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.
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:
- Electric golf carts
- Gas-powered golf carts
- Vintage era golf carts
- Custom or “pimped out” golf carts
- Fleet golf carts and
- New and used golf carts
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 1934 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 1970s.
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 1000s. 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 1000s 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:
- Oil
- Oil and gas filters
- New belts
- Brakes
- Seats and upholstery
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:
- Headlights
- Windshield
- Turn signals
- Tail and brake lights
- Seat belts and
- License plate
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 1934 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 1954.
Other well-known brands are:
- Cushman founded in 1955
- Club Car founded in 1958
- Taylor Dunn founded in 1960
- Harley Davidson founded in 1963 {yes, they did make golf carts}
- Yamaha founded in 1977
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 1958 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 1978, when Bill and Beverly Dolan and seven other high-level executives left E-Z-GO to take over Club Car. From 1978 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.
1980 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 1993, 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 1887. 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 1978 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:
- Functionality and ergonomic design
- Premium quality
- State of the art features
- Durability and highest standard build quality
- Environmentally friendly design, methods, and processes
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.
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.
