What is a Golf Cart

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So you’ve been playing quite a bit of golf now. And you think you probably want to take this outdoor sport seriously. Then, you must be ready to invest in equipment like golf clubs, gloves, and other essential accessories. Wait, there’s more. You are going to need a vehicle to transport all those things from one teeing ground to another – and that is none other than a golf cart.

Choosing the right kind of golf cart can be confusing and daunting for a first timer. In this article, you will get to know more about this vehicle as well as some helpful tips when buying your first golf cart. Let’s start by defining what is a golf cart.

What is a Golf Cart, Really?

When people say golf cart, they are actually referring to the small car-like motorized vehicle they use for transportation on a golf course. Although you can find trolley-looking golf carts, the most common golf carts are the ones that you can drive. Contrary to what you might be thinking, the first models of golf carts were electrically-powered. They do have batteries, which is the primary source of power to run the motor. Aside from this, the first models also had only three wheels, including tiller steering. These kinds of golf carts were very popular during the 1960s and 1970s.

Come the 1970s and 1980s, gas-powered golf carts came into the market. By this time, golf carts began to look more like a car because of the added wheel to make a total of 4. Obviously, this type of golf cart is gasoline-powered. Now, both of the two types, whether old or new, have the same functions. They are made to carry two persons on board, including their golf equipment.

Part of knowing what is a golf cart is where is it commonly used. While a golf cart is not designed for traveling off-road, they are welcome in many institutions. It was in 1979, that the company Club Car has created a golf cart with a rear cargo box to build a utility vehicle.

Seven years after, Yamaha created the Neighborhood Electrical Vehicle (NEV), the first of its kind meant for the city streets. It is even true that in some parts of the world that there are small communities that use these vehicles as their daily means of transportation.

Gas vs Electric Golf Carts

As already introduced above, there are two kinds of golf carts to choose from. And knowing their differences, advantages, and disadvantages will help you discern when and where they can be your best option.

Power Source

The main difference of the two is their power sources. A gas golf cart requires gasoline while an electric golf cart needs fully charged batteries to run. The advantage of gas-powered is that if the fuel runs out, you can easily refill the tank at once. Aside from this, gasoline can be purchased in advance. On the other hand, when a battery runs out, you have to wait for it until it is fully charged. That will take you around 8 to 12 hours. Another disadvantage is that electric golf carts can only run as far as 12 miles.

Maintenance

A gas golf cart has to be maintained more often than an electric golf cart. It does need an oil change as well as filter replacements every now and then. Electric golf carts, on the other hand, have batteries that can perform well for a maximum of 6 years if you know how to care for them. Thus, this type of golf cart requires less maintenance. In this sense, gas golf carts are more expensive.

Ideal types of terrain

With a powerful motor that has 10 to 12 horsepower, gas golf carts are ideal for hilly and steep terrain. You cannot drive an electric golf cart in these areas because their power is not sufficient to go up. If you insist on using it, it may only cause the cart to topple down.

Effect on the Environment and Health

Since gas golf carts use gasoline, they have to emit exhaust fumes, which can be harmful to an enclosed environment and to the golfers. They are known to be a bit noisy when running, too. These are not major problems with electric golf carts. In fact, they are more environment-friendly by not emitting any fumes or making loud noises.