How to Choose a Golf Cart

When you want to show other golfers on the links that you're a serious player, you need more than a monogrammed golf bag. Your own personal golf cart, on the other hand, is a status symbol. A golf cart should not be an impulsive purchase, so you need to do your homework before dropping dough on the first ride you see. Whether buying new, as-is or refurbished, you have to ask yourself -- and the dealer -- a few questions to determine which cart is right for your needs.

Instructions

    • 1

      Consult the manager at your local golf course to determine the course's limitations are regarding size and weight of carts. Some courses allow carts of only a certain size, so make sure that the one you buy is allowed by your course of choice (See References 1).

    • 2

      Set a budget for yourself. Don't buy a used golf cart under $2,000, as they may be unreliable. New golf carts cost at least $4,000, though, so expect to spend at least a few grand, even on an older model (See References 2, 3).

    • 3

      Inquire as to a used cart's region of origin. Courses and clubs sell their old carts every few years, but in regions where golf is a major industry, carts may have been used considerably more in the same amount of time. Carts from Florida, for example, see more wear than carts from Maine in the same period of time (See References 3).

    • 4

      Test drive used carts to determine their power. Focus on how it handles in terrain similar to your course's. If you play in a hilly region, for example, see how the cart fares going up and down hills while loaded with equipment (See References 3).

    • 5

      Purchase refurbished carts if you can. Used golf carts come either refurbished or "as is" -- the former means that they have been inspected and fixed up, while the latter means that they may come with any number of malfunctions or damage (See References 2).