These golf cart communities in Florida offer a lifestyle that is perfect for people who want to say goodbye to their cars and live a life that is more connected to the open air and neighbors around them.
Fortunately, Florida has the perfect weather year-round to enjoy that way of living. The more elaborate golf cart communities have more than just clubhouses; they have many amazing amenities such as restaurants, grocery stores, and retail outlets.
The Treasure Coast is filled with numerous communities that offer the luxury of a golf cart lifestyle as well, with more coming each year.
In Florida, from the panhandle to the southernmost tip of the state, residents can find local communities that provide the opportunity to live on a course and move through daily life by driving a golf cart.
Benefits of Golf Cart Communities
There are numerous benefits to living in a golf cart community. First, there is a financial advantage of residing where property values are well-maintained. Golf courses tend to increase property values and are usually in higher demand by buyers.
Another benefit is the advantage of living in excellent, immaculately maintained, beautiful grounds. Many golf cart communities have 18-hole courses that feature ponds, flowers, waterfalls, and other beautiful landscapes.
Another fantastic pro to living in a golf cart community is that everything you need is nearby. This is especially beneficial and important to people who value their time.
Americans spend an average of over fifty hours sitting in traffic each year. By 2025, Americans will spend at least 19 full work days a year stuck in traffic. However, golf cart living significantly reduces that time.
A huge plus of driving a golf cart is that it doesn’t require a license. The state of Florida does not require titles or registrations for golf carts.
Fortunately, this means that insurance coverage is optional and not mandatory. Because golf carts are relatively safe, getting involved in a severe accident in a golf cart is extremely rare, so there is minimum risk of bodily harm, making it a safer way to travel.
Another important advantage of golf carts as the primary mode of transportation is the affordability factor. Golf carts are cost-effective. They are reasonably priced when compared to the cost of an economy car.
Yet, they still provide the same function of getting a person from point A to point B and cost less to maintain. Another fun aspect of golf cart community living is the ability to personalize a golf cart. Residents can decorate their carts to their liking, making them as unique as they like.
Stronger social interaction is another thing to consider about the golf cart lifestyle. When riding in a golf cart, stopping and talking to neighbors, friends, and acquaintances is easier. One has the convenience of visiting friends, attending social events, and slowing the literal pace of life to stop and enjoy the people around them.
A golf cart community naturally draws people who are more open to making new friends and building connections. These communities are more suitable for neighborhood interaction, allowing people to get to know those around them and build close relationships.
Golf cart communities in Florida strengthen these relationships by frequently hosting events such as holiday gatherings, parades, and festivals. Parades are a unique cultural aspect of the golf cart lifestyle, and communities sponsor various holiday parades and use them in processions for special occasions.
Below are some of the best golf cart communities in Florida to consider:
Shell Point Community in Wakulla County
In Shell Point Community, the golf cart is the preferred method of transportation. The area prides itself on being a nature lover’s paradise.
There are several excellent neighborhoods within the Shell Point Community for buyers interested in living among lush landscaping and old Florida architecture. For example, Eagles Preserve is a beautiful private neighborhood enclave of 110 residences within the Shell Point community.
Residents enjoy amazing views of protected wetlands, lakes, and gorgeous fairways. Residents can use numerous cart paths to commute to the pool, fitness center, and other amenities.
Riverland in Port St. Lucie
In the heart of Tradition in Port St. Lucie, this community provides an array of newly-constructed homes with a focus on walkability and golf cart transportation.
Spanning 4,000 acres, Riverland presents a new paradigm in 55+ living, featuring neighborhoods like Valencia Cay, Valencia Grove, and Valencia Walk.
The emphasis here on amenities is apparent, with an Arts & Culture Center, Paseo Park, Town Center, Sports & Racquet Club, and a Wellness & Fitness Center.
Beyond the confines of Riverland, the strategic location within Port St. Lucie allows for easy access to essential facilities like Cleveland Clinic Hospital, Keiser University, local shops, restaurants, and major highways.
The Villages
The Villages is one of Florida's most popular and well-known golf cart communities. The community is so expansive, well done, and impressive that it has garnered international attention for being a top golf cart community.
Some speculate that it could even be the largest retirement community in the world. Over a hundred thousand people choose to make the Villages their home. It is more than just a community; it functions like a well-organized city. The Villages have all the components that qualify it as a town.
There are grocery stores, a local post office, churches, banks, and various retail stores. Many aspects of the community were deliberately tailored to accommodate golf cart living as the primary mode of transportation.
The Villages is filled with nearly a hundred thousand golf carts used to live daily life. Cars are of little use in The Villages.
Babcock Ranch in Southwest Florida
Babcock Ranch is America’s first solar-powered community and extends that eco-friendliness to its transportation by welcoming golf carts.
The community's unique design makes traveling easy with a golf cart. Residents can take their carts to the supermarket, bank, post office, and other places.
The community attracts residents who are interested in a sustainable golf cart lifestyle. The neighborhood calls itself “The hometown of tomorrow.”
Twin Branch Acres in Westchase, Florida
Twin Branch Acres is an equestrian community tucked away from the hustle and bustle of city life and traffic. The neighborhood is equipped with horse trails and is an approved golf cart community.
Because of its equestrian element, the neighborhood takes special precautions to ensure horses and golf cart drivers remain safe by requiring low speeds of 10MPH for other motor vehicles.
North Captiva Island on the Coast of Southwest Florida
North Captiva Island is a spectacular beach retreat filled with beautiful vacation homes. Visitors to the island quickly learn that the golf cart is the easiest and most efficient way to explore the sandy island.
Residents rely on bikes and golf carts for everyday living. Fishing, biking, and hiking are some activities that residents of North Captiva enjoy.
Indian River Colony Club in Viera, Florida
The Indian River Colony Club is a retirement community for military members. The community is a friendly, patriotic community.
This golf cart community has over a hundred homes with private pools and custom features. The neighborhood is built around a gorgeous 18-hole golf course, and residents can drive their carts freely around the community.
Timber Pines in Spring Hill, Florida
Timber Pines is an active golf and country club community for 55+ residents who enjoy the golf cart lifestyle. The community is filled to the brim with avid golfers and set a Guinness World Record for the largest chain of golf carts in 2004.
Timber Pines consists of over 3400 homes and villas. Residents enjoy many amenities, including pools, a performing arts center, and country club dining. Timber Pines also has HOA fees that are more affordable than those of similar neighborhoods.
Sun City Center near Tampa, Florida
Sun City Center is a dedicated golf cart community, meaning all its streets are legally approved for use by golf carts.
Most Sun City Center residents ditch their cars and purchase a golf cart because it is an easier way to travel around the community.
The community has a small-town ambiance yet is conveniently located near Tampa Bay attractions.
Orchid Island off Vero Beach, Florida
Residents of Orchid Island just east of Vero Beach love using golf carts as their primary mode of transportation. The community is a private, luxurious, gated community.
It sits on a visually stunning barrier island with gorgeous water views. The neighborhood is carefully crafted to exceed the expectations of residents looking for a luxury lifestyle.
The community provides more than a mile of private beach access, and residents can use their golf carts to drive to the neighborhood’s many amenities.
Is the Golf Cart Lifestyle for You?
Most people think of golf cart communities as enclaves for the retired and elderly; however, many young families also enjoy the golf cart lifestyle.
Young families in golf cart communities can use a cart to take children to schools located within the community. Golf cart communities are usually gated, providing families with an extra layer of security and a sense of safety.
No two golf cart communities are exactly alike. Each has its own unique character. The neighborhood's location, topography, and architecture contribute to its identity. Additionally, communities may differ in amenities.
Some golf cart communities have grocery stores and medical services within reach by golf cart. However, others may require a short drive into town. Residents should consider whether they prefer to have all essentials within the community or be willing to drive a short distance.
People considering a golf cart lifestyle understand it’s a unique way to live. Golf cart living doesn’t just entail the physical change of no longer being connected to a large car but also the cultural change of being connected to nature and the local community. There's an element of leisure, relaxation, and peacefulness associated with golf cart living.
Golf carts provide the opportunity to return to a slower and more relaxed way of life. For this reason, the number of people looking to buy real estate in golf cart communities has increased over the years. Buying a home in a golf cart community is a wonderful investment and offers a unique change in lifestyle.
More Sources:
https://www.babcockranchtelegraph.com/articles/fun-activities-help-residents-feel-at-home-in-babcock-ranch/
https://orchidislandfl.com/five-minutes-away-what-it-means-to-live-the-golf-cart-lifestyle/
https://fsimonetti.com/north-captiva-photographer/