Golf carts have been a fixture on golf courses for as long as most of us have been alive, helping golfers save their stamina for the hole ahead. Find out more about the history of the modern golf cart and how these machines have become such a key part of golfing culture.
The Beginning
Golf is one of the oldest sports around, so you might think that golf carts have been around for a long time as well. According to GolfLink, the first motorized carts started showing up on courses during the 1940s. As people learned how to make better engines in more compact sizes, the idea of using a golf cart to get around the course became more feasible. However, this was only the beginning.
The Inspiration
The idea for the motorized golf cart can actually be traced back to Los Angeles, where there were three-wheeled carts being used to transport elderly people with limited mobility. A businessman from Arkansas took this idea and began working on a cart of his own.
The Gas Upgrade
During the 1950s and 1960s, the first gas carts became available on golf courses. Unlike previous electric models that had limited battery life and power, these gas carts offered a convenient alternative for people who didn’t want to walk the course. However, these carts were still banned from many courses because they were loud and produced a lot of smoke.
The Electric Revolution
As gas golf carts grew in popularity but presented obvious problems, the idea of an electric golf cart became more popular again. By the 1960s and 1970s, electric carts were used on golf courses across the country by elderly players and people who simply didn’t want to walk the course while they played 18 holes. During the 1970s, people also discovered that these carts that were typically used for golfing were also great for getting around, from retirement communities to rural properties and more.
There are a lot of ways to use a motorized golf cart, which is one of the reasons they’ve been so popular for several decades. If you’re thinking about investing in a golf cart to get around your small community or sprawling property, give Matt’s Custom Golf Carts a call, and we’ll help you find what you’re looking