[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I worked in the golf business for 35 years. A big part of my job was managing golf cart fleets. I can tell you that Club Car has the largest market share of all the electrics. The aluminum frame is a big part of that reason, but they are also the most dependable and the least expensive to maintain.

All the rest are a poor second. I investigated buying a new cart when I got here and like a lot of us was impressed by a lot of the carts I had seen around.

I first looked a GEM. Then I found out that not only do they need to be registered and insured, but they have a range of only 25 miles. I was also impressed by Columbia Par Car until I talked to several people including owners and golf cart repair people. I was told that parts are very difficult to get, even for the dealership and that carts that broke down were at times out of commission for long periods of time. True, they did get eighty miles on one charge, but that was a publicity stunt that was run under very controlled, optimum conditions. Fifty miles is probably more realistic.

Yamaha makes probably the best gas cart. EZ-Go was for a long time the leader in electrics before Club Car ran over them about 25 years ago. I have heard of some people having major problems with the newest EX-Go models. I haven't had any person experience but I've heard about problems and have read several posts on this forum about troubles with new EZ-Gos.

Now, people who have owned some of the carts that I've said negative things about and never had a problem will tell you how great they are. The fact is that all new electric carts are great. It's when you have a problem with them or when they get older that the differences show.

After looking at several new carts, I decided to keep my 2002 Club Car which still runs great.