CLUB CAR: A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP IN THE GOLF CART INDUSTRY

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A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP IN THE GOLF CART INDUSTRY

When it comes to designing and manufacturing golf and other personal transportation vehicles that have changed the landscape of the industry, Club Car is a true innovator and respected leader in the marketplace.

Founded in Texas by Bill Stevens, the company relocated to Augusta, Georgia in 1962, where they still operate today. In the late 1970s, the company was sold to a group of 8 original EZGO executives before it was acquired by Ingersoll Rand in 1995. A global private investment firm called Platinum Equity, which has a portfolio of approximately 40 business operating around the world, acquired Club Car in 2021, and the brand’s impressive track record of industry-leading golf carts and other personal transportation vehicles has never skipped a beat.

Originally a 3-wheel golf cart design in the early 1960s, Club Car came on the golf scene with a splash, making the game easier, more fun, and more stylish. Many prominent people from celebrities to sports stars and even presidents became fans of the carts, which were the first introduced with a steering wheel replacing what was a center-mounted tiller steering handle positioned between the driver and passenger seats.

The market took notice, and Club Car has never looked back.

The 1980s was a pivotal decade for Club Car, with the introduction of the trendsetting Club Car DS Model, named after renowned designer and inventor Dom Saporito. This flagship golf cart propelled the company to worldwide prominence and established Club Car as a recognized leader in golf cart innovation, design, and manufacturing methods.

Recognizing that personal transportation vehicles had far more potential than just being used on the golf course, Club Car’s mission involved staying relative in the marketplace and staying ahead of the curve when it came to giving customers what they wanted.

GOLF WAS JUST THE BEGINNING

Today, Club Car produces several different lines of carts that provide many diverse functions for a wide variety of users.

The company’s Onward, Tempo and Villager lines of personal low speed vehicles, (LSVs), can be found not only on golf courses around the world, but also in neighborhoods and communities where people are finding they don’t need a car to get around. The carts come in 2, 4 and 6 passenger configurations, providing the ultimate in family fun and ecofriendly transportation. Completely street legal and equipped with top-of-the-line accessories and safety features, these innovative LSVs are among Club Car’s most popular models.

The extensive line of Carryall models, first introduced in 1985, is one of the industry’s first commercial utility vehicles and are still among Club Car’s top sellers. Carryall models come in a wide variety of configurations, designed for golf course maintenance work, hauling equipment, on-course food and beverage merchandising and much more. These tough, versatile carts are the go-to vehicle for course superintendents and operators worldwide.

For those who want to explore the outdoors beyond the golf course, Club Car’s XRT carts come in an almost limitless array of possible configurations, designed, and built to get the job done. Exploring new trails, making hunting, and camping easier and more enjoyable or getting around the construction site or warehouse facility are the perfect uses for these 4x4 and 4x2 workhorses, providing the ultimate in functionality and comfort.

Club Car also manufactures a complete line of custom utility vehicles ideal for use in any setting that requires covering large areas with style and reliability. Resort properties use the carts for getting guests, staff, and supplies around the site, and providing food catering and other uses. Facilities and engineering models allow site managers to tackle any job with features like enclosed passenger compartments and cargo boxes, ladder racks and electric bed lifts.

Other Carryall models are designed and configured to serve as school campus transportation for security and ambulance use, refuse removal at places like sports arenas and other large venues – the electric, tilting cargo bed makes emptying it a snap - and dozens of other jobs where there is a need for efficient, dependable transportation. The company also introduced their hi-tech Current model of electric utility mini trucks, designed to fill the gap between traditional pickup trucks and standard utility carts.

LEADING THE WAY IN LSV TECHNOLOGY

Club Car has remained at the top of the LSV industry by continually developing new technology and forming innovative partnerships with world class providers in electric vehicle power and connectivity.

In 2010, the company introduced their Connect technology system, powered by the Visage Fleet Management System. Embraced by golfers and facility managers alike, this futuristic system allows fleet managers to pinpoint the exact location of each cart in operation, access real-time reports on each cart’s possible service-related issues, pace-of-play management and more. Visage can even provide a cart’s vehicle tracking history so course personnel can see where a cart was at any given time and how fast it may have been driving to reduce or eliminate any potential liability in the event of a reckless driver.

Another innovative tech advancement from Club Car is their partnership with The Shark Experience in 2020.

This unique technology provides the golfer with a 10-inch touch screen featuring hole flyover videos, Bluetooth or streaming music, dynamic GPS distance details, sports and news headlines and even swing tips from Greg Norman. Club personnel can also communicate with the golfers via realtime messaging. Golf Digest Magazine awarded the Club Car Connect system in their Tempo carts with their 2021 Editor’s Choice honors.

Club Car also recently completed their acquisition of the Garia company, a Danish manufacturer of golf and utility vehicles and Club Car’s first acquisition. Garia has been producing luxury golf and personal leisure vehicles since 2005. Before that, Garia had acquired the MELEX company, a lightweight utility vehicle manufacturer based in Poland. Club Car executives are excited about the new market opportunities and how their product lines are complementary to each other, and that there will be very little overlap integrating them under the Club Car umbrella.

Club Car President Mark Wagner called the Garia deal, “great news for our dealers and customers in Europe and the United States who will have access to a wider range of zeroemission, on and off-road vehicles at a greater variety of price points.”

EYE ON THE FUTURE

Club Car recognizes that a major sector of the golf cart market is the customization and personalization segment of clients who want to “make their cart their own.” The company is continually adding new products and cutting-edge design trends to their lines and implementing “automotive-like” features and comfort.

Dan Dykstra is Club Car’s Consumer Portfolio Leader and helps keep the company’s eyes fixed on the future of the golf cart industry. “Observing our customers interacting with our vehicles in real life provides valuable feedback for us. It allows us to identify new products and accessories that will improve their experience,” said Dykstra. “And that includes everything from traditional hardware products to delivering enhanced in-car digital experiences such as the Club Car Connect for Onward.”

Like almost every other industry, the golf cart business has seen some slow-down in the supply chain of products used in their manufacturing processes. But like other savvy firms, they are doing all they can to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to keep up with demand and getting carts to their customers.

“Supply chain challenges appear to be part of the new normal, in every facet of life—and golf car manufacturing isn't immune to it,” according to Jeff Tyminski, Club Car’s Vice President of Product Management and Marketing. “Over the past few years, we have benefited from robust demand, and we continue to build at record levels. Our opportunity is to manage through those disruptions and remain nimble so we can reach our full potential.”

With their 64-year history of designing and producing well over 2 million golf, utility and other LSVs, Club Car’s proven track record of success has propelled them to the pinnacle of the industry, and the company sees nothing but continued innovations and leadership ahead.