A golf cart or golf buggy (officially referred to as a golf car according to ANSI standard z130.1, since "carts" are not self-propelled)ANSI z130.1. is a small vehicle designed originally to carry two golfers and their golf clubs around a golf course with less effort than the traditional method of walking.

Golf cars come in a wide range of formats and are more generally used to convey small numbers of passengers short distances at speeds less than per ANSI Standard z130.1 as originally manufactured. They are generally around wide × long × high and weigh to . Most are powered by 4-stroke engines.

The price of a golf car can range anywhere from $3,000 - $15,000 per car, depending on several factors. These factors may include whether or not a fleet of cars is being purchased for a golf course or a country club, for example, and whether or not the cars are new or used. Other factors may include options such as equipment requirements, and how many people the car is meant to transport. With the rise in popularity of golf carts, many golf clubs or country clubs offer storage and energy options to golf cart owners. This has led to the modification of golf carts to suite use at the particular golf course. Typical modification includes windshields, ball cleaners, cooler trays, upgraded motor or speed controller (to increase speed and/or torque), and lift kits.

Originally golf cars were electrically powered, but in time gasoline-powered variants started to occur. Electric golf cars were the first mass-produced electric vehicles for private consumer use. This variety is now used in many communities where their lack of pollutants, lack of noise, and safety for pedestrians and other cars (due to slow speeds) are beneficial. When purpose-built for general transportation these are called Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs), but with various operating limitations such as top speed and heavy regulation on which type of streets these types of cars are permitted to be used. These may resemble the golf cars shown above, although some are now being made with all–weather car–like bodies.

History

Electric golf carts have been used since at least 1951. Merle Williams of Long Beach, California was an early innovator of the electric golf cart.fact: date=February 2008 He started with knowledge gained from production of electric cars due to World War II gasoline rationing. In 1951 his Marketeer Company began production of an electric golf car in Redlands, California. Two additional companies began production of electric golf carts in 1954: LEKTRO and E-Z-GO. Cushman began production in 1955, Club Car in 1958, Taylor-Dunn in 1961, and Harley-Davidson in 1963. In 1971 the gasoline powered golfcart began production and soon after became a huge hit in a small town called The Villages, Florida.