The Villages - March 2020 - 2

CHECKING IN

BY RICA KEENUM

Cruising in Style - Our Golf Car Issue
It's part of the fun - cruising the sunny cart paths with postcard views all
around. Riding in a golf car is one of the highlights of being a Villager. Seeing
all the incredible, decked out carts is another - miniature semi-trucks, classic
replica models, and themed rides with custom paint and features. In this issue,
we highlighted a dozen cool rides and interviewed a golf car safety instructor,
The Villages Golf Cars director of operations as well as their well-loved
production manager.
From their humble beginnings in January 1993, to their current status as
the biggest retailer of golf cars in the area, The Villages Golf Cars has more than
a wide selection from major golf car manufacturers. They also employ great
people. Director of Operations Lori Resmondo and Production Manager Daryl
Lape are examples.
"(When) our very first location opened, (it was) a little 1,200-square-foot
leased space," Resmondo said. "We started out with a couple sales associates
and a vision of providing this community with the golf car lifestyle as the Morse
family envisioned it."
The company started out by purchasing golf cars for the golf courses, but
as The Villages grew, golf cars quickly became a staple mode of transportation.
Their retail space is dedicated to filling that need for residents, and creatively, too.
"Many years ago, golf cars didn't have lights, and they were very basic in
nature," she said. "We started being creative and innovative about what we
could do with these golf cars to add comfort, and add items that would give more
of an automobile experience in a golf car."
Today, The Villages Golf Cars collaborates with manufacturers to bring new
features tailored to the community.
And speaking of tailored, flip over to our golf car photos to see how it's done.
Residents show off their unique golf cars as they pose in their favorite spots
around The Villages.
But as fun as these little cars can be, Mark Gallo reminds us that they're not
toys. As VHA director of golf car operations and safety, he stands at the head of
the class, teaching his two-fold mission: to dispel myths and encourage golf car
safety in the community.
"I've been teaching this class for five years, and I'm constantly surprising
residents," he said. Gallo teaches as many as six to 10 classes monthly at area
recreation centers for The Villages Insurance company and for hospitals and
social clubs, too. "There's nothing like this program anywhere in the United
States," he said. Classes can run up to two hours because a portion is allotted for
questions - "And boy do they ask questions," Gallo said.
Check out that story and see if you learn a few things.
That's just a brief look at this month's content. We've packed plenty more
in this edition - our home story, pet story and all the regular departments that
keep you entertained and connected with the community.
Here's to a month of cruising with friends and enjoying the scenery!
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MARCH 2020
The Villages - March 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - March 2020
