Spruce Creek Country Club in Summerfield, FL

Pros

• Residents absolutely love living at Del Webb Spruce Creek; the amenities are outstanding and the community center is beautifully maintained.
• Linda at the community center makes HOA setup quick and easy, and neighbors are friendly and welcoming.
• HOA fees are very reasonable for everything offered, with land ownership and 55+ residency.
• John Copeland, the Communications Assistant, is kind and professional in HOA orientation and pass issuance.
• Del Webb Spruce Creek is a resort-like 55+ community with abundant amenities, including golf courses, pools, a fitness center, and diverse clubs.
• The staff are friendly and the community is well maintained, with clean and well-kept common areas.
• The community offers a wide range of clubs and activities, from bocce to baseball, providing plenty of opportunities to stay engaged.
• The gated environment with uniformed security contributes to a safe and comfortable living experience.

Cons

• The gate attendant was rude and unhelpful to delivery personnel.
• The policy of not allowing entry before 7:00 a.m. was seen as discouraging for residents' deliveries and harming service providers.
• Security did not verify who the driver was or where they were coming from, which felt unprofessional.
• A delivery driver described the gate staff as unprofessional and hostile, even threatening to call security.
• A resident claimed a supervisor was on a power trip, leading to harassment and bullying.
• Gate staff were described as total jerks, with residents told to avoid the place because of their behavior.
• Pro Shop staff were not cheerful and made customers feel like they were a bother.
• The community was described as clique-focused and hard to break into, with poor accessibility to leadership.

Review

Spruce Creek Country Club in Summerfield, Florida, is best suited for active, 55-plus residents who want a gated, land‑owning retirement village with a robust social fabric and resort‑style amenities. It rewards those who embrace a high-activity lifestyle: multiple clubs and leagues, three nine‑hole golf courses, several pools (including an indoor option that received ongoing updates), a well-equipped fitness center, a large clubhouse, and a calendar chock-full of social events, trips, and performances. Residents who value autonomy, owning their homes and yards, with the option to rent to others 55+ with HOA approval, will find the financial structure reasonable, especially given the relatively modest HOA fees for the breadth of facilities. The community’s proximity to The Villages and Ocala adds urban and cultural reach without surrendering a contained, village feel, creating a magnet for those who want the best of both worlds.

Those weighing alternatives should note that Spruce Creek’s strength is also its potential friction point. The gate and entry experience emerges as a recurring theme in the feedback, with a handful of residents and service providers reporting inconsistent courtesy and rigidity at the gate, sometimes accompanied by miscommunications about list access or visitor verification. For households that prize frictionless access, predictability, and a consistently courteous welcome, the gate dynamics may make alternative neighborhoods more appealing. Likewise, if a low‑key, noncompetitive social milieu is preferred, or if open access to staff and board is a priority, other communities may feel simpler and more inviting. The reviews also reveal a social microclimate around pickleball and group scheduling that can feel exclusive to newcomers or casual players, suggesting that the social fabric is vibrant but not uniformly welcoming to every interest level.

The core advantages, lush maintenance, abundant recreation, and a strong, active resident culture, tend to offset the gate‑centered drawbacks in practical terms. The grounds are repeatedly described as pristine and well maintained, with amenity spaces that never feel crowded relative to the scale of the community. The three golf options, heated pools, and a comprehensive gym create a genuinely resort‑like atmosphere that sustains year‑round engagement. Add in a broad slate of clubs, from golf and pickleball to craft and veterans groups, and the sense of belonging is tangible. Low HOA fees for the value delivered further tilt the balance in favor of Spruce Creek for those who equate retirement with access to a wide social and recreational net. In this light, the occasional gate fracas appears as a manageable nuisance rather than a deal‑breaker.

Yet the unequal gate experiences, coupled with occasional accessibility gaps to leadership, cannot be entirely dismissed. Several reviews commend individual staffers by name, Linda in the community center, and John Copeland for his HOA orientation, indicating that competent, hospitable team members exist and can dramatically elevate daily living. On the flip side, other posts highlight rude gate attendants and tense interactions that undermine the reassurance a gated community should provide. The mixed interpersonal climate at the entry point suggests that prospective residents should verify how predictable and responsive gate and front‑office teams are during different times of the day and week. Checking into how quickly the board or management responds to concerns is also prudent, given notes about difficulty reaching directors or getting timely updates.

For someone actively evaluating this community, a focused due‑diligence plan pays dividends. Ask about the current gate protocol and what residents can expect during peak entry times, and speak with multiple neighbors about their day‑to‑day experiences beyond the first impression. Probe the pickleball culture, open play versus reserved times, beginner access, and the availability of beginner clinics, so the social footprint aligns with personal expectations. Confirm what “55+ rental with HOA approval” means in practice if ownership flexibility is a priority, and get a clear sense of both the reserves and ongoing capital projects so the long‑term financial outlook feels solid. Finally, tour during a busy season to observe how well the amenities scale with demand and to gauge whether social life feels inclusive rather than cliquish.

In the end, Spruce Creek Country Club stands as a compelling choice for retirees who want a lively, amenity‑rich environment with undeniable resort vibes and a strong sense of community. It is less suitable for those who require seamless gate access, consistently cheerful service at the entry, or a quiet, low‑friction living experience. For families weighing options, consider the balance between the proven value of extensive facilities, the allure of ownership and low fees, and the reality of gate‑level service variability. Alternatives nearby may deliver easier entry, more uniform staff interactions, or a calmer social pace; however, few communities blend the breadth of recreation with the depth of social programming and the scale of amenities found here. The decision hinges on whether the payoff in lifestyle richness justifies the occasional administrative friction.

This part of Summerfield, Florida offers a variety of dining options, including The Anchor on Sunset Harbor for seafood lovers and Cody�s Original Roadhouse for classic American fare. For those looking for medical care, there are several physician offices such as Heart of Florida Health Center and Mid-Florida Primary Care within a short drive. Additionally, there are pharmacies like Winn-Dixie and CVS Pharmacy nearby for prescription needs. Places of worship, such as Belleview First Baptist Church and St Timothy RC Church, provide spiritual support to residents. In case of emergencies, hospitals like The Villages Regional Hospital are within reach. Overall, this area provides convenient access to essential services and amenities for seniors looking to settle down in Summerfield.

Restaurants

• The Anchor on Sunset Harbor (1.9 miles)
• Cody’s Original Roadhouse (2.5 miles)
• Artman Country Smokehouse (3 miles)
• The Legacy Restaurant at the Nancy Lopez Country Club (3.1 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (4.6 miles)
• McDonald's (4.7 miles)
• Flying Boat Tap Room (5.1 miles)

Physicians

• Village Ford (3 miles)
• Heart of Florida Health Center (3.5 miles)
• Express Care Of Belleview (3.7 miles)
• Lake Endoscopy Center (4 miles)
• Ocala Dermatology & Skin CNCR (4.2 miles)
• Mid-Florida Primary Care (4.6 miles)
• Express Care of Belleview (4.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Winn-Dixie (3.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• Walgreens (4.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.6 miles)
• Walgreens (5.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.2 miles)
• Walgreens (6.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Belleview First Baptist Church (3.8 miles)
• St Timothy RC Church (6 miles)
• Hope Lutheran Church (7.2 miles)
• Fairway Christian Church (7.3 miles)

Hospitals

• DocMJ (5 miles)
• The Villages Regional Hospital (5.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (6.2 miles)