Golf carts are not just great for zooming around the golf course. They can be used in residential areas, retirement villages, resorts, university campuses… You name it, a golf cart could probably come in handy.
It’s no wonder, then, that golf course managers aren’t the only people buying golf carts these days! The everyday consumer is just as likely to be considering a golf cart for their needs, and that spans across a wide range of ages, activity levels, and places of use.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about choosing a golf cart so you can find the one that’s best suited to your needs.
Consider Gas or Electric
With the rise of electric golf carts, gas-powered carts have become less popular. However, you can still find them if you would prefer a gas-powered golf cart.
Gas golf carts have more power than electric ones. For this reason, they are often street-ready, so if you’re planning on driving on the street this may be the better option than a slow and steady electric golf cart.
On the downside, they’re noisier than electric golf carts and also less environmentally friendly as they give off fumes.
If you want to use your golf cart in a residential complex, resort, or country club, an electric golf cart may be the better choice.
Not only are they quieter, but they’re more eco-friendly. Although you will need to charge the batteries to make sure they’re always ready for you to take a drive, using an electric golf cart is also more cost-effective than a gas-powered cart.
Electric golf carts are also easier to maintain and generally require less maintenance than a gas cart. It’s also usually slightly easier to maintain it yourself, as there are fewer moving parts involved.
Decide Between New or Used
If you’d prefer a brand new, never-been-used golf cart, then you can definitely get one. But don’t discount used golf carts – there are some excellent options out there that are still almost as high-quality as new ones.
The biggest key here is making sure a used golf cart has an up-to-date history. Knowing how the previous owner treated it and serviced it can be a huge tell as to the quality of the golf cart.
You want to look for a golf cart with a zero-accident history. If it’s been in an accident before, the parts may be compromised. It could look great for the outside, but the inside could be another story.
You can also find excellent quality refurbished golf carts. These are like-new and kitted out with new parts, but they still technically count as used golf carts. Ultimately, it depends on your needs, your budget, and how comfortable you are with a used item.
If you’re looking at getting a used cart, see if you can find carts that have just ended their lease with a golf club or country club. They’re usually in top-notch condition, and you can be confident in their performance.
Choose A Size
Do you want just a little 2-seater for you and your spouse to ride to the grocery store and back on? Or are you going to be carrying golf bags and a few friends with you on your golf cart?
It’s a good idea to estimate how much space you’re likely to need upfront and decide on what size golf cart you need.
Naturally, larger golf carts are going to be a little more pricey. They’re also usually heavier on fuel (if you have a gas cart). Ultimately, it comes down to what exactly you’re planning on using the golf cart for.
To Accessorize or Not to Accessorize?
One of the best things about golf carts is that they’re highly customizable. If you want your golf cart to be street-legal, you’ll need to customize it with a windshield, seat belts, headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and a space for a valid license plate.
But even if you don’t want to take your golf cart on the road, there’s a variety of customization options that can make using it even more fun. You can add things like:
- Roof-mounted air conditioning
- Radio or speakers
- Custom seats
- Custom steering wheel
- A new paint job
- Mounted coolers
- Rear-view mirrors
- Custom tires
Obviously, customizations will cost you extra on top of the cost of the golf cart. However, depending on your needs, customizations can be worthwhile. For example, if you’re going to be shopping using your golf cart, you will need somewhere to place shopping bags and secure them while you drive back.
Or, if you’re going to be out for long hours on the golf cart, a mounted cooler will allow you to carry snacks and drinks so you can stay hydrated and well-fed.
Shop Around
Don’t just throw your money at the first seller you come across. Do your research, read reviews, check testimonials, and delve into the reputation of the company before deciding on a seller.
To be honest, it’s best to NOT do your buying online. You never quite know that you’re going to get what you see in the pictures, and you obviously can’t take a test drive to make sure the seller is being honest and selling high-quality golf carts.
This means you ideally want a seller that’s not too far away so you can go and check out their stock, do a bit of a test drive, and see that all looks good before you buy anything. They’ll also be close if you need repairs.
Conclusion
Choosing a golf cart doesn’t have to be difficult. But you do need to do your research and make sure that the cart you’re getting is high-quality and will see you through many hours of adventure, whatever you plan to use it for.
There’s nothing worse than spending money on a golf cart only to realize later that it’s faulty or not what you thought it was! It’s worth taking some extra time to do thorough research and make sure you’re well aware of what you’re getting and how to use it.
When you do buy your golf cart, whatever you’re using it for, drive it carefully and enjoy!
