Sports and social scene at the heart of Timber Pines’ allure
More than 15 years ago, Ralph VanDusen and his wife stayed one night at their friends’ home in Timber Pines, a stop that would inspire them to buy a second home in the community and, a few years later, retire there permanently. “Our friends gave us the grand tour,” says VanDusen, president of the Timber Pines Community Association board of directors. “It was the perfect fit for us. The tennis community — and everybody — was welcoming and included us in events they had.” This gated, 55-plus community north of Tampa prides itself on activities that thrive in the Florida sunshine, such as golf and tennis, as well as a social scene anchored by more than 100 clubs. Timber Pines is a landing spot for adults looking for a seasonal home or, in the case of VanDusen, a permanent escape from Northeastern winters.
Homes and villas among Timber Pines’ villages
Timber Pines consists of 57 villages, which are essentially subdivisions. They vary from Grand Pines, where ranch-style homes border fairways, to Natures Glen, home to attached Mediterranean-style villas. Golf courses and pine thickets add greenery to the landscape, but homes typically come with small yards, as most houses are on a quarter-acre of land or less. Villa prices typically range from $145,000 to $355,000. Detached houses usually cost between $190,000 and $490,000, but homes with golf course or lake views may sell from $530,000 to $640,000.
Residents get access to tennis, theater, par-3 course
Four golf courses wind through the community. They include a par-3 pitch-and-putt course that’s open year-round to all residents. “It costs you nothing except whatever golf balls you lose,” VanDusen says. The other three are 18-hole courses that members can play. Timber Pines’ other sports facilities, from tennis to bocce ball, are covered by HOA fees and open to all residents. Decades ago, the community’s board of directors set up capital reserve funds for upgrading and adding amenities. That’s how Timber Pines paid for recently built pickleball courts and an ongoing expansion to one of the swimming pools. There are indoor amenities, too. Residents can work out at the gym and dance studio within the Timber Pines Wellness Center. Community groups perform musicals and choir performances in front of a 570-seat theater at the performing arts center.
This part of Florida is known as the Nature Coast, where marshes and natural springs are more common than sandy beaches. Still, Timber Pines residents can get to the beach at Alfred A. McKethan Pine Island Park, about 15 miles away.
Concerts, clubs, more organized by Timber Pines Community Association
VanDusen says the Timber Pines Community Association frequently organizes events, from bingo nights to concerts. Plus, Timber Pines offers more than 100 clubs, with focuses varying from fishing to clay throwing. VanDusen says the membership of each club ranges from 20 to 1,000 people.
A pub in Timber Pines, shops and restaurants along Route 19
Residents head to Pines Pub for beers and live sports next to the pool. From the community’s western entrances, it’s less than a 10-minute drive to dozens of businesses along U.S. Route 19. They include Target, Publix and The Home Depot, as well as Greek City Cafe and Touchstar Cinemas. Near the movie theater, Farmers Market Spring Hill sets up in a parking lot every Saturday. East of Timber Pines, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church holds four services per week and runs a food pantry and a thrift store.
Getting around by golf cart and car
Locals often get around Timber Pines’ sprawling, winding streets by golf cart. “The average person here has one car and one golf cart,” VanDusen says. Route 19 extends down the Nature Coast, taking drivers to Clearwater, 40 miles south. That’s where St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport offers flights to more than 60 cities. It’s about 50 miles to Tampa, a drive that can take more than an hour and a half during rush hour.
Located in the Hernando County School District
Community rules limit a child’s stay in Timber Pines to eight weeks. Timber Pines is zoned to Deltona Elementary, which gets a B-minus from Niche, as well as C-plus-graded Fox Chapel Middle and B-rated Weeki Wachee High. Weeki Wachee High’s college and career programs include pathways for Marketing, Sales & Service and Arts, AV Technology and Communications.
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Written By
Alex Soderstrom
