Golf Cart
A golf cart is a small, low-speed motorized vehicle that carries one or two golfers and their clubs around a golf course. Most are electric, hold two passengers, and top out at around 15 mph.
What is a golf cart?
In golf, the term applies specifically to a small four-wheeled vehicle used during play to move between holes, not to the wider range of utility, residential, or street-legal versions found off the course. The standard cart holds two riders and their bags, has a fixed roof, and runs on either an electric battery or a small gasoline engine. According to Wikipedia, a typical model measures roughly 4 feet wide, 8 feet long, and 6 feet high, weighs 900 to 1,000 pounds, and tops out near 15 mph.
The cart exists for a practical reason: an 18-hole round covers four to five miles, often in heat or across hilly terrain. Riding makes the game accessible to older players, beginners, and anyone with a physical limitation, and it speeds up the pace of play on busy courses.
A small note on terminology. The American National Standards Institute officially calls these vehicles “golf cars” because they are self-propelled, while a true cart is something pulled or pushed by a person. In the UK, Australia, and much of the Commonwealth, they are usually called golf buggies. Most American golfers and courses still say “golf cart,” and this glossary follows that convention.
Types of golf carts
Course fleets and private owners choose between two main power sources, and the choice mainly affects range, noise, and maintenance.
Electric golf carts
Electric carts run on a bank of rechargeable batteries, traditionally lead-acid but increasingly lithium-ion in newer models. They are quieter, produce no exhaust, and need less mechanical maintenance than gas carts. Most courses in the United States now run electric fleets, and electric vehicles account for roughly 95% of the global golf cart market in 2026, according to Future Market Insights. The trade-off is range: a single charge is generally good for one round, sometimes two on lithium models.
Gas golf carts
A gas-powered cart uses a small four-stroke engine instead of batteries. These models tend to have more torque on hills and can refuel in seconds, which is why some hilly courses and many utility and maintenance fleets still prefer them. They run all day on a single tank but are louder than electric models, emit exhaust, and require routine engine servicing.
Golf cart vs. push cart and pull cart
This is the most common point of confusion for newcomers. A golf cart is motorized, and the player rides in it. A push cart and a pull cart are unmotorized trolleys for golfers who walk the course but don’t want to carry their bag.
A push cart is a three- or four-wheeled trolley that the golfer pushes from behind, similar to a stroller. It is the modern standard for walking golfers and rolls smoothly over fairways. A pull cart is the older two-wheeled design that the golfer pulls behind them with one hand. Most current walking golfers prefer push carts because the wider stance and forward-facing motion are easier on the back, shoulders, and arms.
| Type | Power | How it’s used | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf cart | Electric or gas motor | Golfer rides in it | Riding 18 holes |
| Push cart | Manual, 3–4 wheels | Pushed in front | Walking with a bag |
| Pull cart | Manual, 2 wheels | Pulled behind | Lighter walking, smaller bags |
A walking golfer using a push cart is still walking the round, even though their clubs are on wheels. Only the motorized version is what most people mean when they say “golf cart.”
How golf carts are used on the course
At most public and resort courses, riding is offered as part of the green fee or as an add-on rental. Players arrive at the bag drop. A cart is brought up with their bag already attached, and they drive themselves around the course for the full round.
Where carts can drive depends on the course’s policy that day. Three common rules apply:
- Cart paths only. Carts must stay on the paved cart path at all times, often after rain or during dry spells when turf is fragile. Players walk to their ball with a few clubs.
- The 90-degree rule. According to the USGA, this rule lets carts leave the path only after reaching a point even with the ball, then turn off the path at a right angle and take the shortest route to the ball. It cuts down on turf wear by keeping carts on the path longer.
- Open fairways. Carts can drive freely on the fairway and rough, usually in dry conditions and on courses with hardier turf.
A few points of common etiquette go with all three. Carts stay 30 feet from greens and tees, and drivers park behind the green when putting. Walking players have the right of way, and carts don’t drive across tee boxes or near bunkers.
Golf carts in professional golf
Most televised professional golf is walking-only. The PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and the four men’s majors all require players and caddies to walk during competition rounds, on the principle that physical stamina is part of the test.
The most famous exception came in 2001, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of Casey Martin, a tour player with Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome, a circulatory disorder that made walking long distances painful. The court found under the Americans with Disabilities Act that the PGA Tour had to allow Martin to use a cart in competition. He used one at the 1998 and 2012 U.S. Opens, the first golfer to do so at a major.
Carts are more accepted on the PGA Tour Champions, the senior circuit for players 50 and older, where most events permit them with restrictions. Most major USGA championships and serious amateur events also require walking unless a player has a documented medical exemption. Club tournaments and weekend qualifiers tend to be more flexible, with policies varying by event.
A brief history of the golf cart
The first reported use of a motorized cart on a golf course was by JK Wadley of Texarkana, Texas, in the 1930s, after he saw a three-wheeled electric vehicle being used to transport elderly shoppers to a Los Angeles grocery store. Early carts were intended as mobility aids for older or disabled players, and many clubs initially banned or restricted them because they were noisy and disruptive to course conditions.
The modern golf cart industry traces back to Marketeer, founded by engineer Merle Williams in California during World War II gas rationing. Marketeer started selling commercial electric carts for golf courses in the late 1940s, and competitors quickly arrived: E-Z-GO and LEKTRO in 1954, Cushman a year later, Club Car in 1958. Those four manufacturers, along with Yamaha, still dominate the modern market.
Today, the global golf cart industry is worth roughly $2.2 billion, according to Mordor Intelligence, with North America accounting for more than half of sales. The U.S. alone has more than 16,000 golf courses, per the National Golf Foundation, and aging course fleets keep replacement demand steady year over year.
Related Golf Terms
- Cart path — The paved or hard-surface track running through a golf course where carts are required to drive in many conditions.
- Caddie — A person who carries a player’s bag and helps with club choice and course strategy, used in place of a cart in most professional events.
- Gimme — An informal concession of a short putt, not allowed in official play.
- Golf ball — The ball used in golf, with dimples designed for aerodynamic performance.
- Gap wedge — A wedge between pitching and sand wedge loft (50-52 degrees).
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast does a golf cart go?
Most standard carts top out at 15 mph, though some street-legal low-speed vehicle versions reach 20 to 25 mph. Course-fleet carts are often governed to 12 to 15 mph for safety.
How much does a golf cart cost?
A new electric model typically runs $7,000 to $12,000 at retail, though prices vary widely by brand, battery type, and accessories. Used carts can be found for $3,000 to $6,000.
Can a golf cart drive on public roads?
In most U.S. states, only carts upgraded to Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) standards can drive on public roads. Federal safety standards require LSVs to add headlights, mirrors, seat belts, a windshield, and a VIN registered with the state. Use is typically limited to roads with speed limits of 35 mph or lower, and rules vary by state and city.
Is a golf cart the same as a golf buggy?
Yes. “Golf buggy” is the common term in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and much of the Commonwealth. “Golf cart” is the standard American term for the same vehicle.
Are golf carts safe?
A 2008 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, conducted by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, recorded an estimated 148,000 golf cart-related injuries in the U.S. between 1990 and 2006. The most common cause was falling or jumping from a moving cart. Moderate speed and seated passengers reduce the risk.
Sources
- Wikipedia. “Golf cart.” Accessed May 2026.
- Merriam-Webster. “Golf cart.” Accessed May 2026.
- Cambridge Dictionary. “Golf cart.” Accessed May 2026.
- United States Golf Association. “The Ins and Outs of the 90-Degree Rule.” Accessed May 2026.
- United States Golf Association. “Cart Etiquette 101.” April 2026.
- National Golf Foundation. U.S. golf course supply data, February 2024.
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine. “Golf cart-related injuries in the U.S., 1990–2006.” Center for Injury Research and Policy, Nationwide Children’s Hospital. July 2008.
- Mordor Intelligence. “Golf Cart Market Size, Share & Industry Report 2030.” 2025.
- Future Market Insights. “Golf Cart Market.” 2026.
- Golf.com. “9 golf-cart driving rules that every golfer should follow.” Josh Sens.
