Stonecrest Residential Comm in Summerfield, FL

Pros

• Stonecrest is a great place to retire.
• Stonecrest is a private, gated, upscale golf/tennis/pickleball community with a multitude of clubs and amenities.
• The course has seen huge improvements and offers challenging and fun holes.
• Stonecrest is conveniently located to everything.
• The greens are beautiful, the clubhouse is nice, and the beverage cart is a plus.
• Stonecrest is a wonderful retirement community with lots of activities.
• Stonecrest offers beautiful homes at reasonable prices.
• The community is extremely nice with wonderful people and a lovely clubhouse, tennis courts, and pool areas.
• It is a great place to call home.
• The restaurant at the clubhouse is extremely good and clean.

Cons

• The gate guards are described as the rudest people you will ever meet.
• Visitors feel they are treated like criminals just to pass through the gate, even in a nice car with a family.
• The HOA/POA is viewed as overly controlling, sometimes sending violation letters within a week of moving in.
• The gate entry process requires surrendering a driver’s license at every entry, with no quick ingress pass.
• The golf club amenities are limited and the grill is outdated and not well maintained.
• The restaurant and common areas are dirty and poorly cleaned (tables not bused, glass doors dirty, sanitation concerns).
• Gate guards are repeatedly described as the worst, with comparisons to Ft. Knox and concrete traffic hazards.
• Some reviews call the community awful, even if they acknowledge it’s still better than The Villages.

Review

Stonecrest is best suited for active, golf-focused retirees who prize a private, gated setting, abundant clubs, and a well-organized social life. The community lends itself to residents who want to move around largely by golf cart, who value a quiet, park-like environment, and who relish the idea of a resort-style lifestyle with a robust calendar of events, clubs, and dining options within a secure, close-knit enclave. The golf course, clubhouse ambiance, and the sense that “there’s always something to do” consistently rise to the top in reviews, making Stonecrest a strong fit for those who measure retirement in the richness of daily activities, social connections, and convenient access to shopping and services that are truly walkable from the gates.

Those weighing alternatives should consider how gate procedures and governance shape daily life. A recurrent thread in the feedback is the gate experience: guards who sometimes feel overbearing, strict entrance requirements, and a sense that access logistics can overshadow a carefree visit or casual outing. The new owner/POA environment has also drawn scrutiny for its rules-heavy posture, with residents noting lengthy house-rule lookups and a perception of “control freak” management. For households that prize seamless ingress, minimal red tape, and a lighter touch from governance, Stonecrest may feel like a roadblock rather than a refuge. In that case, alternatives such as other 55+ communities with looser gate rituals or programs that emphasize ease of visitor access could be a wiser fit.

The major advantages here, an upscale, gated atmosphere, a welcoming golf culture, and a broad menu of clubs and events, tend to offset a fair share of friction for the right buyer. The course itself has earned praise for its greens and hole variety, with players noting that practice and play have improved under newer management and chefs, translating into a dining and social experience that complements the golf calendar. The clubhouse staff, beverage service, and pro shop are consistently described as friendly and helpful, contributing to a community-first vibe. When the sun lights up the fairways and the greens roll true, Stonecrest delivers the sense of daily resort living that many retirees crave, and the combination of secure access and social energy amplifies that appeal.

That said, the cons land with enough heft to tilt the balance for some prospects. The gate and HOA/POA framework shapes the daily rhythm in ways that many would rather avoid: ongoing orientation requirements, license and pass checks, and a sense that personal discretion is sometimes secondary to the letter of the rules. Several reviews flag the sheer volume of regulations, an estimated 130-page Rules & Regulations, and the implication that footage, dog park access, and even club participation can hinge on compliance with a dense codebook. Additionally, while the golf course and social calendar are strong, the amenities beyond the course, such as a small gym, a compact library, and a restaurant that, at times, has drawn critique for cleanliness and upkeep, do not compare with the scale seen in larger active-adult communities. Those seeking a more expansive on-site footprint may find the trade-offs too pronounced.

On balance, Stonecrest rewards buyers who want a polished, club-rich environment and who can tolerate, or even embrace, the governance DNA that keeps a gated lifestyle orderly. For the right resident, the pros, security, privacy, golf prestige, a thriving social fabric, easy access to nearby shopping, and a track record of improvements under new leadership, outweigh the drawbacks. For others, the not-insignificant gate friction, the heavy-handed rules package, and the more modest amenities may push toward alternatives that promise simpler visitor access, broader on-site facilities, or a less prescriptive governing body. The decision hinges on whether the comfort of a tight-knit, golf-forward neighborhood eclipses the daily inconveniences of gate diligence and a rules-driven environment.

Practically speaking, a prospective mover should verify several practical points before committing: experience with gate access during peak hours, transparency of the orientation schedule, and how quickly the community responds to rule inquiries and violations. Speak with current residents across multiple clubs to gauge whether governance remains a chore or a backdrop to a vibrant lifestyle. Inspect the restaurant and common areas for cleanliness and maintenance to form a realistic view of ongoing upkeep. Assess how the golf calendar aligns with personal interest, whether the greens’ speed and hole difficulty suit the game desired, and whether the beverage and dining experiences meet expectations. Finally, compare the overall cost against the breadth of amenities and the ease of daily living, factoring in the shopping conveniences reachable by golf cart. Stonecrest serves best those who want a refined, golf-centric, socially rich environment and who are prepared to navigate a gate-intensive ecosystem; for buyers seeking minimal friction, broader on-site amenities, or less governance, looking at alternatives will be a sound, informed choice.

Restaurants

• Sonic Drive-In (0.5 miles)
• McDonald's (0.6 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (1.5 miles)
• Margarita Republic (1.9 miles)
• Gator's Dockside (1.9 miles)
• Applebee's (2.1 miles)
• Tierra Del Sol Country Club (2.3 miles)

Physicians

• Medical Imaging and Therapeutics (0.5 miles)
• Munroe Regional Medical Center (0.5 miles)
• Mid-Florida Primary Care (0.6 miles)
• Lake Endoscopy Center (0.7 miles)
• Rivers Family Medicine (1 miles)
• Lake Dermatology PA (1 miles)
• Ram Eye Care and Retina Center (1 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (4.1 miles)

Hospitals

• DocMJ (0.7 miles)
• The Villages Regional Hospital (1.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Timothy RC Church (1.4 miles)
• Fairway Christian Church (3.2 miles)
• Hope Lutheran Church (3.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (4 miles)
• The Flying Biscuit Caf (4.2 miles)