Cmon, let&#;s admit it, as golfers, one of the best things about teeing it up is driving the golf buggy around. I remember playing golf as a junior, and we would really put the golf carts through the ringer and, on one occasion, completely destroyed one.
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We would stick tees in between the throttle limiter, and the cart would fly around the course like a $200K Lamborghini. So I guess this complete guide to buying a golf cart is my way of saying sorry and paying my respects to those carts we trashed in our younger days.
Ok, on a serious note, the term &#;golf cart&#; originally referred to the hand-pulled cart or &#;buggies,&#; as we call them in my native Australia. The carts were only designed to pull one bag that you would strap to the back of the cart; it was a real nuisance, and inevitably at some point during the round, your bag would eventually fall off.
Fast forward to the modern era, and we now have motorized carts that carry four people and four sets of clubs. But with so many different carts on the market, it&#;s easy to be confused when it comes to purchasing one. Different types of motors, two seats, four seats, and well-known brands like EZGO, Yamaha, and ClubCar can make the task overwhelming.
In this Golf Cart Buyer&#;s Guide, you&#;ll learn everything from things to consider, types of cart and motors, and I&#;ll even answer some frequently asked questions, all in the hope of putting you in the perfect golf cart.
Let&#;s get started.
Considerations Before Purchasing A Golf Cart
Contents
If this is your first time purchasing a golf cart, the thing that will blow you away is just how many different types of carts and brands are on the market; it&#;s akin to buying a car.
Some of the types of golf carts that you&#;re likely to come across are:
If you&#;re an environmentalist, then the best bet will be an electric-powered golf cart because these carts have no emissions and are exceptionally quiet. I might add that research suggests that it takes twice as much power to manufacture an electric cart compared to a conventional gas-powered model; it&#;s food for thought.
However, electric carts are an excellent choice, especially if you live in a gated community with strict neighborhood policies on noise and pollution. As with my Tesla, acceleration is instantaneous, and if fully charged, your electric golf car should comfortably get you through 36 holes. Many of the new electric carts have top speeds at over 20 mph or 33 kph, which is more than enough to have a little bit of fun with.
A couple of final things to check before considering an electric cart is how far you can go on a full battery and the distance of your golf course. There&#;s no use buying an electric cart if your golf course is overly long or has rough and undulating terrain, in which case a gas-powered cart would be better suited.
When buying a used or &#;fleet golf cart,&#; make sure you find out how old the batteries are and if they&#;ve been replaced recently. Remember, technology has advanced in leaps and bounds, and older batteries don&#;t have the same efficiency as modern ones, meaning you won&#;t travel as far.
Ensuring the charger is in tip-top condition is also important as it can be costly to replace. The &#;smart&#; chargers are the charger of choice these days because they only charge the battery if and when needed, saving you time and money.
Finally, it&#;s essential to consider the speed controllability in the golf cart, and depending on your golf course and where you live, the speed best suited to you will vary greatly.
Purchasing an Electric Golf Cart
Would you believe the first electric golf cart was designed way back in by Merle Williams, who lived in Long Beach, California? The cart, however, was not designed explicitly for golf, which at the time was still a sport only played by the elite. Instead, Williams invented the cart as a way to circumvent the rationing of gas.
His cart was a three-wheeler and used tiller steering, which was still being used on golf carts in the s.
When it comes to purchasing your first electric golf cart, many customers opt for a second-hand or a fleet model owned by a golf resort or course. Prices can vary greatly, ranging from $2,000 up to more than $20,000 depending on how much your wife is willing to let you spend; consequently, I&#;m still using a pull cart.
Fleet carts are an excellent investment as the original buyers were able to get the carts considerably cheaper, in some cases purchasing large numbers in the s. When the resorts look to upgrade their carts, these lower prices are passed on to you.
The obvious downside is that many of these fleet carts have probably seen s of rounds, with many of the drivers displaying the recklessness of my childhood. However, fleet golf carts are typically well looked after by the resorts and undergo regular maintenance checks and parts swaps.
Resorts are required by law to keep their carts in good working order, giving you peace of mind when buying. The batteries and chargers are also taken good care of, and regular maintenance checks are mandatory in most states.
Purchasing a Gas-Powered Cart
Similar to its electric counterpart, the gas-powered golf cart was the mastermind of Max Walker; Max was a very modest man and aptly called the first model &#;The Walker Executive.&#; The cart also had three wheels and employed the same tiller steering system its electric counterpart used.
The primary advantage gas-powered carts have over electric models is they travel further and generally have higher top speeds, as I can attest to. Gas golf carts are easy to fill up just as you would a regular car, and there&#;s no need to replace expensive batteries.
As with your normal car, however, gas-powered carts are prone to trouble, and keeping them well maintained is an absolute must. Parts that need regular maintenance or replacing on gas-powered golf carts are:
You&#;ll obviously have to fill up with gas too, so depending on where you live and the price of gas, it might make better sense in the long to buy an electric cart.
Purchasing A Golf Cart For Street Use
Electric and gas-powered golf carts can be driven on the street if all the legal requirements are met, but check with your local transport department for all the specifics. The last thing you want to do is spend your hard-earned cash pimping out your cart only to find out it&#;s not street legal.
Street legal golf carts are perfect for those people who live in gated communities and use the cart for other purposes apart from just golf. As I said, it&#;s best to check with your state transport department, but generally speaking, to become &#;street legal,&#; several changes need to be made.
Typical street legal golf cart requirements:
Unfortunately, far too many people completely ignore the law and drive their regular golf carts on the street. Ignoring the law could lead to being pulled over by the police and issued with an expensive citation and loss of points, not to mention endangering others.
Fun fact: One gated community in Florida is said to have more than 43,000 golf carts that residents use for golf and other lifestyle needs.
Best Golf Cart Brands
The golf cart industry has come a long way since when the first electric and gas-powered carts were invented. Now the industry has blossomed, and several major companies are leading the way.
E-Z-GO is one such company that manufactures top-line golf carts and was founded in .
Other well-known brands are:
The United States is still the most prominent golf cart manufacturer globally and produces golf carts for golf and recreational use along with golf carts for other services such as commercial use.
Club Car Carts
Club Car is one of the most well-known and respected golf cart manufacturers in the world. The company is largely known for its manufacturing processes which strive to boost production and cart quality while keeping costs as low as possible. Initially, Club Car focused solely on developing carts specifically for golf but has now branched out to manufacturing carts for commercial use,
The company was founded in Texas in and was originally named Landreath Machine before changing its name to Club Car later that same year.
Club Car moved to Augusta, Georgia, home of the Augusta National and the famed Master&#;s Tournament. Businessman Bill Stevens purchased the company, and soon after, they developed their first production named cart, the &#;Carouche.&#; Although the design was intended to be sleek and refined, the cart quickly became known as the &#;cockroach.&#;
Club Car stayed relatively unknown until , when Bill and Beverly Dolan and seven other high-level executives left E-Z-GO to take over Club Car. From on, Club Car became the major competitor to E-Z-GO, and the two companies continue to compete at the highest levels of the industry today.
was a significant turning point for Club Car as they bought in Dom Saporito, a celebrated designer, to revamp the cart and take the company in a new direction. Saporito is credited for designing the Club Car DS&#;s iconic electric golf cart, the DS signifying Dom&#;s initials. Subsequently, the company produced the Club Car Carryall, a commercial use golf cart based on the golf cart base.
In recent years Club Car has changed ownership several times and, in , was listed on the NASDAQ. Ingersoll Rand is the current umbrella company to Club Car and has been a leader for 50 plus years; the company credits its loyal employees for their success.
Yamaha Golf Carts
Yamaha has been manufacturing automotive parts, cars, and carts since . The company is known for its innovation and cutting-edge technological processes and produces products across a wide range of industries, from musical instruments to jet skis.
In typical Japanese fashion, Yamaha strives to lead the industry in best practices and state-of-the-art technology for their manufacturing processes. From golf carts to motorbikes and power sports to musical instruments, Yamaha has excelled for more than a century.
Yamaha produced their first golf cart for the US market in and were relative latecomers to the market as the golf cart industry had been flourishing in the US for several years prior. Their first cart was named the G1 and had a small gas-powered engine. The following year, Yamaha manufactured their first electric golf cart.
The company has continued to grow and has designed and manufactured numerous gas-powered and electric carts for recreational and commercial use.
Yamaha&#;s Secret to Success:
Optional Parts, Accessories, And Options
Whether you own an electric or gas-powered golf cart, the price you outlay will depend significantly on the options and parts you purchase. How you intend on using the golf cart will also significantly impact the price; Are you going to use it on-course? Or will you be using it for other purposes?
Depending on your budget and how serious you are about pimping out your cart, the options are pretty much endless and only limited by your checkbook.
Common additions people request are cooler boxes, sound systems, air con, mirrors, and even new grills; if you&#;ve been to Florida, no doubt you&#;ve seen golf carts that look like a Rolls Royce, Bentley, or even a Maybach; they actually look really cool.
Where Can I Purchase A Golf Cart?
When you&#;re ready to purchase your golf cart, there are several places you can head to when looking for the best deals.
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Start off the old-school way and scour your local newspaper for the best bargains in the classifieds. More often than you think, people are looking to upgrade their cart or sell it because it didn&#;t get the use they thought it would. You can pick up some excellent deals in the local papers, and the best part is their close by.
Your next best bet is to contact your local golf cart dealer, but this will depend on your location. If you live in places like Florida, Arizona, or Southern California, you shouldn&#;t have any trouble finding a reputable dealer. Obviously, the price will be significantly higher at the dealer, but that being said, you will have peace of mind knowing the cart has been well maintained and has valid paperwork.
Social media sites are also another excellent way to find some good deals, with FaceBook Marketplace and Craigslist being good places to check.
How Much Should I Pay For A Golf Cart?
Have you ever heard of the saying &#; how long is a piece of rope&#;? Well, the same thinking can be applied when talking about how much to spend on a golf cart.
Typically speaking, you can find golf carts in a reasonable working condition for between $1,500 and $4,000; however, this will depend on your location. Most of the carts in this price range are privately owned and have seen heavy use; still, they are a good place to start.
If you&#;re willing to pay a little bit more, you can find some outstanding second-hand fleet carts with all the bells and whistles for between $4,000 and $8,000. You can even buy a new cart in this price range, although it will be a base model with little to no options.
The $8,000 to $10,000 price range will get you a top-of-the-line second-hand fleet golf cart manufactured by a well-known brand such as EZGO, ClubCar, or Yamaha.
If you want to turn heads, then the $10,000 and up price range is for you. In this price range, you&#;re starting to look at new high-end models from the brands mentioned above, many fully optioned or customized to suit your needs.
Buying a Golf Cart is a great way to add an affordable and fun to drive vehicle to your driving options. In this article we&#;ll go over the &#;12 Things to Know When Buying a Golf Cart.&#;
Buying a Golf Cart, or &#;EV Cart&#; is a great way to add an affordable, fun and eco-friendly vehicle to your garage and driving options.
Golf Carts are now used for many more excursions than going for a round of Golf on the Golf Cart. Golf Carts have become hugely popular with couples, families and seniors as an alternative option to their bigger and more expensive to drive gas guzzling cars.
Golf Carts have become a great option for running around town, going to the store or out to grab a meal.
In this latest Golf Cart Blog article, &#;12 Things to Know When Buying a Golf Cart&#;, we&#;ll provide you with insight, ideas and tips on what to look out for when buying your new or next Golf Cart.
Should you buy a New or Used Golf Cart:
As with anything, &#;You get what you pay for.&#; That is not to say that you should skip the option of buying a used Golf Cart and go directly to a new Golf Cart. On the contrary, you can find great value in purchasing a used Golf Cart, but you do need to be careful in your assessment of the wear and tear on the used vehicle.
The same, &#;you get what you pay for&#; adage can be said about &#;Buying a Golf Cart&#; as well. With the massive growth in popularity of the Golf Cart industry, there has been massive, and quick growth in the manufacturing of Golf Carts. As with all complex vehicle manufacturing you can expect &#;growing pains&#; which result in some &#;bugs&#; or mistakes in the build process.
Another consideration, and perhaps the first and most important initial consideration is the cost of a new Golf Cart compared to a used Golf Cart. A new Golf Cart can have a list price of $7,000 to $13,000 with some fully customized new Golf Carts exceeding $25,000 to $30,000+.
If you can imagine it, it can be added to or adapted to your Golf Cart. But let&#;s leave the review of radically customized Golf Carts for another article. For now, let&#;s consider the option of a well-cared for used Golf Cart and top of the line new Golf Cart.
Some may see the process of buying a Golf Cart as a mind-numbing process, it really does not have to be. As with buying a car or motorcycle or other higher priced ticket item, information will make the buying process enjoyable and ultimately you will have a high level of confidence that you have purchased the best Golf Cart for your budget.
Golf Carts, or &#;EV Carts&#; have become hugely popular with couples, families and seniors as an alternative option to their bigger and more expensive to drive gas guzzling cars.
New vs. Used Golf Carts:
This is an easy one really. What is your budget? If you have the budget to purchase a new Golf Cart, then there are a number of pains you can avoid by purchasing a new Golf Cart. This includes having brand new batteries (this is important), few to no miles on the drivetrain and you can typically have your choice of colors and other options on your Golf Cart.
On the other hand, if you have a lower budget, then there are certainly great deals to be found for good used Golf Carts to be found. Just do your research and know what you are looking at and looking for. Test drive, check the batteries, how much time, if any is left on the Manufacturer&#;s Warranty, etc.
Obviously, you will expect to &#;give in&#; a bit on expectations of a used Golf Cart, or EV Cart. The paint may be a bit faded, there may be a bit more wear on the upholstery, there may be a crack in the windshield or headlights may be a bit fogged up and the tires may have some wear and tear on them &#; but all these things and more are easily replaced and even upgraded.
Ask a Friend:
Perhaps one of the best steps to take when buying a Golf Cart is ask a friend or a friend of a friend who owns or who has owned a Golf Cart, or EV Cart. Talk to them about their experience. If they live in the same town as you, ask who they purchased their Golf Cart from and ask if they would buy from them again and if not, why?
If they are willing, bring them with you when you look at a new or used Golf Cart and listen to them asking questions about the Golf Cart you are looking at. Chances are, they will ask a lot of great questions that you can repeat in the next Golf Cart you look at &#; it&#;s not likely the friend will be willing to accompany you on every Golf Cart inspection &#; no one is that good of a friend.
Don&#;t have a friend? You can rent one:
It is a great option to consider hiring a professional inspector when you feel you have found the perfect used Golf Cart. Obviously, you would not hire a professional Golf Cart Inspector for every unit you consider, but once you have worked the list down to 1 or 2 options, a professional Golf Cart Inspector could be one of your best investments in your purchasing process.
Buying a New or Used Golf Cart? Ask for References:
If you are set on buying a new or used Golf Cart, or EV Cart from a dealership &#; always ask for referrals from past or current customers. If the dealership is reputable, they&#;ll be happy to have you contact a customer.
6. Get the Specifications on a Used Golf Cart:
With the aid of the Internet, you can get a copy of the manufacture&#;s details and specifications of just about any used Golf Cart model sold in the past 10+ years. You should always get a printout of the manufacture&#;s details and specifications of the Golf Cart you are considering for purchase. Study the details and understand what was included and offered as aftermarket items. Once you review these specifications of a couple of models you will become very familiar with what is likely to be included on other Golf Carts in your budget.
Go to a Golf Cart Dealership:
Even if you are not in the market for purchasing a brand-new Golf Cart one of your first stops should be at 1 or 2 your local Golf Cart Dealerships. Often, they will have both new and used Golf Carts that will allow you to do a side-by-side comparison, experience a test drive and what will likely be the most important, you will find out what you don&#;t like and what you can and cannot afford.
Golf Courses for Information:
As you can imagine, a Golf Course is a great place to find Golf Carts&#;as such, a Golf Course is a great place to get insight on what people like and dislike about their Golf Carts and a visit to the maintenance department to speak to the mechanics could provide a gold mine of information. Questions and answers are your best ammunition.
Batteries are the lifeblood of your Golf Cart:
Batteries are the biggest concern, whether they are Lithium or Lead Acid Batteries. Traditional Lead Batteries need to be maintained properly to ensure peak performance and longevity, and if the owner failed to care for the batteries, you may be in for a disappointment later.
If you&#;re buying a used Golf Cart, or EV Cart, you should expect to be told how long the batteries have been in the cart, how long it takes to charge them, how many hours do they last and if you&#;re lucky, get an actual record of past battery maintenance and service work.
It is not uncommon to have to replace the batteries on a used Golf Cart and frankly, while this can be costly, you will know that your batteries are new and in great shape.
Information is Power:
Golf Carts do not have an odometer like a car, so you will need to ask the seller to verify the number of hours or &#;cycles&#; on the Golf Cart. If you are considering a Golf Cart manufactured after , there should be a way to check the controller to see how many hours the Golf Cart has been in use, but this is not in every case.
If you can&#;t determine that number of hours or &#;cycles&#;, you may be at risk for spending more money on new batteries or a new controller down the road. That&#;s why, no matter how much you may trust the seller, a professional inspection can save you a lot of headaches later.
Where can you go:
Driving your Golf Cart is the best part of owning one. Before making your investment, it is a great idea to learn the Golf Cart (Low Speed) Driving laws of your city and state.
Buying from a Dealership &#; New or Used:
Obviously, if you are buying a new Golf Cart, or EV Cart, and dealership is the only way to go. If you are buying a used Golf Cart you have the option to buy from a dealership or an individual. While you may likely pay a bit more for a used Golf Cart from a dealership, you tend to get a lot more for your money with a dealership.
Often a dealership will fully service the Golf Carts they sell, replace broken parts, upgrade or replace batteries, and in some cases the dealership may offer an extended warranty. Sure, purchasing your Golf Cart from an individual may save you a few dollars, but it comes with the original warning, &#;You get what you pay for.&#;
We hope you find value in our latest Golf Cart Blog article, &#;12 Things to Know When Buying a Golf Cart.&#; We invite you to visit our Golf Cart Blog for more tips & recommendations for all there is to experience when owning a Golf Cart.
You may be interested in our Golf Cart Blog article; &#;5 Top Golf Cart Accessories for .&#;
For more information on purchasing a new or used Golf Cart, or to learn about favorable financing options, reach one of our experienced Customer Service Team Members at: 888.260. or us.
About Bright Electric Vehicles:
Bright Electric Vehicles (&#;BEV&#;) is a multi-brand, multi-state Golf Cart Dealership representing top Golf Cart Brands including, ICON Golf Carts and Evolution Golf Carts, with other brands coming soon.
Our commitment to providing each Customer with the very best prices and outstanding personalized service that has earned Bright EV a Top 5-Star Rating from our loyal Customers.
With our strategic locations situated throughout the Southwest, Hawaii and new locations coming soon, Bright EV has the buying power and locations to serve our Customers and deliver Golf Carts throughout the U.S. at the most competitive pricing possible.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website 2 Seater Golf Cart With Carriage.