Golf Carts — A Surprisingly Large Industry

You probably just take them for granted when you play golf, and never think about their origin. I’m talking about golf carts, those miniature vehicles dotting every golf course. However, golf cart production is a multi-million dollar industry and different models abound. They are treated as small cars, and golf-cart companies provide leasing and financing options just as the big car companies do.

Golf originates from a medieval game played on the coast of Scotland during the 15th century. Golfers would hit a pebble instead on a ball around the sand dunes using a stick or club. As time passed, stones were exchanged for man-made balls, the earliest of which were thin leather bags stuffed with feathers. The gutta-percha ball was not invented until 1848 and could be hit a maximum distance of 225 yards. In 1899 rubber balls were invented that could reach distances of 430 yards. Golf sticks evolved into carefully weighted golf clubs, and in the 1880’s golf club bags first became fashionable. The caddie, a servant who carted all the player’s gear aound the golf course, had his burden lessened by the invention of the golf car in the early 1950’s.

The first golf car manufacturers were E-Z-Go, Pargo, Harley Davidson and Cushman. The price was astoundingly high for this era, $1200, but as more manufacturers entered the field it dropped to $600, still high in terms of inflation. E-Z-Go still manufacturs golf cars today. There are hundreds or golf car manufacturers listed on the internet, and most of these companies specialize in these small vehicles, and do not make larger cars.

The first golf cars were gas-powered, but recently the market has shifted to more battery-powered models. Golf carts can be customized just like cars, and lift kits and ATV wheels are sold to golfers who want to stand out on the course. There are companies which specialize in creating entire custom golf cars, or miniaturized versions of full sized cars, such as the Humdinger (Humvee), mini Jeep, Rolls-Royce, Cadillac or Mercedes-Benz.

Golf carts come in 3 forms: manual push/pull carts, electric motorized carts, and electric or gas golf cars that hold passengers as well as gear. Push/pull carts have 2 or 3 wheels and a vertical support for a golf bag. They are basically manual dollies with clips and holders especially adapted for golf gear, and sell for $50 to $100. Moving up a level in sophistication, motorized golf caddies cost approximately $500 all the way up to $1000. Golf cars, which resemble dune buggies in size, start at about $1800 for a small basic model.

Ebay has a large selection of both new and used golf carts at low prices but service can be a problem with small vendors.

Manufacturers are also expanding their sales by renaming carts “Electric Utility Vehicles” and suggesting alternate uses for them, such as hauling lawn equipment and travelling around rural properties.

Please see our websitehttp://www.golf-carts-2006.info

Frank Vanderlugt
http://www.golf-carts-2006.info

• Golf Can Be A Dangerous Sport I read this blog post from the New York Times yesterday. The post is about the recent increase in golf cart related injuries since 1990. These injuries have occurred in infants as young as 2 months old and adults as old as 96 years old. Many injuries result in......
• EarthTalk: What Are Smart Cars And Are They Safe? EarthTalk is a weekly installment from E/The Environmental Magazine. Dear EarthTalk: I’ve suddenly been seeing a lot of those tiny “Smart Cars” around. Who makes them and what is their fuel efficiency? And I’m all for fuel efficiency, but are these cars safe? Originally the brainchild of Lebanese-born entrepreneur/inventor Nicolas......
• Green Hybrid Electric Vehicle Batteries With all the new choices emerging in the field of green hybrid electric vehicles these days, it pays to you know your way around them. Since the technology isn't going to go anywhere—in fact, it looks like it's about to advance more quickly than ever—everyone should learn what makes a......
• Should Congress Bail-Out The Auto Industry? I got into a lively debate yesterday with a fellow student about the bailout of the auto-industry. He said the social ramifications of letting them fail were too high. The impact on the local communities would be too high and so they should be bailed out by the tax-payers. I......
• Government Owned Car Advertising Used for Propaganda DETROIT: So when does a car become a propaganda vehicle? When a car company gets taken over by the government. Has there ever been a car commercial that was focussed on a political statement? Not in our knowledge. It's not that the NIP doesn't support the aims of the commercial......