[SCCHAMBY2000@YAHOO.COM]

Being a "newbie" we wanted to venture out on the golf cart from Brownwood heading up towards Spanish Springs. We found the little signs to tell you which way to go on the Buena Vista and the Morse trails to be very hard to see especially when it became dusk. I was wondering if The Villages ever considered marking the trails and signs with colors. It would be easier to follow the "RED" route or BLUE route with colored signs and arrows. Just a suggestion or thought which would be easier to follow especially at night.

[MikeV]

Others have suggested that before to no avail.

[TheVillageChicken]

The learning curve is not steep. You won't need markers in a short time.

[billethkid]

The pathways you refer to are Multi Modal Recreational Paths which means golf carts are one of the intended and actual users.

After 10 years I can tell you that many golf cart drivers think it is their private path not to be used by anything other than golf carts...mainly theirs. Or they are difficult to train.

They are wide enough and there is plenty of room for two carts plus walkers or bikes......the other thing to keep in mind there is a throttle on the golf cart and a brake pedal which means it can be slowed or stopped. Two more concepts that very many cart drivers don't seem to comprehend.

The other 96% of us have a good time using them every day....you will too.

A year from now you will be a pro and know where everything is. It is not as intimidating as the first impression.....and the good news....you can't get lost (for long anyway).

[DonH57]

The more you travel the paths the more you'll remember where you are and where you want to go. It just takes a few journeys so relax and enjoy your travels. There are always people willing to point the way if you ask for guidance.

[JGVillages]

Golf Cart GPS app available on this site. Great if you are a newbee.

[wwddww]

I am always up for a golf cart from Brownwood to Spanish Springs.

[Steve & Deanna]

We've yet to do Brownwood to Spanish Springs but we plan on a nice drive this year. We enjoy our gas golf cart and have just taken off when the mood strikes us. Also am anxious to tour the Historical Section once again. Lots of fun travelling by golf cart.

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by JGVillages

Golf Cart GPS app available on this site. Great if you are a newbee.

I agree. You're lucky to need that kind of help now.

[redwitch]

I've found that getting lost in TV is actually kind of fun. It never ceased to amaze me how quickly people stop to offer assistance. Now that I'm one of those who pretty much knows all of TV, it is one of my great joys to offer assistance.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by JGVillages

Golf Cart GPS app available on this site. Great if you are a newbee.

Downloaded it on my iPhone and will try it out in a couple of weeks.

[SCCHAMBY2000@YAHOO.COM]

Thanks for all the comments!!!!! I know I will know all the trails in the future. My wife on the other hand will tell you she is very directionally challenged!! It just seems to make sense to color the main trails for easy night time driving. As we get older it would make it easy to just follow colors and not have to remember what Village or street we were crossing and what tunnels to take to change the sides of the road. As for the APP we have no cell phone reception at this end of the Villages south of 466A so we do not take our phones with us. I am not sure how the signal for AT&T is north of us.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by SCCHAMBY2000@YAHOO.COM

Thanks for all the comments!!!!! I know I will know all the trails in the future. My wife on the other hand will tell you she is very directionally challenged!! It just seems to make sense to color the main trails for easy night time driving. As we get older it would make it easy to just follow colors and not have to remember what Village or street we were crossing and what tunnels to take to change the sides of the road. As for the APP we have no cell phone reception at this end of the Villages south of 466A so we do not take our phones with us. I am not sure how the signal for AT&T is north of us.

And your suggestion on how that is to be funded is???

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by SCCHAMBY2000@YAHOO.COM

As for the APP we have no cell phone reception at this end of the Villages south of 466A so we do not take our phones with us. I am not sure how the signal for AT&T is north of us.

I wonder if this applies:
Can dataless smartphones still use GPS navigation apps?
In this edition of Ask Maggie, CNET's Marguerite Reardon explains how to turn a smartphone into a personal navigation device, even without a data connection.

Dear Maggie,
I would like to know if I can use GPS navigation on a smartphone without data plan? For example, if I buy an unlocked Samsung or Nexus Android smartphone, I don't want to buy a data plan. But I would like to use the device in Wi-Fi and for navigation while in my car. Can I download maps in memory to roam more freely?

Thanks,
Gaurang

Dear Gaurang,
I've got good news for you. There are several apps available that will allow you to download maps onto your device and use the Wi-Fi and GPS capability on the device for turn-by-turn navigation. And you don't need a data plan to do it.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by SCCHAMBY2000@YAHOO.COM

Being a "newbie" we wanted to venture out on the golf cart from Brownwood heading up towards Spanish Springs. We found the little signs to tell you which way to go on the Buena Vista and the Morse trails to be very hard to see...

I'm not a newbie, but I took your route in the other direction for the first time recently and was disappointed that the writing on the signs south of 466A is so small.

I agree with others that you learn the routes fairly quickly, but this is a retirement community so it would be nice if the powers-that-be used larger lettering.