“Golf cart” can mean two quite different things: the motorized vehicle you ride in, and the push cart (or trolley) that carries your bag while you walk. Both come in several types.
Electric golf carts
Most course fleets are electric. They are quiet, produce no exhaust and are cheap to run. Older models use lead-acid batteries that need regular watering and charging; newer ones use lithium batteries, which cost more but are lighter, need almost no maintenance and last longer. Range is usually enough for 18 to 36 holes per charge, depending on terrain and battery.
Gas-powered carts
Gas carts have more range and are refueled in minutes, which suits large properties, hilly areas and farms. They are noisier, need engine maintenance and are banned at some courses and communities.
Utility carts and street-legal vehicles
Utility carts have a cargo bed and are used by course maintenance crews, campuses and farms.
Low-speed vehicles (LSVs, sometimes called neighborhood electric vehicles) have lights, mirrors, seat belts and a VIN. In the United States, federal rules cover vehicles with a top speed between 20 and 25 mph, and states decide which roads they can use, usually those with lower speed limits. A standard golf cart is not street-legal.
Push carts and electric trolleys
For walkers, a push cart takes the weight off your back. Three-wheel push carts are stable and fold small. Electric trolleys follow a remote or move at a set pace, useful on hilly courses. Walking with a push cart is a good way to combine golf and exercise; see fitness for golf.
Maintenance basics
- check tire pressure regularly;
- keep batteries charged and, for lead-acid, topped up with distilled water;
- service gas engines according to the manufacturer’s schedule;
- store under cover.
Whatever you ride, follow the course’s cart rules (paths only, 90-degree rule, distance from greens), which are part of good course etiquette. If you use a cart, pick a bag designed for it; see golf bag types.
