There are many advantages to living within a golf course community if you’re an avid golfer. Being able to play practically whenever the mood strikes is an important perk. For everyone else though, this is not the case.
Active adults that do not play the game might find that they do not want all that comes with this lifestyle, including additional noise and traffic, and the money that has to pay for the course’s upkeep and other fees.
There are many good-sized 55+ neighborhoods in Southern New Jersey that do not have golf courses but still provide outstanding amenities. Instead of spending time at the links, these homeowners enjoy relaxing by the pool, getting a good workout in the exercise room, or playing some competitive pickleball with friends.
To many, these worthwhile pursuits are just as rewarding as playing golf, and maybe even a bit less expensive. Here are some of our favorite active adult communities without courses that have homes for sale in South Jersey.
Holiday City at Berkeley – Toms River
Low $100s – Low $300s
As the largest 55+ community in all of New Jersey, Holiday City at Berkeley has a lot going on. It has to with 10,636 single-family homes and a very active population that VALUES
( health and wellness activities.
These well-established resale homes are offered in 20 floor plans from 757 to 1,852 square feet. They come with one to three bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, and attached one or two-car garages. Options on the larger models include decks, breakfast nooks, and dens. A monthly association fee provides for lawn service, bus service, and common area maintenance.
Holiday City at Monroe has five clubhouses with amenities like bocce ball courts, game and craft rooms, outdoor pools, and shuffleboard. And since it is so large, it has its own shops, banks, and restaurants.
There are dozens of social and activity groups for interests like bowling, cameras, computers, fishing, and exercise. There is also a community bus for residents, and a variety of planned events and trips throughout the year.
Lucky Toms River residents can drive right over the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge to get to the shore towns, like Seaside Heights and Ortley Beach. The downtown Toms River area is full of cool shops, trendy restaurants, and its own indoor farmers market.
Greenbriar I – Brick
Low $100s – Low $200s
Also close to the Jersey Shore, Greenbriar I affordable 55+ neighborhood has 1,951 attached and single-family homes on a sprawling property in desirable Ocean County. Greenbriar I has five floor plans with two bedrooms, one to two bathrooms, and one-car garages. Upgrades include screened-in porches, atriums, and breakfast nooks.
The popular clubhouse includes its own fitness center, along with an outdoor pool, plus pickleball, shuffleboard, and bocce ball courts. The cozy fireplace lounge is used by some of the social groups for their events, which include wine and cheese parties, book discussions, and holiday get-togethers. The golf club, garden club oil painting, and line dancing clubs are also all well-attended by residents.
Brick is in close proximity to three state recreation areas, including Allaire State Park, Ocean County Park, and Lake Shenandoah County Park. The town is also just off the Garden State Parkway, which leads to major metropolitan areas like New York City.
Four Seasons at Mirage – Barnegat
Low $200s – Mid $400s
Drive 30 minutes to the north of Brick and you will end up in Barnegat, which is home to Four Seasons at Mirage. This gated, upscale community of 1,203 single-family resale homes was built from 1998 to 2007.
There are over 20 ranch style and two-story floor plans ranging from 1,350 and 3,448 square feet. These have two or three bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and attached one to two-car garages. Options include basements, wooded lots, granite counters, and sunrooms.
The grounds at Four Seasons features tennis and bocce ball courts, a gazebo, and a relaxing outdoor pool. The 23,000 square-foot clubhouse has a fitness center with saunas and an indoor lap pool. There are over 50 activity groups and events with everything from a hiking group to a classic car club to the Mirage Players Theater Group.
Although Barnegat is also near the Parkway, it is in a more rural area near landmarks like the stunning Forked River Mountains and scenic Barnegat Bay. Homeowners can drive about five miles south to get to Hackensack Meridian Health Southern Ocean Medical Center, the Regal Cinemas Manahawkin movie theater, Target, Costco, and other shops, stores, and restaurants.
Homestead at Mansfield – Columbus
Mid $100s – Mid $200s
Homestead at Mansfield is a gated retirement community in a more rural area of Burlington County with 1,092 moderately priced single family homes and appealing lifestyle amenities.
Built from 1983 to 2012, its residences are all ranch style, with open floor plans sized from 1,200 to 2,200 square feet. There are nine floor plans with two bedrooms, two baths, and attached garages. Upgrades may include hardwood floor, patios, sunrooms, Jacuzzis, and newer kitchens.
The community clubhouse is full of amenities, with an indoor fitness center and sauna, activity rooms, and a spectacular ballroom. During the warmer months, homeowners take advantage of the outdoor pool, horseshoe pits, tennis courts, bocce, and winding walking trails.
This community is also convenient to major highways like Interstate 295 and the NJ Turnpike, with restaurants, doctors’ offices, and retail outlets along nearby Columbus Road. It is also less than 10 minutes from Pennsylvania, if you take Interstate 95 across the Delaware River.
