TOP 7 GOLF CART COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S

Do you ever get tired of the high maintenance costs, isolation, and faster-pace mentality associated with traditional automobiles? A growing segment of our population have discovered that golf carts represent a great alternative to traditional vehicles for several important reasons.

The first is cost. Cars are expensive, and you still have to pay for gasoline and auto insurance even after you paid off the car. In contrast, golf carts are a much cheaper initial purchase, generally run on electricity instead of gas, and cost much less to maintain. Since carts are not as fast as other vehicles, they are also easier to drive and safer.

Many retirement communities have specialized carting trails to help residents get around independently without the risks of driving an automobile. Perhaps most importantly, golf carting can help foster a sense of community that is largely missing in modern society. You can say hi to your neighbors while cruising around in your cart, fostering interpersonal connections.

Dedicated golf cart trails also encourage people to patronize the same local businesses, recreating the "small town" feel of yesteryear where everybody meets up at the general store.

Between affordability, convenience, and community, it comes as no surprise that dedicated golf cart communities have popped up around the world. The United States offers a variety of fantastic golf cart communities, allowing enthusiasts to find a home that suits their needs.

Here are the top 7 golf cart communities in the U.S.:

#7 INDIAN RIVER COLONY CLUB, FLORIDA

The Indian River Colony Club is a community for retired

military personnel ages 55 and up located in Melbourne, Florida. The community spans 453 total acres and includes 773 independently-owned single-family homes, large enough to offer a great lifestyle while still small enough to foster a sense of community.

Renters are strictly prohibited, ensuring that the owners have an opportunity to socialize with their fellow veteran home-owners. There are more than 40 clubs and activities offered, including an exclusive 18-hole golf course and gourmet meals served at the on-site At Ease Club. Wildlife is also abundant for nature lovers. Everything in the community is accessible by a cart, so residents never need to start up their car to take advantage of everything that the Indian River Colony Club has to offer.

#6 ON TOP OF THE WORLD, FLORIDA

On Top of the World is a retirement community for people ages 55+ located in Ocala, Florida, that was founded in 1947. It is planned for 10,000 homes. Residents have access to a variety of fantastic amenities, including three different 18-hole golf courses, tennis and pickleball courts, fitness classes, and an R/C Flying Field that has to be seen to be believed. There is also a large social hub called Circle Square Commons that offers dining, shopping, and even a private movie theater.

On Top of the World has an extensive network of dedicated golf cart trails, allowing residents to take advantage of every amenity while enjoying the natural scenery of the area. This community was voted one of the 50 best masterplanned communities in the United States by Where to Retire magazine.

#5 CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

If you want a golf cart community within a major American city, look no further than Charleston, South Carolina. The Greater Charleston area includes a variety of golf cart-friendly attractions, including Folly Beach, Daniel Island, Johns Island, Sullivan Island and the Isle of Palms.

Residents of the city's historic downtown have also embraced the golfcart lifestyle, choosing to rely on ride-share services such as Uber when they want to travel beyond their peninsula instead of owning cars. The citEcar Electric Vehicles company recently moved its headquarters to the Charleston area because of the demand for its products there. The company now ships carts and other electric vehicles all over the world, giving golf carting enthusiasts a rare opportunity to see what goes into producing their favorite mode of transportation.

#4 SUN CITY, ARIZONA

Sun City is a retirement community for people 55 years of age and older located in Arizona, about 15 miles northwest of Phoenix. It bills itself as the first golf cart community in the world, tracing its history back to 1960. It offers every conceivable amenity, including eight golf courses, seven recreation centers, and beautiful natural landscapes such as Viewpoint Lake.

Sun City passed a law that allowed golf carts and similar vehicles to operate on all of the municipality's roads in August of 2014, so you can get anywhere you want to go by cart. There are also dozens of dedicated trails if you don't want to worry about traditional auto traffic.

Homes even include special garages to house both golf carts and more traditional vehicles, and 40-50 percent of the Sun City population owns at least one golfcart.

#3 LAGUNA WOODS VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA

Laguna Woods Village is the largest 55+ retirement in the western United States with more than 12,000 units available across 2,100 acres of land. Located in the great state of California, residents are just 10 minutes away from the beach and can enjoy stunning valley views from their golf carts. Laguna Woods is also packed with amenities, including five pools, 230 clubs, and a performance art center. Roads in the area have special crossings and paths for golf carts, allowing residents to enjoy their life without needing a car. The city also produces a comprehensive guide to help residents understand where and when they can use their carts legally.

#2 PEACHTREE CITY, GEORGIA

Peachtree City, Georgia, is a golf cart community for all ages located 25 miles south of Atlanta. Children as young as 12 can drive carts with adult supervision, while local high schools encourage students 15 years old and older to drive golf carts to school to make parking easier.

The city also has dedicated golfcart roads and parking areas, recharging stations for electrical models, and more. More than 9,000 households have a golfcart within the city's limits, and many have more than one.

Golf carts are also an integral component of Peachtree City culture. For example, the city's annual Fourth of July parade includes both a fireworks show and a parade of customized golf carts!

#1 THE VILLAGES, FLORIDA

The Villages is a golf cart community for people over 55 years of age located in central Florida. It has over 150,000 residents, making it one of the largest communities on this list.

The Villages also includes everything you need for daily living within the village gates, including grocery stores, doctor's offices, and (of course) golf cart dealerships equipped with mechanic and customization shops.

The Villages was designed from the ground up with golf carts in mind, so bridges, tunnels, and over/under intersections ensure that carts never need to compete with cars on the road. Many residents also decorate their carts to show off to other owners, and there is a golf cart drill team that puts on quite the spectacle!

If you want to continue inhaling automotive exhaust fumes and speeding through your life as quickly as possible, golf cart communities are probably not for you. If you want to slow things down and actually enjoy your life, it's easy to find a golf cart community that suits your intended lifestyle and interests.