If you are a regular golfer that often rents a golf cart when you play, you might be considering whether buying one would be a worthwhile investment. After all, rental fees can add up and you might save yourself some money if you just invest in your own golf cart instead. Sadly, it is not quite as simple as just buying one and there are several reasons you might end you wasting your money.
Golf carts can cost anywhere from $3,000 for a used model or $6,000 for brand new, so you want to ensure that you have all the necessary information before making your purchase. The last thing you want is to splash out on a golf cart and not even be able to use it.
Whether a golf cart is a waste of money will be decided by your budget, lifestyle, and personal circumstances. Of course, you need to consider where you live and play your golf, plus there are also several other uses for a golf cart than simply driving around your local country club.
This article will look at some questions you need to ask yourself when considering buying a golf cart. Hopefully, this will help you make a more informed final decision.
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Why do you want to buy a golf cart?
The most common reason for buying a golf cart is to use it on the golf course, yet many golfers use one for various reasons. For example, golfers that physically cannot (or struggle to) walk their path are unlikely to find buying a golf cart a waste of money. Whereas golfers who choose to walk if needed would probably be better off renting when they would rather not trek the distance.
There are several other uses for a golf cart as well. For example, if you live in a gated community or have a large plot of land, then your golf cart might be multi-purpose. You will want to weigh up how regularly you will be using it both on and off the course. It can be easy to overestimate actual usage.
If you plan to take your golf cart onto a public road, you must abide by the local authorities’ road legal requirements. Depending on where you live, this could mean further modification costs or buying a more expensive golf cart.
Check your state’s laws on driving a golf cart on a public road in the MotorBiscuits article.
What are the rules at your golf club?
Every golf or country club will have its own rules when it comes to golf carts. It would be best if you found out the rules at your club because in some cases you will still have to pay additional fees for using your own and other times it might be banned altogether. If you fail to check, this could result in a big waste of money.
Curious about how much you would pay to bring your golf cart to a course and whether you should buy or rent a golf cart? If so, I suggest you read my in-depth article.
What is the climate like where you live?
Many people forget to factor in the weather. When you are sitting in your golf cart, you are left pretty exposed to the elements. If you live in an area with reasonably typical extreme temperatures, either hot or cold, then the golf cart will likely be out of use for large parts of the year.
Remember to bring water and snacks during the summer or winter months in the cart. There’s nothing worse than being hungry and thirsty in the middle of your round.
What is your budget?
The price of a decent used golf cart will typically start at around $3,000, which is essentially the same as a cheap used car. Of course, the further you can extend your budget, the more modern and more excellent golf carts you can afford, but remember that you must also ensure to factor maintenance and repair costs.
What you do not want to do is go searching for a much cheaper unknown brand. I would recommend keeping to the three leading golf cart brands; Club Car, E-Z-GO, and Yamaha. These brands are all trusted and reliable. It is much easier to find parts, and mechanics will have an easier time with repairs.
It is a good idea to think of a used golf cart similarly to a used car. You could probably find something cheap, but when you try to cut corners on costs, you could end up wasting significantly more money in the long run.
TaylorMade, one of the best golf companies, creates one of the best drivers on tour to see if the driver is right for you, and to get a deeper insight into the company, please read my article.
Is a golf cart a good investment?
Golf carts are only a good investment if you use the cart regularly. Renting a golf cart typically costs $25-$100 daily. Buying a cart costs between $1,600-$11,000 depending on the cart’s age, condition, and make. If you only need a cart every few months, rent a golf cart. But, if you play a few times a week, buying a cart is a good option.
Why You Should Buy A Golf Cart
- Your local golf course is long and mountainous, so walking is not recommended.
- You are physically unable to walk the golf course.
- A golf cart would be helpful to drive around your local community, for example, to the shops or beach.
- You have a vast acreage of land where you will use a golf cart for getting around.
- Having considered all the costs carefully, it would work out cheaper to buy than rent.
- You live around the grounds of your local course and want to drive a cart rather than a car to the clubhouse.
If you decide to purchase a golf cart, make sure you do plenty of research in advance. Do you want it to be electric or gas? Does it need to be road legal? Where will you store and charge it? These are all questions you need to ask yourself to avoid wasting your money.
Whether you rent or buy a golf cart knowing how to charge it properly to keep the battery healthy is essential. See my detailed guide on keeping the golf cart’s battery-friendly and robust.
