Groceries and Golf Carts
 

Hello,
I have been researching The Villages as a place to relocate to. I am recently widowed, in my early 60s, and looking for a fresh start in a different part of Florida (I'm currently living in SW Florida). I love that golf carts are a primary way of getting around the area, but my question is about going grocery shopping at the supermarkets. I'm not that familiar with golf carts (nope - not a golfer here) but was wondering if they have a storage area or someplace to put your groceries in while you drive back home. Or do most people just drive their car to the markets and keep their groceries cool in the A/C?
Thanks for you help -

Hi, Nancy. It depends. Some people have a large nylon bag that hangs on the back of the cart for purchases. Some people have a large basket where others would have a back seat. If you have doors on your cart you could close the doors and put bags on the front passenger seat and on the floor. Depends on how much you buy at one time. We usually shop with the car but there are always lots of carts in the Publix parking lot!

kathy

We shop with whatever we are driving. Have a mesh bag in golf bag area. Only buy for 2 days at a time, since most shopping is online or out of the bubble

You can add a lot of things to the carts for grocery shopping - i think this link will work

<iframe title="vimeo-player" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/397525452" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Villages Discount Carts has an option for shopping with a YAMAHA golf cart, it provides a large cooler for frozen stuff, and as I recall a flat space with sides for bagged groceries, so as indicated above you have options. PS if you are after a NEW house, you will end up south of 44 and there is much less shopping (currently) in that area so you may be forced to use your car.

We always shop with a cart. One has the bag on the back plus a basket. The other has a folding back seat with storage and a flat surface. In addition to dozens of Publix and a few Winn Dixies, you can also take your cart to 2 Walmart’s and a Walmart grocery store, Target, Lowes, Beals, the 3 centers, Dollar tree, Marshall’s, TJ Max’s, HomeGoods, Staples, many many restaurants and a BJ’s being built. You can do everything with the golf cart. Never need to leave the reservation if you don’t want to.

Most locations in the Villages are golf cart accessable to a grocery (less than 5 miles).

Only current exception is south of the Turnpike but that will be resolved by mid February with the opening of a new Publix.

Where the two golf bags normally sit, you can buy a nylon mesh shopping bag for $50 and use that to hold a lot of items. All the dealers sell them.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/17/48...440d7ea0c6.jpg

If want something even larger, as mentioned by Villagetinker, Villages Discount Golf Cars sells a 114 quart storage container that fits on the back along with a larger cooler and even the golf clubs can still go. Here's a video.

Village Discount Golf Car - Introducing The Premium Cargo Cart at Village Discount Golf Car | Facebook

As far as shopping, I spend the majority of my time in the area between LSL (Lake Sumter Landing) and BW (Brownwood). The Villages of Duval, Hemingway and Hadley would be the areas I would steer a new buyer to look for a home. Of course it would be a resale, but the homes are generally ten years old or newer and convenience to two squares, Colony Shopping Plaza area, Neighborhood Walmart, and by car to Trailwinds Villages Shopping would be ideal. Of course the older areas of Spanish Springs would also offer a lot of convenient shopping options along US 441/27. Which would north of 466 along Morse Blvd would be another option.

Lake Sumter Landing Square

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Brownwood Square

https://www.thevillagesentertainment.../brownwood.jpg

Spanish Springs Square

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golf cart
 

We don't play golf either, and have a CROWN golf cart. It has 4 doors, but can be a 2 door, also. It has a trunk, and with the 4 door, a back seat - plenty of room for groceries - plus air conditioning and heat. We go everywhere in it, all year long.

Golf Carts and groceries
 

Many people drive their golf carts to the grocery store but it depends on where you live and where the store is located. Golf carts are not allowed on many of the roads. You need to become familiar with the route from your home to the grocery store to make sure that
You do not have to cross any major highways.

I wouldn"t say the are "dozens" of Publix here. There are alot in the Villages, accessible by golf cart, but hardly dozens

I am not a golfer either. When I purchased my new golf cart, I purchased an electric Timberline cart with a lockable trunk. Very nice

I was new to golf carts too and had a funny learning curve just trying to run it. You need to be shown by someone or go online to learn how to turn it on and how things work. I couldn't figure out at first why the engine wasn't purring constantly like a car, or where the horn was (on the floor!!), and how to undo the 2 way flashers (use the turn signal!). So there is a little learning curve but I've loved using it and seeing people in them. The cart paths are another challenge at first, but The Villages has an APP for golf carts that could be very helpful to you. But be aware that there is very cold weather here at times, so it can get very chilly in the cart. I also found out there's holes in the floor near the peddles, so any running fast through deep puddles can come up to haunt you! HAHA I too am without a mate here (while he still has to work back north), and I find it very easy to make friends and socialize. Hope you get to come and enjoy!

The Villages, for the most part, is all self-contained meaning you can shop, go to the dr. and some churches in your golf cart. We've shopped using the cart but mostly use our car now. The grocery stores here are Publix, Aldi, Winn Dixie, Neighborhood Walmart (one of these near 466a), Walmart and Sams. Once you are here you can decide where you want to shop, depending on your house location.

We love being on the historic side because nearly everything is easily accessed by golf cart ...groceries, clothing, medical, hardware, restaurants. We have an older large suitcase on the back of our cart, strapped in, that works fantastic for groceries and other things (bags, insulated cooler, jackets, bungees...). Others use a wide variety of adaptations. We do not golf but find it much easier to use the cart than the car & more fun.

I use my golf cart for grocery shopping as do many others. I love that I can go to grocery store, doctor, dentist, bank, restaurants, etc. on my cart.

We bring the reusable shopping bags with us and you can fit 4 of the large ones in the back where the golf clubs go and thread the handles through the golf bag straps.

as a single woman just don't expect to find a MAN; The Villages is loaded with people like us

My neighborhood has a couple of houses for sale we are close to Mulberry Shopping center, Walgreens, Pep Boys, Citizen Bank plenty of eating places Sammy's Joe's Beef O'Bradys Subway. Nice quit and active neighborhood is Greenwood.

This solves all your issues.
 

Check one of these out. FM radio, A/C, heating, power windows, seatbelts, storage and more used about $7000, new $15000 +. With Lithium batteries as of Feb. Over 80 hours per charge. This solves all your concerns. I hope you are very happy here.👍
httpss://www.atomiccoolkartz.com/

I counted 8 Publix stores.

I have a Yamaha gas cart that they now make with a cooler on the side and a large, hard side, lockable storage bin on the back. Great for shopping - holds everything we need.

It is okay as long as you don't mind having to drive over that very narrow bridge that goes over highway 441 all the time.

Best area in The Villages is anywhere close to all the shopping and restaurants along 466.You will be 5 minutes from home in any direction so your Ice Cream won't melt. In this area you will want for absolutely nothing. You will even have The Villages Library very close by. Another huge plus is your bond "infrastructure cost" will be at zero or very low. Use a non Villages realtor as they will show you everything in this area that is pre-owned.

Visit and try it out first. Depending on your likes and dislikes it is primarily a couples life style. If you are someone use to making friends alone and doing activities you may love it. Recently widowed? Take your time in making changes. Often most will say no major changes till after the first year. Support systems are in place where you live. You will be changing everything with no one familiar. Yes a new life is wonderful but do your homework first. And come visit for a while.

I would suggest that you don't buy a golf cart right away. You can rent a cart by the week or month to see how you like it. I found that a car is much safer, faster, and more comfortable than a golf cart. Before I moved here, I thought that a golf cart would be great, but I never bought one and never will. My main issue is that you need to share many roads with cars and trucks. In my opinion, it's not a safe way to travel.

There are mesh bags that can be attached to where the golf bags would normally go. They are easy to attach and can hold a lot

good luck ! -- there are at least 4 -6 places to shop for food here . if your 5 -10 minutes from home I wouldn't worry about a cooler myself. I would defineately wait a few months to buy a golf cart. See where you go first ... many people drive one or the other . 80% of what you need s available here but some department stores, doctors - etc are to far to be comfortable in a cart .

When you buy your cart, tell them you want the grocery bag. It hooks in the back where clubs go. I use it to take my things to pool etc. also!

We shop most often with a golf cart. We have the nylon bag which carries quite a bit. We have had no trouble gettting frozen goods home although we live only 2 miles from the grocery.
There are soft sided freezer bags available as well.

I am glad it is there all the time.......hate to arrive to cross and find its not there.:duck:

Thanks so much for the info -- I see I have a lot to learn about golf carts!
Nancy

I have the big mesh grocery bag. I don't golf, I use my cart for transportation. If you're driving alone, here's how you can EASILY buy an entire week's worth of groceries AND stock up on essentials that you only buy when they're on sale:

Get two insulated grocery bags, and a folding small trunk organizer. The folding trunk organizer will go on the floor of the passengers' seat.

Groceries will go this way:
Eggs, bread, lightbulbs, other "breakables" will go in the basket behind the seats.
Water gallon jugs, 2-litre soda bottles, tubs of kitty litter, go on the bottom of the mesh bag in the back. Stock the insulated bags with frozen and "must refrigerate" foods, EXCEPT milk gallons. Those go on the bottom. Stack those insulated bags on top of the big gallon jugs, kitty litter, etc. You can fit 3 across, positioned sideways, if they're not overstuffed, 2 if they're very full.
You should have room for a 12-pack of toilet paper laid right out on top over everything else.
In the front of the cart, is where you put the plastic bags with your canned goods and 5-pound bags of dog food, etc. As long as it's heavy and you don't make FAST sharp turns, the trunk storage bin will stay put and not budge even an inch.

That there is 1 week of perishables and a minimum of 2 weeks of "stocking up on stuff" items.

It's basically a full shopping cart's worth of stuff and it WILL fit perfectly.

If you don't have a mesh grocery bag, you can still use the straps that you normally use, to strap in your golf cart. Put six-packs or cases of water bottles or soda on the shelf at the bottom of the back of the cart. Then hang all your grocery bags from those straps (put the strap through the bag loops), and make sure the straps are then TIGHT on their buckles. You can hang 4 grocery bags from each strap. Put the insulated bags on the passenger's seat and take it easy when you need to turn a corner. Everything else is the same.

Ask all my former customers how they loved it when I packed their carts for them because they bought more than they realized and couldn't figure out how to get them all home!


Last tip: if you don't have a trunk organizer and don't want to buy one, use paper grocery bags, or the cover of a case of paper. The point is you need a square bottom that won't tip over and slide around next to you. Make sure your b.a.g.g.e.r (can you believe the vulgarity filter ***'s that word out? Crazy. You can say ass but you can't say b.a.g.g.e.r.) at the supermarket "frames" the plastic bags. You can google that to learn what that means. If they're not framing the bags, they weren't trained properly, or they forgot to do it.

I bought my grocery bag on line. It was $20. Oh I have a home for sale here in the Villages very close to Publix shopping center on 466. The address is 1469 Ramon Rd. in the Village of Glenbrook. Open House every weekend from 1-4 until sold. Contact me at 914 216 9907.

Cooler
 

QUOTE=nancyj;1886380]Hello,
I have been researching The Villages as a place to relocate to. I am recently widowed, in my early 60s, and looking for a fresh start in a different part of Florida (I'm currently living in SW Florida). I love that golf carts are a primary way of getting around the area, but my question is about going grocery shopping at the supermarkets. I'm not that familiar with golf carts (nope - not a golfer here) but was wondering if they have a storage area or someplace to put your groceries in while you drive back home. Or do most people just drive their car to the markets and keep their groceries cool in the A/C?
Thanks for you help -[/QUOTE]
Hi Nancy
Whether by cart or by car, I always take my cooler or coolers with reusable cold packs when shopping to keep cold things cold or frozen. Generally the coolers that come with the golf carts aren’t high quality but would be ok for a quick trip. You can’t leave expensive coolers outside on your cart or they won’t be there when you get back but you might want to invest in a decent one for the car. Also, for foods that are hot that you want to stay hot, there are inexpensive bags for those foods that you can purchase online or in stores that you might consider.

I’m sorry, maybe a dozen.

Ohiobuckeye
 

Sounds like you really mean or you’re looking for a new friend, LOL.

Golf carts are very versatile and do have plenty of options to place groceries.
Some carts are not cheap. I have a yamaha gas cart that costs $10,000.

It is the most fun though. Probably the number one reason we bought here was to be able to get a golf cart, we have 2.

What area in the villages is the best place for over 70's years to settle in to meet widows and single women and close to most of the amenities.