Stonecrest Residential Comm

Pros

• Stonecrest is a large, quiet place with friendly people.
• Stonecrest has many beautiful homes at reasonable prices.
• The community center hosts many wonderful events and is always clean.
• The golf course has seen huge improvements since a few years back.
• The layout features challenging and fun holes.
• It is convenient to reach the course by golf cart from The Villages.
• The golf cart staff, including Janna, are respectful and friendly.
• Stonecrest offers convenient golf-cart access to shopping and medical facilities.
• The greens are beautiful and the clubhouse is nice, with a beverage cart as a plus.
• The clubhouse restaurant CHEERS is awesome.
• The pro shop staff are friendly.
• The community offers close to 80 clubs and activities, ensuring there's something for everyone.
• Stonecrest is beautiful with a nice clubhouse, tennis courts, and pool areas.

Cons

• The HOA/POA is described as overbearing and disappointing.
• Gate guards are portrayed as rude and overly controlling, with licenses demanded at every entrance.
• Two dog park gates are reportedly club-member only and require additional fees, despite being on common POA land.
• The golf club grill is seen as outdated and dingy, with tables left unbused and glass doors filthy.
• The restaurant and bathrooms are criticized as dirty, with sanitation issues and front entrance needing power washing.
• Confusing street names and gate-related traffic hazards are noted, with some calls to the police after incidents.
• Amenities are considered limited (small gym, small library) compared to other 55+ communities.
• One reviewer labeled it "an awful community," even though they admit it's still better than The Villages.

Review

Stonecrest is described by many as a beautiful, quiet retirement community in Florida with a generous menu of clubs, activities, and a golf course that draws people back year after year. The location gets high marks for convenience and accessibility, with residents noting easy golf-cart access to a wide swath of shopping and services, from Bealls and TJ Maxx to Walmart, Aldi, Cracker Barrel, and med facilities. The community centers and the variety of events keep life busy, and long-time residents often speak glowingly of the friendly neighbors who give Stonecrest its neighbors-first vibe.

On the upside, reviewers repeatedly celebrate the golf experience. The greens are praised for being challenging and well-maintained, with some holes featuring thoughtful pin placements that test even seasoned players. Several comments highlight big improvements under newer management, and the course layout is lauded for its fun, sometimes demanding design. The cart paths receive particular praise for their smooth transitions from path to fairway, a feature many players appreciate because it reduces strain on the body after long rounds. The staff in the pro shop is consistently described as friendly and helpful, and the beverage cart and clubhouse crew are welcomed additions that enhance the overall game-day experience.

People also point to Stonecrest's social and community life as a major draw. The community is large enough to feel private but intimate enough that neighbors feel like friends, with a strong sense of belonging created by the wide array of activities and clubs. The community center is highlighted for its cleanliness, its event spaces, and the ability to stage large gatherings with good lighting and a full stage setup. Even if some facilities are smaller - such as the gym, library, or exercise space - the overall feeling is that there are plenty of opportunities to stay active and social, whether through clubs, classes, or resident-organized events.

However, mixed opinions about governance and gate procedures tempers the otherwise sunny view. A recurring thread in the feedback is frustration with the HOA/POA structure and gate security practices. New movers report a swift violation letter shortly after moving in, coupled with a request to review house rules that would eventually be provided via a Thumbdrive at orientation. The orientation schedule itself is described as irregular - held every other week rather than weekly - which can slow newcomers' access to gate passes and ID badges. The requirement to surrender a driver's license to the guard gate each time you enter, and the lack of a quick ingress pass, contribute to a sense of being treated like a suspect rather than a valued resident.

Gate rules also lead to some practical concerns about access and fairness. For example, some amenities and gates appear to be reserved for club members with additional fees, which confuses people when those spaces sit on common POA land. The perception that certain entrances or facilities are "club member only" can feel at odds with the broader image of the community as a welcoming, all-ages-retirement environment. Add in occasional complaints about gate guards who seem overly rigid or unwelcoming and some of the parking- and traffic-related tensions at entry points, and you get a sense that governance is a core area of contention for some residents.

In terms of dining and amenities, there's a split between praise and critique. The onsite restaurant in the clubhouse - referred to by some as "Cheers" - is singled out as a strong point, with many enjoying meals there and noting a generally high quality of food and service. In contrast, a few reviews describe the golf club grill and dining areas as outdated or not cleaned as regularly as they should be, with tables sometimes not bused and glass doors left dirty. These hygiene and upkeep issues are cited as deterrents for potential buyers and as reminders that even well-loved amenities benefit from consistent, attentive maintenance.

Beyond food and gate experience, residents also reference a few environmental and maintenance concerns that color their day-to-day impressions. A common theme is the sense that some common areas - like entrances, restrooms, and certain outdoor spaces - could use freshening up, power washing, better sanitation, and more consistent cleaning. These observations are often framed as actionable feedback for the POA and management rather than as outright deal-breakers; still, they contribute to a cautious note for anyone considering purchasing in Stonecrest.

Despite the friction points, many people conclude that Stonecrest remains a highly desirable place to live. The combination of a beautiful setting, a robust roster of clubs and activities, strong social networks, and a highly regarded golf course makes the community appealing. The proximity to shopping, dining, and medical facilities, coupled with the unique convenience of moving around entirely by golf cart, reinforces its appeal. For many residents, the positives far outweigh the negatives, and they emphasize building relationships with friendly neighbors and taking full advantage of the extensive calendar of events and community life.

If you're considering Stonecrest, the takeaways are clear: it's a location-rich, people-centric community with a top-tier golf experience and a clubhouse that can deliver memorable meals and social moments. It's also a place where governance and gate procedures matter - where a plentiful rules-and-regulations framework can feel opaque at first and where entry processes can seem onerous before you get the lay of the land. Prospective buyers are advised to read the extensive 130-page Rules & Regulations carefully, visit during peak times to observe gate operations, and talk with current residents about their experiences with management, clubs, and the social network. With its ample activities, strong neighborly vibe, and a setting that encourages life in the open air, Stonecrest can be a wonderful home - so long as you're prepared to navigate the governance and accessibility nuances that come with it.

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)