Golf Carts

Golfers out for a pleasant game on a Sunday afternoon take them for granted on the golf course. They’re just utilitarian, aren’t they? I refer to golf carts, those funny looking little vehicles you find on most golf courses. But did you know that golf cart production is a multi-million dollar industry and there are many different systems? Golf carts are manufactured like miniature cars and there are financing options just like the huge car corporations have. And they have all the golf cart accessories too, like getting a car fully loaded.

Golf originates from a that was first played on the coast of Scotland way back sometime around the 15th century. Golfers would hit a pebble around the sand dunes instead of a ball. They’d use a stick or wide club. Eventually stones were exchanged for man-made balls, which in the early days were thin leather bags stuffed with feathers!

The gutta-percha ball was invented around 1848 and might be hit as far as 225 yards. In 1899 rubber balls were invented that could reach distances as great as 430 yards - but only if hit by a professional. Golf sticks then evolved into carefully crafted and weighted golf clubs. From there, in the 1880’s, golf club bags became popular.

The caddie was a servant who carted all the player’s gear aound the golf course and in the early 1950’s the introduction of the electric golf carts eased his burden.

The first golf cart manufacturers were E-Z-Go, Pargo, Harley Davidson and Cushman and the cost was amazing - back then they could cost $1200. Of course competition eventually brought the price down and these days there is a wide range of golf carts at every price level.