COVER STORY: LOW N SLOW WITH SCRAP PILE

low and slow

If you have been following us on Facebook or on our website, you just might know that you can submit your cart to possibly be featured in the magazine. For those of you that have high quality photos and detailed information, you can go to https://golfcarting.com/ builds/ to submit your cart.

This issue’s "Custom Golf Cart" feature comes from Michael Ledet of Mandeville, Louisiana. We sat down with Michael to get the low down on his super clean 2007 E-Z-GO TXT PDS that reeks of coolness.

Hi Michael, can you tell us about this custom build? This build started out as a low-budget, Plain Jane, givemy-kids-something-to-ride-around-in kind of build. Once I decided to do the air ride, my mind started to

wander. I named this cart Scrap Pile because it literally was in the junk yard at my collision center. I traded some paint work for the cart, and off we went. I kept with the theme and tried to reuse, relocate, or repurpose whatever I could, even down to the metal work. Most of the custom fab work is from already existing pieces of the rear seat frame and roof brackets. Everything has been shortened or stretched or moved somewhere else to serve a purpose and get that overall tucked look I was going for. A really good friend of mine, Robert Landry in Marrero, LA, did the upholstery, but everything else was completed by me. No nut or bolt in this entire cart was left untouched. As for the drivetrain, it’s the stock motor and controller that was there already, just serviced, cleaned it up and put new leaf acid batteries, 36-volt system. I spent about a year on nights and weekends here and there getting it all together. I never thought I’d get the reaction I do from people seeing it finished, and I’m still mind blown by the compliments. I’m happy how it came out and looking forward to cruising around with my family low and slow!

Is there any custom fabrication? All the suspension is hand-built custom. Basically, I built a front crossmember and two link bars to connect the axle to the body. The rear links are using the original leaf spring pocket and one leaf spring reinforced with a “C” channel for strength. I relocated both the front and back upper and lower shock mounts to accommodate the Monroe air shocks. The seat bracket is a chopped-up version of its former shape. I tightened it up to bring the back rests closer together and a smidge lower. I also had to reconfigure those due to the mount location of the upper rear shock mount. The rear seat bracket and rear bumper and handrails are all custom as well. I took 6 inches out of the length of the handrails and 4 inches from the height. I then tied all that together with the rear bumper, smoothed it out and molded them in. I hand-built the side skirts from sheet metal and angle aluminum. Changing

the angle of the front power steering rack was necessary to accommodate for the travel. I relocated the front cover lower and built a bracket for it as well, so it moves with the body. A custom-made dash plate was fabricated as well. Did you use any aftermarket parts, and if so, can you tell us about them? I put 12-inch wheels by TREX on each corner. The air ride system, funny enough, is a train horn kit from Vixen that I tied in some Monroe air shocks to. For the audio I went with speaker pods by RHOX and a Boss audio Bluetooth radio and speakers. I completed the interior with some sea decking floor material and miscellaneous front lights and taillights from Amazon.

Can you give us a little background about you and how long you have been building carts? I’m an auto refinish tech and have been for 20+ years. I started out doing both body and paint work with a lot of custom car builds early in my career, but now I work mostly in collision. This is my second cart build -- the first one was years ago when we had a camper. It was lifted, painted and off-road ready.

Thanks, Michael. Is there anything else you'd like to add? This is a working man’s build. I’m a father of four with a stay-at-home wife, so, the budget wasn’t there to do an over-the-top kind of build. I used what I had and could afford to make the best of it. I put my mind and talent to work to bring this Scrap Pile all together.

COMPUTERIZED COMPANIONS

TODAY’S ROBOTIC GOLF CADDIES ARE A WALKER’S DREAM

Although it is not allowed to walk the golf course at all clubs, those that do permit it enjoy a large and increasing number of rounds by players who much prefer to walk than to ride.

And if you’ve been golfing for a while, you likely remember the awkward, 2-wheeled “pull carts” so prevalent in the 60’s and 70’s. An aluminum stick on an angle with 2 wobbly wheels and a rubber handle grip, these early caddies were far from ideal. But the iconic golf accessory for walking golfers is the source of one of the game’s most enduring controversaries – do you pull it, or push it?

Walking golfers today have a host of highly-advanced robotic bag caddies powered by the latest in GPS technology and designed to resemble something right out of The Jetsons. Once you program it and learn its capabilities, a robotic personal club caddy can make your round more enjoyable, efficient, and rewarding.

There are dozens of manufacturers in the market, and pricing, features, capabilities, and technology can vary depending on the model you choose.

Here are some of the top players in the game and a brief overview their top-selling models.

Club Car Tempo Walk

As a major manufacturer in the golf cart industry, it makes sense that Club Car would be involved in the leading technology and design of robotic personal golf caddies.

The Tempo Walk model is operated by state-of-the art wireless remote control transmitter, carried by the golfer and easily clipped to a belt, and protected by enhanced waterproofing. The Walk has a large touchscreen monitor for straightforward operation and exact GPS details on shot yardage. It even offers collision sensors and stops when any obstruction or impedance gets in its way and diagnostic messaging alerting you of any necessary maintenance.

When the golfer stops walking, they switch the remote to standby mode, and the Walk stops. It weighs 96 pounds, so that needs to be considered unless you keep your cart at your club. On a full charge, the Club Car Tempo Walk can easily serve as your personal caddie for 36 holes. It also can be programmed with all of the local courses you play or your next golf travel destination, so you have all the course’s stats on your GPS.

The Club Car Tempo Walk retails for around $5,000.00.

CartTek 1500 GLi V2 Golf Caddy

Launched in 2015, this updated version of the popular personal golf caddy now features slope control and active steer assist among its long list of features.

Made from an aviation grade aluminum, this caddy is lightweight and powered by a 10Ah lithium ion battery along with 2 independent, 24V high-torque motors in each wheel hub. There are 4 different factory speed settings, or you can set your own based on your walking pace. The CartTrek 1500 GLi V2 also features an adjustable turning force, waterproof housing for the electronics and battery and comes in 4 powder-coated colors.

The CartTek 1500 can cover 36 holes on a full charge and weighs just under 30 pounds with the battery. Average retail cost for this model is around $1,700.00.

Motocaddy M7 Remote DHC Golf Caddy

This high-tech masterpiece weighs just 37 pounds with the battery and comes with a rechargeable remote handset that can easily be attached to the unit or carried by the golfer.

The M7 Remote features advanced, downhill speed control which avoids problems heading down an incline, and a remote control range of 150 feet, allowing easy operation without needing to be right next to the caddy. There are 9 available speed settings, and the anti-tip wheel can be removed for flatter, less rigorous courses.

The Motocaddy M7 Remote is powered by a high-powered, 28.8v system and features onboard charging ports for adding convenience. This lightweight, foldable personal caddy retails for around $1,000.00.

Callaway Traverse Electric Remote Control Cart

A leader in the golf industry, Callaway’s Traverse remote control comes packed with performance and technological features of the future.

The 25.2v, 10Ah lithium ion battery and high torque dual motor design provides enough power for 27 holes when fully charged, and the motor housing and gearbox are sealed for quiet operation. There are 3 speed controls on the Traverse, with downhill braking assist and remote functions of forward, reverse, left, right and stop, along with the ability to set your own travel distances.

The Callaway Traverse weighs around 45 pounds with the battery and folds up to about 36 inches by 26 inches for easy storage and travel.

The caddy is an aluminum frame with aluminum hub wheels, ABS spokes and rubber tread on the wheels for optimum traction on any course terrain. The Traverse is fully adjustable, allowing easy access for golfers of any size. The wireless remote control operates up to around a 75-foot distance for easy maneuvering around greens and tee boxes.

Walkers United

When the game of golf was born, there were no other options for getting in a round except for trudging ahead on foot, no matter the elements or course terrain. By the early 1950s, the development of motorized carts created a benefit for golfers who chose to ride, clearly a revolutionary invention for the game.

But, for some diehard walkers, nothing compares to being allowed to walk the course to fully appreciate their natural golf experience and get the most benefit from being out in nature for 4 hours.

Many courses, especially private facilities, allow walkers but may have some caveats, like only after 2:00 p.m. when there are fewer players on the course. Walkers realize added physical benefits than those who ride in carts, getting a very good workout. Many feel walking 9 or 18 holes is far better than just strolling around their neighborhood.

Climate is another consideration, of course, with extreme heat or cold putting a damper on walking the course. There are many online sources of information on courses around the country and their specific policies on walking aimed at those purists who feel walking is the only way to play.

The COVID 19 pandemic was actually a boon for the courses that not only allowed but encouraged walking, with cart sharing prohibited because of people being too close to each other. Many players, especially a younger demographic who were interested in the added health benefits of burning calories, improving leg strength and overall stamina, and a great cardio workout, decided to start walking and courses are noticing. Some courses around the country have gone to a walkers-only policy, and their business has shown a marked increase.

The advances made in electric, robotic personal caddies is re-opening the landscape for golfers who prefer to walk, and the future promises even more progress for those who choose to ditch the cart.