Golf cart

{{short description|Small vehicle designed originally to carry golfers}} {{about|a small motor vehicle|the non-motorized cart used by golfers|Golf trolley}} {{redirect|Golf car|the compact passenger car|Volkswagen Golf}} {{Globalize|article|USA|2name=the United States|date=August 2014}}

A '''golf cart''', '''golf buggy''', or '''golf car''',{{efn|Called golf car in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z130.1, since "carts" are not self-propelled.<ref name="ANSI">{{cite web|url=http://www.ansi.org/news_publications/media_tips/golf.aspx?menuid=7|title=ANSI z130.1|website=ansi.org|access-date=2006-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824044306/http://www.ansi.org/news_publications/media_tips/golf.aspx?menuid=7|archive-date=2006-08-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} is a small motorized vehicle designed originally to carry two golfers and their golf clubs around a golf course with less effort than walking. Over time, variants were introduced that were capable of carrying more passengers, had additional utility features, or were certified as a street legal low-speed vehicle.

A traditional golf cart, capable of carrying two golfers and their clubs, is generally around {{convert|4|ft}} wide, {{convert|8|ft}} long and {{convert|6|ft}} high, weighing between {{convert|900 and 1000|lb|kg}} and capable of speeds up to about {{convert|15|mi/h|km/h|abbr=out}}.{{efn|As defined in ANSI standard Z130.1.<ref name="ANSI">{{cite web|url=http://www.ansi.org/news_publications/media_tips/golf.aspx?menuid=7|title=ANSI z130.1|website=ansi.org|access-date=2006-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824044306/http://www.ansi.org/news_publications/media_tips/golf.aspx?menuid=7|archive-date=2006-08-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} The golf carts usually have four wheels, although the three-wheeled autoettes were marketed, among other uses, for golfing.

==History== Reportedly, the first use of a motorized cart on a golf course was by JK Wadley of Texarkana, who saw a three-wheeled electric cart being used in Los Angeles to transport senior citizens to a grocery store. Later, he purchased a cart and found that it worked poorly on a golf course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/historic-properties/_search_nomination_popup.asp?id=441 |title=History & Architecture: Arkansas Historic Preservation Program |access-date=2011-05-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004212947/http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/historic-properties/_search_nomination_popup.asp?id=441 |archive-date=2011-10-04 }}</ref> The first electric golf cart was custom-made in 1932, but did not gain widespread acceptance.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5uEDAAAAMBAJ&dq=popular+mechanics+1932+May%2C1932&pg=PA801 Golfer Follows Ball In Car Run By Electricity", May 1932, Popular Mechanics] article bottom of page 801</ref> In the 1930s until the 1950s the most widespread use of golf carts was for those with disabilities who could not walk far.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=iuIDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Popular+Science+1930+plane+%22Popular+Mechanics%22&pg=PA199 "Electric Auto as Caddy Serves Crippled Player" ''Popular Mechanics'', August 1930, bottom of pg. 199]</ref> By the mid-1950s the golf cart had gained wide acceptance with US golfers.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SeEDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Popular+Mechanics+Science+installing+linoleum&pg=PA103 "Golfers Mobilize"] ''Popular Mechanics'', April 1956, p. 103</ref>

[[Image:PDS trucks.jpg|right|thumb|Italian State Police golf carts at Venice Railway Station]] Merle Williams of Long Beach, California, was an early innovator of the electric golf cart.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barkow |first=Al |title=Golf's All-Time Firsts, Mosts, Leasts and a Few Nevers |date=Mar 16, 2012 |publisher=Taylor Trade Publishing |isbn=9781589796775 |publication-date=Mar 16, 2012 |pages=148 |language=English}}</ref> He started with knowledge gained from the production of electric cars due to World War II gasoline rationing. In 1951 his Marketeer Company began production of an electric golf cart in Redlands, California. E-Z-Go began producing golf cars in 1954, Cushman in 1955, Club Car in 1958, Taylor-Dunn in 1961, Harley-Davidson in 1963, Melex in 1971, Yamaha Golf Car in 1979 and CT&T in 2002.

Max Walker created the first gasoline-powered golf cart "The Walker Executive" in 1957.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}} This three-wheeled vehicle was shaped with a Vespa-style front end and carried two passengers and golf bags.

In 1963 the Harley-Davidson Motor Company began producing golf carts. Over the years they manufactured and distributed thousands of three-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles. Harley-Davidson sold the production of golf carts to American Machine and Foundry Company, who in turn sold production to Columbia Par Car. [[File:Golf Cart - Crossing a bridge - Kanagawa - 2023 July 7.webm|thumb|A golf cart crossing a bridge in Kanagawa, Japan]]

==Types of golf carts==

=== Utility vehicle === [[File:Extreme off road golf cart.jpg|thumb|right|Dune buggy using a golf cart body]] Many golf cart manufacturers offer models configured as small utility vehicles (UTV), a type of side-by-side. Originally developed for golf course operations, these UTVs were available with small pickup beds, flatbeds, dump style beds, van boxes, or with coolers and cabinets for drink and snack sales. With the growing popularity of the side-by-side, many manufacturers are now offering models equipped for use on rugged, off-road terrain.

=== Transport vehicles === Many golf cart manufacturers offer models configured as transportation vehicles, with no provision to carry golf bags. These vehicles are often used in low-speed, off-road applications such as on school campuses, resort properties, or inside airport terminals. These transport variants can range from a simple conversion of a traditional golf cart, swapping the golf bag carrier for a second rear-facing seat, to a stretched cart offering additional rows of seating for 4, 6, or 8 people.

=== Solar-powered golf carts === right|thumb|Helios Chargers, 130 watts and 205 watts, on solar powered golf carts Solar golf carts are powered by mounting a photovoltaic panel on top of the cart. A controller converts the sun's energy to charge the cart's battery pack. Not only does the solar power take the cart off the electric grid, it also increases the driving distance.

Solar conversion kits have been available for golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSV) for several years.<ref>{{cite web|author=Green Energy Ohio|date=February 2005|title=Ohio Made Solar Powered Golf Cart|url=http://www.greenenergyoh.org/ohio-made-solar-powered-golf-cart/|access-date=21 January 2011|archive-date=2 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302024350/http://www.greenenergyoh.org/ohio-made-solar-powered-golf-cart/|url-status=dead}}</ref> These kits range from low wattage solar battery chargers to a 410-watt array on an 8-passenger transport cart. Kits utilizing flexible solar panels are often preferred on golf carts due to their light weight and ability to conform to the shape of the cart roof. Buyers can take a solar tax credit of 30% of the purchase price on their US Federal Income Tax.<ref>{{cite web|author=United States Internal Revenue Service|title=IRS Form 2368|url=https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f3468.pdf|access-date=21 January 2011|publisher=United States Government}}</ref>

Solar-powered golf carts are popular with owners who drive long distances, such as maintenance workers, golf course fleets,{{cn|date=June 2023}} staff at the Detroit Zoo,<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=July 23, 2009|title=Clean Green Solar-Powered Machine Replaces Gas Guzzler at Detroit Zoo|url=http://www.detroitzoo.org/Newsflashes/2009_Press_Releases/Clean_Green_Solar-powered_Machine_Replaces_Gas_Guzzler_at_Detroit_Zoo|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306023706/http://www.detroitzoo.org/Newsflashes/2009_Press_Releases/Clean_Green_Solar-powered_Machine_Replaces_Gas_Guzzler_at_Detroit_Zoo|archive-date=6 Mar 2012|access-date=21 January 2011|website=Detroit Zoo}}</ref> transportation vehicles in resorts and cities,<ref>{{cite web|date=August 17, 2010|title=Sun Powered Golf Carts to Ride in Cocoa|url=https://www.greenpacks.org/2010/08/17/sun-powered-golf-cart-to-ride-in-cocoa|access-date=21 January 2011}}</ref> and drivers of VIP carts on college campuses.<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=September 24, 2010|title=USF Taps into Solar Energy with Special Golf Cart|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/usf-taps-into-solar-energy-with-special-golf-cart/1123934|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221713/http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/usf-taps-into-solar-energy-with-special-golf-cart/1123934|archive-date=3 March 2016|access-date=21 January 2011|website=Tampa Bay Times|publisher=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref> High schools have used them as teaching tools for solar power.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lockheed Martin Engineering Exploring Post|date=May 2010|title=Gallery|url=http://www.engpost.org/|access-date=21 January 2011|publisher=Solar Golf Cart Project|archive-date=14 April 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414195138/http://www.engpost.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Golf cart communities== {{Unreferenced section|date=December 2021}} [[File:Golf cart sharrows.jpg|thumb|upright|Shared lane markings indicating that golf carts share the road in Ave Maria, Florida]] * Peachtree City, Georgia, United States, has many miles of golf cart paths that link the city together. Children aged twelve or over may operate a cart on Peachtree City cart paths with a parent, grandparent, or guardian in the front seat. Unaccompanied fifteen-year-olds with valid Georgia learner's permits can operate golf carts alone. Golf cart travel is used by a great majority of the community, especially among high school students. McIntosh High School and Starr's Mill High School have student golf cart parking lots on their campuses. * On certain islands (such as Santa Catalina Island, California; Bald Head Island, North Carolina; North Captiva Island, Florida; and Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia), motor vehicles are sometimes restricted, and residents use golf carts instead. * The Villages, Florida, a retirement community of over 140,000 people, has an extensive golf cart trail system (estimated at {{convert|100|mi}}) and also allows golf carts on many streets. It is the most popular form of transportation in this community. * On the tropical islands of Belize, golf carts are a significant form of road transport and can be rented by tourists. * The residential community of Discovery Bay, Hong Kong does not allow the use of private vehicles apart from a fleet of 520 golf carts ''(excluding the ones operating exclusively in the Golf or the Marina Clubs)''. The remainder of the 20,000 residents rely on a mixture of shuttle buses and hire cars to travel around the township. * The Palm Springs Area in California contains multiple golf cart communities, including PGA West, The Madison Club, The Hideaway, and many other golf course/golf cart communities. The PGA Tour is held at PGA West every January.

==Safety== Along with the rising frequency of golf cart crashes, the number of golf-cart-related injuries has increased significantly over the last decades. A study conducted by researchers in the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at the Nationwide Children's Hospital found that the number of golf cart-related injuries rose 132% during the 17-year study period. According to the study, published in the July 2008 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, there were an estimated 148,000 golf cart-related injuries between 1990 and 2006, ranging from an estimated 5,770 cases in 1990 to approximately 13,411 cases in 2006. More than 30% of golf cart-related injuries involved children under the age of 16.<ref>[https://newswise.com/articles/view/541635/ Newswise: First National Study to Examine Golf Cart-Related Injuries] Retrieved on June 11, 2008.</ref>

The most common type of injury was soft tissue damage, usually just bruises, followed by fractures, constituting 22.3% of the cases, and lacerations, accounting for 15.5% of injuries.<ref name=Watson>Watson, Daniel S. et al. ''Golf Cart-Related Injuries in the U.S.'' American Journal of Preventive Medicine, issue 35 (2008): pp. 55–9</ref> Other types of injuries include concussions, internal injuries, subdural hematoma, spinal cord injury, or acute respiratory compromise. While rare, a few cases had severe outcomes: 4 fatalities, 2 paraplegic, and 1 quadriplegic injuries have been documented.<ref>Kelly, Edward, G. ''Major Injuries Occurring During Use of a Golf Cart.'' South Hills Orthopaedic Surgery Associates, Pittsburgh (1996). pp. 519–21</ref>

More recent analyses of emergency department data continue to show that fractures, head injuries and ejection-related injuries remain among the most common outcome of golf cart incidents.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2025 |title=A Decade of Golf Cart Injury Incidents in America |url=https://diacolaw.com/motor-vehicle-accidents/golf-cart-accident-statistics/ |access-date=January 26, 2026 |website=Diaco Law}}</ref>

Some of the main causes of injury related to golf cart accidents included cart overturn, falling/jumping from a moving golf cart, collision with another vehicle or stationary object, struck/run over by a cart, getting into or out of a moving cart. Out of all these, "falling or jumping from a golf cart" was the most common cause of injury for both adults and children.<ref name=Watson/>

One contributing reason is that current golf cart safety features are insufficient to prevent passenger falls or ejection.<ref>Seluga, Kristopher J., et al. ''Low Speed Passenger Ejection Restraint Effectiveness.'' Accident and Analysis Prevention, Stamford (2005). pp. 801–6</ref> Golf carts moving at speeds as low as {{convert|11|mph}} could readily eject a passenger during a turn. Furthermore, rear-facing golf cart seats are associated with high rates of passenger ejection during fast acceleration, and most standard (stock) golf carts do not have brakes on all four wheels (typically brakes are only on the rear wheels, thus sharply limiting their braking power).<ref name=Watson/><ref>Seluga, Kristopher J., et al. ''Braking Hazards of Golf Cars and Low Speed Vehicles.'' Accident Analysis and Prevention, Stamford (2006). pp. 1151–1156</ref>

== Legislation == Arizona has a large snowbird population, and many of them live in large RV parks or retirement communities that use golf carts to get around. In 2014, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed a law permitting golf cart drivers to drive as close to the right-hand edge of the roadway as possible. Prior to the passage of the law, golf cart drivers received traffic tickets for failing to drive in the center of the roadway. Complementing the new law, a golf cart safety education program was initiated.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/surprise/2014/08/14/golf-carts-rule-roads-sun-city/14095291/|title=Sun City residents celebrate new golf-cart law|work=azcentral|access-date=2018-09-02|language=en}}</ref>

In May 2025, South Carolina introduced a law allowing the carts to be driven on public highways within {{convert|4|miles}} of the driver's home, at a maximum speed of {{convert|35|mph}}.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Stephanie |title=What you need to know about the new golf cart law in South Carolina |url=https://www.wyff4.com/article/south-carolina-golf-cart-laws-2025/64916181 |access-date=11 August 2025 |work=WYFF |date=29 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

== Rail carts == thumb|Mamaku - RailCruiser carts in 2013 Petrol powered golf carts have been converted with rail wheels for carrying passengers at up to {{Convert|25|kph|abbr=on}} on several former railways. Awakeri Rail Adventures operate carts on a {{Convert|10|km|abbr=on}} part of the former Tāneatua branch,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-02 |title=About us & Photo Gallery {{!}} Awakeri Rail Adventures |url=https://www.awakerirail.co.nz/about-us/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> Forgotten World Adventures on {{Convert|142|km|abbr=on}} of the former Stratford–Okahukura Line,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-13 |title=Visiting a forgotten world |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/visiting-forgotten-world |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}</ref> and Dargaville Rail Carts on a {{Convert|15|km|abbr=on}} section of the rail track from Dargaville branch to Tangowahine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 November 2015 |title=Rail cart venture ready to roll in Dargaville |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/northland/dargaville-districts/73517869/rail-cart-venture-ready-to-roll-in-dargaville |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Stuff }}</ref> Similar vehicles are run by Andrews Valley Rail Tours on {{Convert|4.3|mi|abbr=on}} of the Murphy Branch at Andrews<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.andrewsvalleyrailtours.com/about-us/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Andrews Valley Rail Tours |language=en-US}}</ref> and RailCruiser from Tārukenga, {{Convert|20|km|abbr=on}} to Mamaku on the former Rotorua branch.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-04 |title=Key gives new rail ride big thumbs up |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/key-gives-new-rail-ride-big-thumbs-up/VW3HN7NW3TGYLFC3GJLOWNEIMQ/#google_vignette |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

== Notes == {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golf Cart}} Category:Electric vehicles Category:Golf equipment