Tips for buying a golf cart – for home, dog park, even golf

By Jean Harris CONTRIBUTOR

Golf carts are no longer restricted to the golf course. Families have caught on to the ease of this mode of transportation and carts are extremely popular in neighborhoods all over Bluffton.

If you’re thinking about buying a cart for your family or for your golf game, there are many factors to consider. First, should you buy new or used?

USED:

If you decide to buy a used cart there are a number of things you should consider:

• Should you buy from a dealership or from an individual who is selling their cart? A dealership is going to put the cart through a number of check-points, including tires, body, battery and brakes. They will certify the cart.

If you are buying from an individual, you need to check the batteries. Make sure they are free of corrosion, dirt and grim. The batteries don’t have to be new, but you need to know how old they are.

You can expect at least a four-year battery life from lead-acid based batteries that you need to water regularly. If the cart has lithium batteries you don’t have to water them and they last at least eight years. Another item to check is the tires. Replacing them can be costly. Make sure that the seller has a maintenance history from a dealership.

Refurbished

Refurbished carts are those that have been used solely in a golf course fleet. They are usually a couple of years old. Dealerships generally purchase these carts and strip them. You then can choose new seats, body, tire size, batteries, and various accessories. Make sure that the refurbished cart is verified by a certified dealer.

I purchased a refurbished cart five years ago and was able to pick my Georgia colors