Golf carts

[JCole]

New ? Of the day. Does your golf course allow you to bring your own electric or gas golf cart on the course? And is it an investment you would make

[GolfSpy_BNG]

36 minutes ago, JCole said:

New ? Of the day. Does your golf course allow you to bring your own electric or gas golf cart on the course? And is it an investment you would make

Yes I actually rent a cart shed for my cart at my local golf course. Even the other courses in my area allow me to take mine there to use. Only one charges a $10 trail fee which isn’t terrible. 

I posted a picture a few days ago but here is mine again. Still a little more work I wanna do but she is a runner for 32 years old. 

[Chubbs1991]

My wife and I bought one last year. I complained about it but now realizing it was a great purchase. Our Local Muni allows us to store it there. We have to pay trail fees and storage fees. But with our upcoming newborn it will allow us to get a round in faster. 

[57charlie]

My home course allows it members to have their own carts. Every year when membership is due, they tack on my cart shed rental & tracking fees for the golf year. This years cart tracking fee is $152 and my yearly cart shed rental was $285. That is a bargain. Just the convenience alone of not having to haul my clubs back and forth from the house to the course is worth it. 

[JKane]

No personal riding carts. Walking / push (and powered) carts are encouraged. Riding cart fee is $20 a round.

[Rich Wilczewski]

Our club allows us to have a personal cart or pay $30  to use theirs.

Trail fee is $1750, but I play 300+ rounds a year, so a bargain

[BKMiami]

My home course allows personal carts with a very reasonable trail fee (1/3 of yearly rental) . I normally walk but after moving onto the course the family wanted an easier way to get to and from the home to pool and clubhouse- ours based and evolution - with rear seats to allow for better transport of more than two people. Also better price than clubcar for much more features standard and street legal. with touchscreen and built in cooler under seat 

[RickK]

My home club allows us to own our own golf cart.  Must be electric, white or off white, cannot be lifted with off road tires, has to be inspected by club each year and we pay $1062 for trail fee annually.  You can get a annual similar cost deal to use on of the club's carts whenever you want.  To me, being able to keep my stuff in my own cart and drive it to and from the club is worth the cost of maintaining my own cart.  I play well over 200 rounds per year just at my club.  

I am debating buying a new cart as I respond to this topic.  One of our members owns a company that sells carts and I have discussed options on a new cart with him.  He is taking a 3 month vacation (must be a lucrative job) to Florida so I will have to wait to order till he gets back in September.  

When I vetted places to live before I bought my present home, living in county club community and being able to have my own golf cart was 2 of my requirements.  Owning my cart...well worth it to me.  

[Will A]

Nope, and I prefer it that way.  If we had the land to build private storage sheds, I'd rather see it be used for a few chip and putt holes.

[Chux13]

On 7/17/2024 at 10:25 AM, Will A said:

Nope, and I prefer it that way.  If we had the land to build private storage sheds, I'd rather see it be used for a few chip and putt holes.

Just curious what you have seen or experienced to prefer personal carts not being allowed on the course? I've seen some crazy stuff come from personalized carts, but nothing that would keep me from wanting my own. 

[hckymeyer]

We live on a course in MN and they allow personal carts.  I think the trail fee is around $350 but it's all bundled in my membership so not 100% sure how much it is.

Yes it's an investment we made, we actually have 2 carts (a 2 seater and a 4 seater) and between golf and cruising the neighborhood we use them both a lot.  Plus it's a much easier drive home after a few beverages

[fixyurdivot]

Our community (The Grand) has 4 courses and allows use of personal electric carts. Much as I loved walking courses, it was hard not to buy one that I can drive from the house to and from courses. I can even drive over to Sun City West and play any of their 7 courses... no trail fees in either case. 

So to answer your question, the investment made prefect sense for me.  Even the majority of our part time snowbird residence have them.  

I settled on a refurbished 2019 Yamaha (from a Yamaha dealer).  There are many companies around Phoenix that acquire these from fleet use, and re-fit them to meet DOT use on roads (roads <35 mph).  Many have high speed motors that will reach 28-30 mph. 

 

[TSauer]

My little hometown course only has member owned carts, with sheds to store them in. This is my current cart I picked up a few years ago for $1,000. I was walking the course before buying this.. it’s allowed me to play so much more golf lol. 

A little before & after

 

 

[Will_Mac]

Our course allows members to use their own carts after paying a trail-fee.

If I lived in the neighborhood, I'd have bought my own in a flash. Although I could pay to store one there in the cart shed, I'm not interested in doing that. I prefer my own property to come and go with me.

[Chux13]

On 8/8/2024 at 1:29 PM, TSauer said:

My little hometown course only has member owned carts, with sheds to store them in. This is my current cart I picked up a few years ago for $1,000. I was walking the course before buying this.. it’s allowed me to play so much more golf lol. 

A little before & after

 

 

That is one sweet transformation! Love that metallic flake and the redone seats. Eye catcher for sure!

[fixyurdivot]

On 8/8/2024 at 9:19 AM, hckymeyer said:

We live on a course in MN and they allow personal carts.  I think the trail fee is around $350 but it's all bundled in my membership so not 100% sure how much it is.

Yes it's an investment we made, we actually have 2 carts (a 2 seater and a 4 seater) and between golf and cruising the neighborhood we use them both a lot.  Plus it's a much easier drive home after a few beverages

I really don't get the whole "trail fee" thing.  It seems like just another money making gimmick.  I'm hard pressed to believe one does $10+ worth or wear n' tear on the concrete or fairways every round.

[hckymeyer]

12 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

I really don't get the whole "trail fee" thing.  It seems like just another money making gimmick.  I'm hard pressed to believe one does $10+ worth or wear n' tear on the concrete or fairways every round.

I agree, it's a money grab.  On the flip side the trail fee is cheaper than the fee for a year long course cart with membership.  Convenience usually costs money and this is one that I'm happy to pay.  (well maybe not 'happy' but at least I feel it's worth it for my situation)

[Parshooter36]

We were just informed this week that we can get a spot in the cart barn for next year. Any preference on gas vs electric from those that own there own carts? I was leaning electric, but my buddy we played with yesterday was singing the praises of his gas powered Yamaha cart. 

[The TXBexar]

7 hours ago, Parshooter36 said:

We were just informed this week that we can get a spot in the cart barn for next year. Any preference on gas vs electric from those that own there own carts? I was leaning electric, but my buddy we played with yesterday was singing the praises of his gas powered Yamaha cart. 

It's all personal preferences really, but there are a few things could come into play that might make you want to lean one way over another: would you need to winterize your cart or will you play throughout the winter? Does the cart barn spot have a guaranteed spot where you can charge your EV cart? Are you willing to do your own gas engine maintenance or is this something that is included in your cart barn fee? 

If you would have to winterize a boat in your area, then if you don't play often throughout the winter you would need to do the same for your cart. This is a whole lot simpler for an EV (just need to trickle charge the batteries so they don't die) then a gas engine. If you can't charge your cart in the barn though, then gas is easier just fuel up & go anytime you need too. But gas needs maintenance work: filters, fuel & oil, spark plugs, etc. If you don't want to do it and it's not included as part of the cart barn, then EV engine maintenance is a lot easier and less work.

I prefer gas, as it has more consistent power ability for hilly courses & terrain, and power won't start to fade, like an EV does when the battery gets low, if I'm running low on fuel. But I also used to race lawn mowers so doing any work & maintenance needed doesn't bother me at all and is easy for me. And I also live in North Texas, where I don't have to worry too much about super cold winter days causing any serious damage to the engine while stored. Just kept it covered with a good thick whole-cart rain proof cover while in the cart garage, and still used it throughout the winter so didn't need to do any longer term storage maintenance.

Edited September 17 by The TXBexar
Added info on personal preference

[Off Map Oscar]

I'm 50 50 with the courses around here that will let me bring my scooter. 

One guy is an ass that wants his cart fees and charges carts 150 a year to bring your own cart and won't allow these at all. The other places don't charge me anything and love the scooter. I lend them to them too if the want. 

[Rob Person]

9 hours ago, Off Map Oscar said:

I'm 50 50 with the courses around here that will let me bring my scooter. 

One guy is an ass that wants his cart fees and charges carts 150 a year to bring your own cart and won't allow these at all. The other places don't charge me anything and love the scooter. I lend them to them too if the want. 

This is awesome!  I need more info! 

I don't see why this is an issue.  Do they charge a fee for those with electric follow walking carts?

[Rob Person]

@Off Map Oscar. Can you share it to this thread?  

 

 

[Hook DeLoft]

I don't live at the golf course, but my sister does and lets me park my golf cart in her garage.  My course charges the same monthly fee whether you use your cart or the course's.  Yeah, that's a bit of a rip off.  I do like having my own cart.  All my golf stuff stays on it and I can just jump in and go when playing a round.

[Shrek74]

I'm looking at them now, as I plan my eventual move back to the SW. I'm only looking at places with multiple courses in the community and where I can have my own cart. They're DelWebb communities, so they'd have all the various groups and buildings and such where utilizing a personal cart makes more sense.