Golf Cart: What does the Data Say?

Golf Cart Industry Insights: Trends, Challenges, and the Shift to Alternative Fuels

Over time, the golf cart business in the U.S. has become a multi-million-dollar business, with golf course management companies overseeing over 7,000 golf carts. With the rise in gas prices, the demand for golf carts has also increased. More environmentally conscious customers are buying golf carts as well. Today, more golfers would prefer to walk or bike instead of using a golf cart, and golf course owners are looking for more affordable transportation options. 

Market Dynamics and Demand Drivers 

Since 2005, demand for golf carts has risen almost every year. With the rising cost of gas and the need for more environmentally friendly options, golf courses are turning to electric and hybrid golf carts. For golf courses, the cost of gas-powered golf carts has become uneconomic. A national golf foundation report stated that golf clubs that made the switch to electric golf carts saved between $600 and $2,500 annually in fuel costs.

Electric Golf Carts: Benefits and Challenges

Even if your golf course is environmentally friendly and financially feasible, implementing electric golf carts requires some groundwork. For instance, golf courses will have to repurpose existing infrastructures to serve as parking lots, install dedicated charging stations that can range from $450 to $2,000, or simply cast off any potential free charging golf course charging stations. Also, these carts will need to be charged repeatedly in quick succession, especially for those golf players taking nine holes, thus making the initial planning, as well as logistics and infrastructure, vital to your bottom line.

For those golf courses that still maintain gas-burning golf carts, your hybrid cited or charge gas golf carts simply means that for that golf course business to operate without needing to reconfigure their existing gas cart business, they simply need to go electric. Thus, hybrid solutions do offer some operational flexibility, but for the hybrid-oriented business model business to operational seamlessness to required.

Alternative Fuel Adoption and Market Trends

Golf course management to invests in capturing the hybrid or electric golf cart fleets must be suspicious. The management is either complaining to their friends doing golf excellence about the expense, thus correlating it as operational harassment, or simply to hybrid excellence. To those golf courses that have charged gas golf carts, their eco-friendly operational business model is maintaining gas-burning golf carts for operational efficiency.

Environmental Considerations 

Going green is a growing necessity in the golf world. Organizations like The Nature Conservancy (TNC) team up with golf courses to safeguard lands while promoting the use battery powered golf carts and other sustainable practices. There is no sustainable golfing without player experience. 

Conclusion 

Golf carts are challenged on numerous fronts: increasing environmental regulations, new technologies, and rising fuel prices are pushing the use of alternative fuels. The most economically viable solution is the use of electric or hybrid carts, as they offer savings and are sustainable. However, courses will need to be prepare and acquire the right management practices to overcome the challenges. Those who successfully tackle these challenges will be more profitable, and that is positive for the environment and golf.