Good morning, Villagers — and buckle up! 🚗💨 We’ve got a full lineup today: your golf cart confessions (no judgments!), Golf course series continues with Southern Oaks and Eastport, a corner-lot beauty near Fenney, a nature walk worth your morning, and a new breakfast spot joining the 466 lineup. Let’s roll.

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On This Day in 1977: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s plane crashed in Mississippi, killing three band members — just three days after releasing Street Survivors. “Free Bird” forever became more than just a song request.

— Kevin Rogers, Publisher

Poll Of The Week

🚓Be honest — how fast does your golf cart really go?
After Thursday’s video on speeding tickets, a lot of readers wrote in admitting their carts might be a bit friskier than advertised 😏. We’re not here to judge ( or report to the authorities!), just curious.

We’ll share the results in Monday’s email (no police reports attached 😉).

The Championship Courses of The Villages

A Villages Pulse Multi-Part Feature Series

Chapter 8 – Southern Oaks & Eastport Dreams: The New Frontier

The community’s march south continued across SR 44, and once again, championship golf marked the expansion. Southern Oaks Championship, opening in 2020, became the first 18-hole championship course south of the turnpike. With rolling hills, giant oak trees, and brand-new facilities, it reminded residents that championship golf was still at the heart of The Villages vision.

Southern Oaks carried symbolic weight: it showed that even as hundreds of executive holes were added, the developers still saw championship golf as essential. Rumors now swirl that Eastport — the new town square in progress — will anchor yet another championship layout.

Quick Stat: The Villages now boasts more than a dozen championship courses and over 700 total holes of golf — more than any other community in the world.

Miss earlier chapters? Read them here: Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Open House of The Week

Premium Corner Lot Lantana Near Fenney Rec

This 3-bed, 2-bath Lantana sits on a premium corner lot with room for a private pool, a 3-car + golf cart garage, and a bright open layout built for entertaining.

📅 Open House: Friday, Oct 24 | 11 AM – 2 PM | 5868 Wood Stork Way

• 🛏 Spacious bedrooms with tray-ceiling primary suite & walk-in closets

• 🍽 Open kitchen with stone counters & stainless appliances

• 🌿 Screened lanai (28×11) and mature landscaping

• 🚗 Wide driveway with 3-car + golf cart garage

• 📍 Near Warm Springs & Fenney Way — minutes to Sawgrass Grove & Edna’s and the new Eastport square!

💭 Take a guess — what do you think this beauty is listed for?

SPONSORED BY NOVA FILTERS

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I had my Nova 3-stage whole house filter installed over a month ago and absolutely love the difference! My water tastes clean, smells fresh, and feels so much better on my skin. I’ve received so much positive feedback from Pulse readers who also took advantage of the deal back in July!

Their whole house filters, water softeners, and reverse osmosis systems make every tap taste like bottled water. With free professional installation, transparent pricing online, and a perfect 5.0 Google rating, it’s no wonder customers rave about them.

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🌿 Villages Walk of the Week

Walk of the Week: Hogeye Preserve Trail

Tucked in Marsh Bend, the Hogeye Preserve Trail is one of the most scenic walks in The Villages. This 2.5-mile loop circles an 81-acre wetland with boardwalks, shaded stretches, and open views teeming with birdlife. Starting near Edna’s on the Green, it’s an easy hour-long stroll that feels worlds away from the golf carts.

Go early for cooler temps and photo-worthy light, and bring sturdy shoes—some sections stay damp after rain. It’s “Old Florida” nature right in your backyard.

Business News

• A new breakfast spot is headed to the 466 corridor: Jeff’s Bagel Run will take over the old Giovanni’s location at Southern Trace Plaza. Opening date hasn’t been announced yet — stay tuned.
• Already open at Southern Trace: Piesanos (opened Oct 13). Expect stone-fired pizzas, a revamped interior and a full bar in a convenient Villages location.
Want to see something new? Have a tip or inside scoop? Send it our way at [email protected]

🩺 Screening Spotlight

Sponsored By Life Line Screening

Villages Pulse Reader Elizabeth shared this with me recently: “I did not see your poll on carotid artery screening but everyone should do it. I did and it saved my life. I had 97% blockage. Just saying it can make all difference. That was in 2013!!!”

Echocardiogram

A picture of your beating heart

This ultrasound of the heart shows how well it pumps, how valves work, and detects clots or fluid.

✅ Who should consider it: People with murmurs, heart failure, or unexplained symptoms.

👉 Where/Who/Prescription: Done at hospitals or cardiology clinics. Requires doctor referral.

💡 Takeaway: A noninvasive look that reveals what your heart is really doing.

Upcoming Events

Want a Featured Event with a poster/image? Reach out.

🤠 Country Dance Demonstration | Sumter Landing | Today | 9am | Details

Shirley’s Senior Hold’em Tourney | Oxford Downs | Today | 11:15am | Details

Free Movie: Soul On Fire | Old Mill | Tue Oct 21 | 2pm | Details

Joaniefit Kickboxing | Sawgrass | Wed Oct 22 | 10 am | Details

🏌️‍♀️ Ladies Full Swing Clinic | Palmer | Oct 22 | 10:30 pm | Details

🏌️‍♂️ Short Game Clinic | Sarasota | Oct 23 | 12:30 pm | Details

Tennis & Pickleball Expo | Glenview Tennis Club | Oct 23 | Details

Hometown Halloween | Brownwood | Oct 23-26 | Details

🖌️ 🍷 Paint & Sip Hallo-Wine | Legacy | Oct 23 | 12 pm | Register

Paint & Sip | Prima Steakhouse | Oct 24 | 12 PM | Register

🖼️ Fall Fine Art Show | Eisenhower Rec | Oct 25 | 9 am - 3 pm | Details

40th Annual Mt Dora Craft Fair | Oct 25 - 26 | Details

👻 Halloween Dance Party w/ Clark Barrios, Dawn DiNome | Oct 30 | Details

🎸 Bob Seger Tribute | Whispering Oaks | Nov 13 | Details + Tickets

Have an event you want to announce to 7,500+ local Villagers? Email us the details and a link to [email protected]

Live Music Lowdown

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thanks!

If you enjoyed today’s issue, share it with a friend or post it in your neighborhood group. Word-of-mouth is how this community grows — one subscriber at a time.

P.S. Want to get your business in front of 7,500+ local Villagers? Reach out here.