Golf Cart Accessible
 

On the thread comparing Costco, Sam's & BJ's there were multiple posts regarding golf cart accessibility and the length of time it would take to get to, say, Costco via golf cart vs BJ's which is "just down the street" or whatever.

Maybe someone can clarify this logic for me, bc I just don't get it. If I was going to any big box retailer, even Target or Walmart, I would want my full size trunk and back seat. I would also like to get there in 7 minutes vs the 20+ it would take by golf cart if that was even an option (which it usually isn't if you live south of LSL).

Sure, I like a nice scenic drive once in while on a golf cart. And the dog loves it. But for running errands, using a golf cart is an inferior experience bordering on a chore.

As they say on Reddit: CMV (change my view)

You summed it up rather well. Why would you want your view changed?

I moved to a golf cart community to drive my golf cart. My simple rule is if you can get there by golf cart we are taking the golf cart as that is the main reason we bought in the Villages. North or south does not matter to me. The longer the drive the better. I feel bad for you if you feel driving a golf cart is a chore but to each their own. The greatest thing is everyone makes a choice best for them.

The cart is our first choice unless the trip involves a “too”

- too cold/wet: a small handful of times
- too far: not yet though if the Villages keeps growing…
- too late: haven’t had one of these yet either
- too much: there have been a few times we’ve had too much to carry. Costco would likely be in this category
- too bad it’s not golf cart accessible: a bunch of these

Haven't you been in TV long enough to figure it out? Folks somehow think driving a golf cart is an adventure and cool.

I've had enough, after 15-20 minutes. Even at the golf course, I have trouble sitting in the cart for 4 hours. When I go to Sam's Club (& I only get a few items), I have trouble fitting them in the trunk of my car (it is small).

I can't understand how folks are excited about a Costco coming to the area and talking about driving their carts to shop. I package of toilet paper and your cart is full.

What if you got rid of your 2024 Tesla because the insurance was to much and you no longer have a car in the garage?

That's like saying you're not going to buy a new car, because the luxury model with real leather interior, costs too much. Perhaps there are other options?

I guess it's personal preference. For me, riding in a golf cart to do errands other than very local is like using a riding lawn mover without the blade. Totally ridiculous. No matter how you sugar coat it, if it's hot you will be all sweaty and blown around, if it raining, you will get wet at some point and it's not a comfortable ride. But many enjoy the experience. As most have said, why would you want to ride 30+ minutes or more to get to where you are going with a golf cart when you can take the car and get there in probably 1/3 the time or less comfortably? My hybrid car gets 40+ miles per gallon, almost as much as my golf cart but has air conditioning, heat and good storage space to transport purchases from Costco, Publix, etc... Think about it. Costco being Golf Cart accessible. Nice but when was the last time you went to Costco and didn't have trouble fitting all that you purchased in your car? How do you fit all that stuff in a golf cart lol? If you want to ride around in a golf cart for enjoyment that's fine and we do that from time to time but I agree it becomes a chore to use it when you have lots of errands to run especially if you need to go to different areas in the Villages in my opinion, right or wrong.

My guess is some no longer drive a car, thankfully. Months ago I stopped at Lowe’s and noticed about 10 carts. My thoughts what can I buy here a get home in a cart. Then I noticed a few exiting to their golf cart. My guess driving a car could be detrimental to them and others. Then again for years we flew down and only had a golf cart while in TV. Just buy less

I don't want my view changed, unless I am wrong. The point of a CMV post is that maybe, just maybe, you are missing something and could be persuaded to the other side.

I never said driving a golf cart was in itself a chore. See post #4. Bill pretty much summed up the situations where it would be a chore.

The busier I am on any given day however, the less patience I have for wasting the additional time it takes to get to and from on a cart vs in a car.

Is that the Lowe’s on 441? How do carts get to it? Across the 441 cart bridge? Some week when I have nothing to do I may take my cart there from down south. 😂

We love the hour drive to BJs on the golf cart from Sawgrass. We practice mindful purchasing. Nothing huge (amazon will deliver your TP and paper towels for free with prime). The only time we take the car is when it needs gas and BJs has the best price.

:highfive:

and, don't forget the packages you buy and put in your golf cart are not secure. If you stop anywhere else after shopping, they could be stolen. In your car, however, they would be much safer.

I'm going to need a trailer for my golf car.

Currently I don’t go to Costco often because even though I am south of 44 it is still a 45 minute drive. So when I go , I tend to buy more per trip. With Costco in The Villages being closer I suspect my shop trips will be smaller but more frequent. Based on where we live it won’t be a golf cart trip, but still closer than Clermont.

I don’t need to CYV, but for me it’s much easier to drive the golf cart for shopping. I live in Ashland (I know . . . where is that?) and will be 5-10 minutes away from Costco and can run over and get what I need when I need it rather than wait til I have a list of needs and make a trip of it. It’s easier to get in and out of busy places with a golf cart and I won’t be adding traffic to busy roads.

Cart accessible is a must. How else are we to stop by just for a hotdog and soda for lunch?

Why? It’s a perfect view. PITA!

I’ve seen a couple of carts with roof racks on them :-)

We live in Country Club Hills just around the corner from BJs. So we treat it like a neighborhood store not a stock up warehouse. Now Costco is farther away, but still when we shop it’s not like when we had a house full of children. So unless we are in a hurry we’ll probably go by golf cart.

make sure to bring your gate pass. You'll need it to EXIT through the gate to get to Lowes / BJ's.

Some people fly here from other countries, and don't have a car here.... hence, golf cart Accessible....

Insurance for Tesla
 

I just now renewed my insurance, and one of our cars is a 2024 Tesla Y. The other is a 2020 Chevrolet Bolt. I used Hartford/AARP. The cost for the Tesla wasn't much different from the Bolt. The total cost was $1,778 for 2 drivers for 6 mos.

Jeez. We pay less than that for a car, a pickup truck, and two golf carts for a YEAR.

Back on topic:

Why take a golf cart? Because I can. I don't have to EVER go down 441, or deal with cars on 441, or traffic lights on 441, when I go to BJs, Lowe's, Walmart, Aldi's, my dentist's office, Tropical Smoothie, Wawa. The only time I need to take my car there is when I'm picking up a pizza (so it doesn't slide off the golf cart floor) or filling up my car's gas tank.

I don't use my golf cart for golf since I don't play golf. Instead, I have a mesh bag that many other golf cart drivers own, that secures to the straps that golf cars have to secure golf bags. It's around 3 feet deep. In the bottom of the bag, filling most of it, is an empty box that keeps the shape somewhat rectangular and reinforces the bottom of the mesh. I also have a basket behind the seats, and seatbelts on the seats.

I can put all the "squishy" things like bread, eggs, and chips in the basket. I can stack 2 six-packs of Pepsi and an 8-pack of gatorade bottles on the bottom of the big bag in back. Then all my canned goods , and then top it off with my refrigeratables like meats and frozen veggies and whatnots. I now also have room in the front seat for a 40-pound container of kitty litter on the floor, and in a pinch, I can loop the passenger-side seatbelt through 4 more grocery bags to keep them from falling out of the cart.

At BJ's I buy Poland Springs water, 48 bottle packages. I can fit one where I normally would put the kitty litter, on the floor of the passenger side. That's a good thing to get when I need to put gas in the golf cart, along with a pound or two of cold cuts, a small container of port wine cheese, stock up on Texas Toast (great for dipping into my sauce), and a 4-pack of cafe bustello bricks.

There's plenty of room for all of that. At Lowe's, my golf cart will hold 3 bags of mulch or 1 brick of pine straw in the bag in the back, and half a dozen "almost dead so we'll give it to you for $1.00" plants, a bunch of the big paper lawn bags (we do all the landscaping ourselves). And maybe a pint of "oops" paint for a craft project. And there's STILL enough room to run for a half gallon of milk at Aldi's if we're running low.

Good point! I wonder how the TV developers sold the idea to Costco.

I spent ten days in TV on a lifestyle tour. One thing I made up my mind about: if I can't get an enclosed electric golf cart, I'm not gettin' one, period.

Is the insurance inordinately high for a Tesla? Why?

You must not be a "normal villager" LOL. that's ok neither am I and I completely agree, it makes no sense, especially when the 'reachable' gets stretched but going where you aren't supposed to. Either way, car, truck, etc is far better than a golf cart.

Name me another community that has access to as many things by golf cart. None exist I looked. If I wanted to live in a pickup truck community I would have found a nice pickup truck community to live in. If I have the choice of picking my car, truck or golf cart to go somewhere, any where, it’s my choice.

I see a potential business for adding tie downs to the roof. Maybe a water proof bags as well! $250 + installation??? Offer specials every six months where the installation is free!

Developers want to stay off of The Villages property!

You are missing or unaware of some facts concerning Golf Carts in the Villages. There are some cases where travel by golf cart is faster then Car. A trip to Brownwood from South of the Turnpike can easily be less time in cart vs. Car for example. You're also classifying all carts as not having storage capacity. There are large 'carry bags' that can mount in place of golf bags and there are also enclosed carts such as the Atomic that have a higher enclosed carry capacity equal to that of a small car.

Only if the car gets a flat tire. The MMP south of 44 has more traffic than Meggison.

And our 4 seater has a flip down rear seat that makes a platform. A bungie cord secures stuff.

Absolutely correct! I live south of 44 and work in Brownwood. It takes me longer by car than by golf cart to get to work and isn’t nearly as fun. I wait for zero red lights!

I’m sure none of us have ever run into Publix for one or two items. Another place to never take your cart.

Costco has glasses. I can use my golf cart for that… and many other things. Lunch, a quick stop to check prices, laundry soap, wine, seafood… but for me, it’ll be about 7 minutes away, by golf cart. I am looking forward to it. 👍