Riding around on the golf cart sure does make playing 18 in the hot sun a lot easier. But when did these wonderful creations enter the world of golf?
The golf cart has its origins in the gas rationing of World War II and the technology that started to be developed because of gas rationing. During World War II the United States government instituted a policy of gas rationing so that there could be more fuel available for the armed forces. This necessitated the creation of electronically powered vehicles but the technology was never totally perfected during the war years. Immediately following the war a gentleman named Merle Williams was able to perfect the technology and began to introduce the first electronic golf cart.
Williams and his Markateer Company put out the first electronic golf cart in 1951 out of his company’s Redlands, California headquarters. The terminology is actually a bit off center as these are actually golf cars. Carts are devices that are pulled by some other source of propulsion and cars are self propelled vehicles. After years of marketing and sales confusion the term golf cart has continued to stick and even though most golf cars are marked as such.
One of the more popular names in the golf cart industry is E-Z-Go. The E-Z-Go company got into the golf cart game early with the introduction of their first electronic golf cart in 1954. Subsequently companies such as Cushman and Harley Davidson also entered the fray and suddenly there was a competitive and booming golf cart market.
Electronic golf carts, while easy to maintain and recharge, lacked some of the power needed to navigate some of the golf courses of the world so in the early 1970’s the gas powered golf cart was introduced and the gas powered cart has come to be the more popular of the two types.
Golf carts are now found in more places than just golf courses. As their popularity grows the uses of the golf cart are becoming endless. Businesses ranging from gated communities to large football stadiums own a fleet of golf carts and it looks like their popularity has no end in sight.
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Wed, Feb 11, 2009
Golf Equipment