Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (on Golf Carts)!
March 16, 2023..
Written by: Amber Ripley
More Formally: The Queen of Golf Cart Parts and Accessories
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Step aside, fellas... This one's for the ladies!
Women who own golf carts are a fun bunch. If you are one, you already know. If you're considering joining the community, you absolutely should! ...and it's my mission to explain why!
Let's get one thing straight: we're not talking about Beverage Cart Girls. Nothing against them, at all (I enjoy a cold beverage on the golf course as much as the next person... and oddly enough, many moons ago, I was one).
This time, we're speaking specifically to the women out there who own or want to own their own golf carts for personal use. We're going to discuss how and where you can use your golf cart or LSV (and what an "LSV" is!), and how you can customize a golf cart to suit your intended use and personality!
Inspiration for this Movement
I recently had the opportunity to help out in our customer service department for couple of months. While I knew it would be a fun new adventure for me with Golf Cart Stuff™, what I didn't expect was how much I was going to learn from and about our customers.
It was a couple of weeks into answering all the standard phone calls and emails, that I noticed a common phrase: "I need to order a rear seat for my wife's cart..." or "My daughter's golf cart needs wheels and tires..." or "My Girlfriend wants to be able to go off-road with her cart..." Are you picking up the common denominator here?!
Don't get me wrong - I think it's lovely that these guys are doing the legwork and sourcing all of these great golf cart accessories, but more so, I'm pumped that more and more ladies have their own personal buggies, adding to this diverse group of adventurous Girls With Golf Carts...
Pardon the Interruption: Did you know that we're holding a contest RIGHT NOW (March 2023) where we're looking to crown the "Queen of Golf Carts"?! In an effort to shine a light on us ladies of the golf cart community, we're asking you to send us photos of you with your golf cart for a chance to win a pretty kick-butt prize package. It's super simple. Get the details from the super quick video below. We'll see you there! ;)
To the Country Club and Beyond!
Okay, let's get back on track here... For our Ladies on the Course, there are many reasons why owning your own golf cart is a benefit.
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Economical- Skip paying golf cart rental fees every time you hit the links.
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Comfort- Never ride on stiff, overused seats again. Customize your buggy to your preferences!
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Safety- Ride confidently, knowing the condition of your golf cart at all times.
It's impossible not to notice the rise in the popularity of golf carts in our communities. Rolling around neighborhoods, the beach, campgrounds, farms, tailgating, concerts, county fairs, and so much more. You may have wondered why someone would use a golf cart instead of a regular vehicle.
Aside from being a joy to drive and easy to customize, golf carts also provide an economical and convenient way to get around. Most golf carts are available in electric models to save you gas money, and oftentimes they are allowed to travel in bike lanes or on unpaved paths to avoid all that annoying traffic!
The Villages, Florida is, without a doubt, one the most-desired retirement community destinations in the United States. At right around 70,000 residents, they proudly boast the largest golf cart community in the world, with somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 golf carts, which serve as their primary mode of transportation.
All the way from The Villages, Florida to Sun City, Arizona to Peachtree City, Georgia, and even up to Ludington, Michigan-- golf carts are the new craze sweeping the country. Whether it's running errands, dinner and drinks with your gal pals, or hauling the kids to the beach on a sunny afternoon... with the right outfit of equipment, there's not a lot these power-packed buggies can't do.
LSV is the New Golf Cart
It's important to know that operating a golf cart outside of the golf course or your private property comes with certain legal responsibilities. Because of the increase in golf cart use, many municipalities have outlined specific regulations and ordinances regarding what it takes to operate a street-legal golf cart on public roadways. Many communities require that a golf cart be deemed a "Low-Speed Vehicle," or LSV. Don't let this intimidate you, LSV is simply a fancy term for the exact same Club Car, EZGO, or Yamaha golf cart you already had, just with an official stamp of approval for street-legal use.
The most common safety requirements for Street Legal LSV Golf Carts:
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Headlights
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Tail Lights/Brake Lights
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Turn Signals
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Windshield
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Mirrors
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Horn
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Seat Belts
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Speedometer
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Slow Moving Vehicle sign (reflective triangle)
There are also a few general common sense rules to keep in mind when it comes to Street-Legal Golf Carts:
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Usually only allowed to drive down streets with speed limits of 35 MPH or less (you can usually cross streets with higher speed limits, so long as you don't drive down them-- no highway driving for Golf Carts!)
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Driver may typically be unlicensed, but must be over a certain age (usually around 14 years old)
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Insurance and Registration/License Plate are required by some states in order to drive on public roadways.
Of course , always do your research so that you know exactly what your local officials require of you and your buggy. Drivers of Golf Carts or LSVs are subject to the same citations and consequences as standard motor vehicle drivers, so it is of the utmost importance to know your local rules. The only interaction you should have with the law is when they stop you to ask about your sweet customized cart, not to give you an annoying citation to pay! When you finish reading this, check out our deep dive guide to Street Legal Golf Carts.
How Can I Customize a Golf Cart to my personality?
Once you've got the safety measures covered, the real fun begins. You have (pretty much) a blank slate to start modifying and adding personality any way you can imagine. Whether you're all about the visual appeal or focused on high performance, Golf Cart Stuff™ has an ever-growing selection of aftermarket golf cart parts to compliment whatever style suits you best.
Some of our customers' favorite items to personalize their golf cart:
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Rear Flip Seat - haul more passengers or more stuff!
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Custom Premier Seats - Thicker, more comfortable, custom color seat replacements.
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Lift Kits - lifted carts allow for larger wheels and tires and provide undercarriage protection from off-road debris.
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Custom Floor Mats - Coordinate this easily overlooked accessory with your cart's theme
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Lithium Batteries - drive farther without stopping to refuel or recharge your outdated lead-acid batteries.
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Colorway Steering Wheels - swap that tacky clipboard steering wheel out for something sleek and sporty!
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Bluetooth Speakers - a must-have for playing your favorite tunes while driving around town.
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Accessory/Underglow Lighting - create a unique ambiance with app-controlled LED RGB flexible light strips that make your whole cart glow!
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Custom Laser-Engraved Nameplates - a vanity plate for your golf cart! Show off your cart's name, your name, a cheeky pun, or anything else you can think of!
For an even more comprehensive list of what you can add to a golf cart - check out this other article we wrote!
At this point, you're in one of two boats:
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Ready to start adding items to your shopping cart so you can add them to your golf cart!
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Prepared to start shopping for your very own golf cart!
Wherever you are in the process, we're here to help in any way we can. If you have questions about specific golf carts, what kind of cart would be best for your lifestyle, or what accessories will work best with your buggy, please don't hesitate to reach out. You can leave us a comment below, call me directly at the office, or speak with one of our experienced technical customer service representatives, and we'll have you rolling down the road (safely, legally, and in style) in no time.
Just one more thing before you leave!
Share this article (and the Girls with Golf Carts contest) with a lady in your life who either needs to be convinced to get a golf cart, or needs to upgrade the golf cart they already have!
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"Here for the Ride"