar with Woodbury, nice area. Times via golf cart, give or take a couple of minutes, would be 20 minutes to Spanish Springs, 25 minutes to Lake Sumter Landing, and 35 minutes to Buttonwood. Good luck : )

Do you mean the Village of Buttonwood or did you really mean the town square at Brownwood? I suspect you meant Brownwood and it takes me about 55 minutes to get there from the Savanah Center area. It takes me about 20 minutes to get to either Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing. So from Woodbury, I would add an extra 10-15 minutes to those times. Getting to either Spanish Springs or Lake Sumter Landing from your location is a nice, enjoyable drive. Getting to Brownwood is do-able, but unless your cart has a really good seat, believe me, you will really enjoy walking around some once you get there!!!!!

I am as far north as you can get in the Villages. We are about 20-25 minutes to Spanish Springs and 30 minutes to Sumter Landing. We are an hour from Brownwood but it is a great ride to get there, we go often. Our area is extremely quiet but we are lucky enough to hear the train which I love. Off the top of my head not sure of the area you are looking but they are all good.

We rent in Caroline, and find it very central for all areas for golf and shopping.
So much so, we now only rent a car for our first months stay, get all 'off camp' stuff done in that month, then use cart only for our remaining stay.
We do the 'Southern Sates' of TV with the car in the first month, then stick to the north for remainder of stay. (much better up there anyway!)
With the crazy prices for car rental these days for us foreigners, save us lots of $$$$$$$!

Have a rental with a golf cart available until at least 1/31 possibly February 28 184
 

I have a rental with a golf cart total turnkey at 1848 Endsley Ct ST.CHARLES the villages sign on garage with info !

Rent 3 different style homes in different areas to get a feel of how big of a house you would like to purchase

On the north side of TV, that's north of Rt. 44, Sumter Landing is about the center of the north side. (The south side is all the area south of Rt. 44.) We live just south of Spanish Springs in a very quiet neighborhood. Just because you live near shopping or a square doesn't mean it isn't quiet. A lot depends if your neighborhood is a cut through for traffic...especially golf carts. We like the Spanish Springs area because I am literally 3 minutes from all the shopping I'd ever want, so I tend to go to the grocery on an "as needed" or "what do we want today" basis. I can get to WalMart and Lowes by cart also. You'll find travel time in a golf cart isn't a big deal once you're here because really, we have all the time in the world...what's the rush? I go everywhere in my golf cart as the preferred transportation method. So from Spanish Springs it's 10 mins to Sumter Landing, and 35 minutes to Brownwood. I can get to any golf course north of Rt. 44 in 35 mins or less.

The houses south of lake LS L are newer built in 2007 or later and require less renovation /maintenance. There are some areas west and south of LSL that are really nice. LSL is our preferred square but Spanish Springs is not far from Sumpter.

I agree anything north of 466 is to far for a golf cart to Brownwood and insane to cross the new bridges south, unless your cart rides like a automobile which none do, and very scary for a battery cart to go that far. Round trip could be nearly forty miles.

Time to town squares
 

You can drive from Woodbury to Lake Sumter Landing in about 20 minutes, 15 without allot of cart traffic. Spanish Springs is about 15 minutes away. Brownwood will take 30-35 minutes. Assuming you are looking for times in a golf cart. There is a lot to be said for staying away from all the crowds and the northern part of The Villages is a nice quiet place to enjoy your vacation. I did it 18 years ago and bought in the north while I was here.

Orange Blossom rental
 

We have a 3/2 rental on an executive golf course very close to Spanish Springs. We are about 15 minutes by cart to Lake Sumter and 50-55 to Brownwood. Rental available April 1, 2021

I live in the village of St James. Halfway between Brownwood and Lake Sumter Landing in a villa. Quiet neighborhood

That's some fast driving in a golf cart. It's 45 min from 466A to Spanish Springs@22 mph

4 years ago when we were looking for rental property, our friends living there advised us to look in what they called the middle earth which is between 466 and 466A which is more central to everything except very far south which has no squares anyway. Above 466 they called the upper earth in the Spanish Springs area and below 466A was referred to as the lower earth being more around the Brownwood area. Now there is a lower, lower earth around Fenny and even a lower, lower, lower earth farther south. This really helped us define the area. We settled on a Patio Villa in Buttonwood, middle earth, and have been very pleased as when not rented we enjoy all TV has to offer. A 15 minute ride to Sumter Sq, around 25 to Spanish Springs and probably about or less the same to Brownwood Sq. I would suggest renting a place for a month, check areas out by car first to get your bearings, then try with the golf cart. Once you get situated, you will determine the area. We have a rental for April in Buttonwood with a 4 seat golf cart with GPS at a reasonable price due to a cancelation from Canadians who cannot get here. Check out property #5034 on VH4R Home Rentals in The Villages Florida The VIllages Rentals and contact me through that site if interested. Good luck to you.

I'd say rent in a couple locations. We bought in Forsyth Villas on the 7th hole of Nancy Lopez with water view. We have four executive courses within 5 minutes by cart. Mulberry Rec with a sport pool are across the street. We also have a Walgreens, Pep Boys, gas, bank and the VA within minutes. We can be out of 'The Bubble' in 30 seconds. The 'Frogs' call this partof TV the 'country'...very quiet and no train noises........

Up north is nice
 

It takes about 20 to 25 minutes from Woodbury to LSL and Spanish Springs. I live up here. But Brownwood is probably an hour or more. I have never gone that far, I would take a car for that trip.

When we first rented and then first purchased we went to the squares quite a bit. But then we found we only went for special events such as a band we like or a particular restaurant. With the pandemic we have not gone at all.

Up here in the north there is less traffic. There are nice rec. centers and pools / pickle ball are not super crowded. Lopez and Glenwood championship golf courses very nearby (both with driving ranges). 4 executive courses also.

Spanish Springs, 15 minutes, Sumter 1/2 hour Brownwood take your car. My brother has a place in Calumet available 2 bedroom, 2 bath. $2800 315278-7016

I'll echo what Garywt said. We are in Briar Meadow - as far north as you can get. It's quiet up here, and much less traffic than in the southern areas. Mature trees and a lack of bugs round out the experience.

While I agree with the draw in Winifred, there can be a lot of traffic as it is a cut-through area for carts. But, the location is certainly more central to the northern area than where we are.

The further south you go, you run into pretty significant mosquitos due to the more prevalent wetlands. If you want gas appliances, many of the central areas north of 44 do not have gas available. If you want a new house, your only option is in the new areas south of 44. Of course, depending on where you go, there is turnpike noise. prison noise, quarry blasting noise. Plus, it will be years before the trees are mature, and there is a major lack of cart-accessible shopping. That will come, but it's taking some time.

In some areas, you will be close to trash dumps and water treatment facilities and that can add interesting aromas depending on the prevailing winds that day.

We looked all over and settled up here in the north. We can make Spanish Springs in 20, Lake Sumter Lansing in 25, and Brownwood in about 55 minutes. If we want to make a quick trip to Brownwood, we jump in the truck, go 42 to 301 and we're there in 20 minutes. In three years here, we've put 15,000 miles combined on our two golf carts, and not counting road trips, less than 15,00 local miles on our truck.

Shop around. Look closely at the different areas. There's no "right" choice as everyone likes different things. But we love it up here on the north end.

I'm in Silver Lake and it's very quiet. Five minutes to Spanish Springs Town Square and about 15 minutes to Lake Sumter Landing.

Hello, and welcome... I live in Pennecamp and it doesn't take me long to get to any of the three squares. Lake Sumter Landing being the closest, then Spanish Springs and Brownwood being the furthest, but not long for either. Enjoy the ride -S

Trolleys
 

I went to the Brownwood sales office the other day for brochures on the trolleys which of course aren't running now and was told they may not be bringing them back at all :(

I am a realtor here and also a Property Manager and I live in Woodbury. It is a little over 20 minutes by Cart to either Spanish or Sumter, Brownwood is 55 minutes. Great area to be out of the confusion and Golf with Nancy Lopez and a number of really good executive courses. A lot of the houses I show and sell up this way are peopl who bought near the Squares and now want to get farther away due to all the activity and crowds especially during the Winter months.

We live in Woodbury and it is mature landscaping, is quiet and very friendly. Takes us 20 min. to Spanish Springs, 25 min. to LSL, and about 55-55 min. to Brownwood.
We love the ride.

My sister and brother-in-law live in Tall Trees. Very close to shopping, back gate, and short distance to Lake Sumter Landing. We have driven to Spanish Springs and Brownwood in the golf cart on our visits there. A friend of their's has a house for sale a few doors down from them. 2255 Welcome Way. It's a very nice 3 bedroom house with many new upgrades.

What you really need with all these suggestions is a map of exactly where is every village. Here's that map.

Location of Every Village Map

Villages locations
 

Virtually all places in The Villages are quiet if you avoid roads, cart paths, and golf course locations near tees and in the range of errant golf balls. But Woodbury is away from everything. Convenience is in the areas like Virginia Trace, Caroline, Sunset Point and nearby locations. But if you are of Baby Boomer age, you may want to look in the Brownwood area and south, especially if you are not in to serious golf. Just my opinion.

Woodbury is perfect to rent not far from Spanish Springs

Just curious. If you were to drive by car to each of these locations, how would the driving times compare to the golf cart rides?

Thanks.

Pine Hills & Pine Ridge is the middle ground between Lake Sumter Landing & Brownwood. 15 minutes

I know you did not ask about farther south, but we live in the Village of Osceola Hills which is just off Morse Blvd and just north of Hwy 44 which separates the "northern section" from the "southern section" of the Villages. By golf cart, which ours does not exceed 20 mph, which we take almost everywhere weather permitting, it takes 52 minutes to get to Lopez Golf, 40 to 42 minutes to get to Spanish Springs, 25-30 to get to Lake Sumter landing, 20-23 to get to Brownwood. Evans Prairie, Bonifay, Belle Glade, and Havanna golf courses are all within 15 minutes. Cane Garden golf, Mallory Hill golf, and Palmer legends within 23 to 32 minutes at 20 mph max. Glenview 43 minutes, Tierra del Sol and Hacienda Hills golf 37 minutes. Orange Blossom golf 44 minutes. Grocery shopping at Lake Deaton Plaza 6 minutes, Pinellas plaza 23 minutes, Colony Plaza 15 minutes. Of course to go to Lowes, Sam's, Walmart on 466 we usually go by car. So look for an area you like; don't necessarily tie yourself in to a single area before arriving. Look at everything. The most important is to get a home/villa in a location you like at a price you think is reasonable. Everything is within reach by golf cart if you plan accordingly. If you plan to go places at a distance by golf cart, make sure you buy one with upgraded seats that provide adequate back support. Standard seat do not provide back support, especially for long trips.

We just bought a house in Winifred for the exact reasons that John W pointed out. Quiet, centrally located to both Spanish Springs and LSL, shopping on 466 and surrounded by golf at Palmer Legends.

South of 466A there are three championship and five executive courses you can reach in 15 minutes or less. Maybe add another five minutes to the Havana champion champion course. Drive time to Brownwood would be similar. LSL would be about 20 minutes.

If you obey the golf cart speed limit of 19 mph, there is no way you can get to Brownwood in less than an hour—plus or minus 5 minutes—from Woodbury.

I think a central area to all squares is within Odell Circle. Largo would be an example of a village that is about equal distance from Brownwood and Spanish Springs. If you like a 15 minute cart ride to any square that would a good area to rent.

Here's a tip. Go to Google Maps and see the time by bicycle (which incorporates the paths). Then take about 2/3rds or 70% of that time as Google assumes a speed for bikes that's slower than carts. I've found that to be pretty darned close. I estimated the time from Sumter square to Rohan rec center and it came out within a minute of actual time.

We have a 3 bedroom 2 bath villa for rent In Creekside Landing... a 5 minute walk from Lake Sumter Landing. You can call us at 352-430-2919 for information and a referral to our online listing.

I saw a house for rent in Mission Hills, just outside Lake Sumter Landing. We have only been here a short time, but centrally located and quiet.