The real golf cart story
 

I'd like to ask for some honest info on golf carts and TV. When we first started looking, it seemed these were really a cool idea. But as I've looked more at maps I am beginning to appreciate just how big this place is. While I'm sure the carts are handy to go to the nearest country club, or pool, it appears on the map that the two Town Squares really wouldn't be practical unless you actually lived pretty near them. And it also appears that the new building is somewhere else, not counting the new planned third Square. So what is your experience. For those you you not close to one of the square is transport by golf car really practical? We have two cars and no problem driving. I just wonder if the cart is really worth while. Thanks for the help.

Cars work just fine - they get you everywhere you'll need to go..........except for out on the golf course.

Otherwise, it's a bit of a cultural thing. Golf carts are fun, a unique form of transportation, pretty inexpensive to operate, easy to find a parking space at the squares........pick your own reasons.

As far as distance driving goes, a gas cart will go around 200+ miles on a fill-up. Electric carts can get you pretty much anywhere you need to go during a day before recharging at night. The size of TV isn't really too much of an issue for most people.

But you've gotta do what you feel comfortable doing!

Bill :)

We have a Yamaha gas cart and go anywhere we want to go! I might not want to trek from Spanish Springs to Brownwood and back but the cart is capable!

Thanks Bill. But doesn't it take a very long time to drive somewhere you're not close to or does the scenery make you not care? lol

Dave, you're right - it takes a bit longer in a cart......but proportionally, it's not all that much of a longer drive. Plan accordingly if you're under a time commitment and, like you said, 'enjoy the scenery'!!

And you do get a totally different feel/perspective for TV when you're seeing it from a golf cart and the multi-modal trails.

Bill :)

I believe that golf carts are part of the culture of the Villages and as a whole people like to drive them for all the above reasons. I have a gas golf cart and would not hesitate to drive it anywhere in the Villages.

We haven't been here that long but drive our carts just about everywhere that we don't need a car. (not picking up large items from Lowes). You can not be in a bad mood driving the trails in a golf cart! We even enjoy it in the rain! You're right.... You can only go 20 miles an hour but then you have time to look around and enjoy the beauty that is all around you!

I mean... What's the hurry? :a040:

Dave - unless you've been here it's hard to describe. First of all, the squares, are not the end all be all. Weeks go by that we don't go near them. Then sometimes I'll go 2-3 times in one day. Just depends.

We live 3.4 miles from LSL - 8 miles from SS - 4.5 miles from Brownwood. I wouldn't drive to either one in a car. Just prefer the cart. Open air, relaxed atmosphere etc.

I only use the car to drive to work at the hospital and that's only so my wife can use the cart. I recently went 3+ weeks without a car fill-up.

Slowing down
 

New motto for the Villages! Slow down to go fast! Or something like that!

TV is such a beautiful place it makes the slightly longer trip really worthwhile. When we go out the determining factor when deciding what to drive is how much we will be dragging back home. It's almost always the cart. Soooo relaxing and so much more fun. :wave:


Jim

I truly believe that those that don't own a golf cart & live here aren't experiencing all the villages has to offer.I take the cart as often as I can .I even take it to work 7.5 miles away every night and drive home at 1:30 in the morning.I couldn't imagine living here without one....hopefully in the future we'll have two!

I have put gas in my "big" car twice in 6 months. 1 month I took it out of the garage once to get it registered in FL. Now I work and have to take it out twice a week. We go everywhere in the golf cart when the drive is 25 minutes or less which is just about everywhere SS and LSL as we are pretty much in the middle.

TV is a unique and charming golf cart community. Yes there are those who don't have one or two carts and that is a personal choice. It is soooooo much esier to park a GC in the squares and most of the year it is not difficult. In high season we have a few more accidents but as some have stated only 8 or 10 fatalities have been recorded in the past many years. Out of 80,000 people that is a pretty good safety record.

An import feature of having a golf cart down here in Florida is that they don’t get hotter than a pizza oven when left in the parking lot for even a few minutes.

We have not lived here long, but we use the cart to go everywhere. SS is 3 miles away, LSL is 6 miles away and we go to the squares regularly. We use it to go grocery shopping, to the rec centers, to the movies, and my wife uses it to go to work.

When we first moved here we were having our car delivered from Panama so we went almost two months without having a car and the truth is we never missed it. Now that it's here we use it for day trips (Disney, Cedar Key, Crystal River, St. Augustine, etc.) and to pick up larger items from the nurseries or Lowes, but for the most part it stays in the driveway. With gas rapidly approaching $4 a gallon, I prefer taking the cart whenever possible.

Golf Cart
 

We bought a 4 seater gas cart when we closed on our home.We drive it everywhere we are allowed. It's economical, easy to park and fun to drive. The car goes to the airport church and places the GC can't which are usually shopping trips. When going out with other couples we drive. 200+ miles on a tank of gas is easy in a gas cart. I had to replace the tires after 2 years we drive it so much. I've been all the way to the north end and all the way I can legaly go south. It's slower, I'm in no hurry and really enjoy driving it. I believe it's the way of life in TV.