by Ray Baker
At some time or other we reach the stage where using a golf cart becomes an experience and leaves us with the thought of someday purchasing one. I have played with those who use a cart for eighteen holes and also play another 9 holes for exercise. This is good if you have the time up your sleeve. None the less, golf carts are not only a time saver but come with a whole bunch of benefits that shouldn’t be over looked. Here some things you ought to know.
Golf carts are small vehicles, initially designed to carry the golfers and their equipment around the course with less effort and faster than walking. Now, they are used everywhere: airports, universities, warehouses, farms, etc. Coming as a mixture between hobby and utility, golf carts are also being purchased for personal use.
Golf carts are also referred to as “golf cars”, which is more technically correct, as carts are not self-propelled, or as “utility vehicles”, especially by the manufacturers who reserve the term for the vehicles used on the golf course.
Types of golf carts
If you are considering purchasing a golf cart, it is important to know exactly what you’ll be using it for.
If you want a cute low-pollution easy-to-drive vehicle in order to get around your neighborhood, you need a standard golf cart and you can choose from a large variety of accessories and options.
If you live in a locality where golf carts are street-legal, you can outfit the vehicle appropriate safety features( turn signals, brake lights, windshield, seatbelts, and headlights). There are communities that encourage the use of electric golf carts due to their lack of pollutants, lack of noise, and safety for pedestrians.
Another category of golf carts are the commercial and industrial vehicles and they are used in a variety of ways. They are used to carry tools, sod and fertilizer in office parks, cemeteries, sports complexes, etc. Foremen and managers use them for supervising the activities efficiently. Golf carts are also used in large farms or ranches, for carrying large loads.
Choosing the right golf cart
Before buying a golf cart, you have to gather information on your driving terrain, like: type of surfaces, hills, and weather. For instance, if you need it for use in a warehouse, a low horsepower vehicle is better as it is more economical. On the other hand, if you want to drive it on a hilly golf course, you need a much more powerful vehicle. You also have to estimate the physical size of the cart, the weight and the number of passengers you want it to carry. There are many brands to choose from, and as in all other fields, each manufacturer has its own strengths and weaknesses. The main manufacturers of golf carts are Club Car, EZ Go, and Yamaha. The better is to test drive the models you ‘re considering and see how you like them.
Gas vs. Electric golf carts
Electric golf carts have an electric motor run by standard lead-acid batteries. The batteries are recharged by plugging into a standard power outlet. Power choices range from 24 volts to 72 volts, but the most common are 36 and 48 volt models. Electric vehicles are much more popular than the gasoline ones, because of their lack of pollutants, lack of noise, and their low cost to operate: it is five to ten times cheaper to operate in comparison to a gas model.
Gas-powered golf carts are still the top choice for some specific applications. They are a good choice for carrying heavy loads or for farming and hunting use.
Golf carts pricing
The prices for new golf carts vary between $4,000 for a bare bones model up to more than $10,000 for luxury models including fancy wheels, lights, upgraded upholstery radios and cell phones chargers.
If you are not willing to spend that much for a golf cart, but still want to purchase one, you must consider the option of buying a used one. They can be found for as little as $2,000. Golf courses need large numbers of golf carts and they always want them to be in top condition. They permanently exchange the used golf carts with new ones. This is why you can always find many used but good golf carts on the market.
If you are a golf player, you must certainly understand the pleasure and advantages of driving a quiet,non-polluting vehicle such as the golf cart. But even if playing golf is not one of your passions, you must consider all the benefits that a golf cart might bring to you. It can help you a lot in your daily activities and it might also be the perfect way to relax and enjoy beautiful landscape views on the course.
