Golf has soared in popularity in recent years. From novices trying it for the first time to pros who live and breathe the sport, participation has remained strong even through the pandemic.
If you run a golf club, you’ll know that people are interested in learning everything there is to know about getting around a course successfully – and that includes physically getting from one side of the course to the other. Moving across 18 holes can involve some legwork. To make playing more pleasurable and to make it easy for your clientele to get around, it’s worth having a suitable number of buggies ready and waiting.
Ideally, you will have enough to accommodate both your regular members and those who play from time to time. However, as with any vehicle, these will require regular servicing and maintenance. If you want to introduce excellent upkeep of the buggies used at your golf course, here are some tips to incorporate regular maintenance.
If you use electric golf buggies on your course, the battery is the most crucial component of the powertrain. It’s important that you have the best charging system in place so that you are replenishing the power as much as possible, therefore maximising its performance. Check that each battery in your buggies charge up properly and look out for any issues.
The batteries used in buggies are relatively easy to replace, but it’s good practice to ensure you’re getting the most out of them and maximising their lifespan. As well as checking up on charging capabilities, running frequent checks will ensure that corrosion and degradation do not occur.
When it comes to checking the grease fittings, always ensure that you only have three pumps of grease or less at once. Applying too much grease can lead to a build-up and this, in turn, could cause the grease seals to fail. For example, grease seals may be damaged and early bearing failure may result from adding more grease to a grease fitting than the recommended three pumps.
Adding more grease than recommended can also cause grease to migrate into locations where components may be damaged.
If you’re unsure, it’s worth seeking professional assistance or taking the time to ensure you have the correct tools for the job. By investing in the right tools, such as grease dispensers, it can save you money in the long run as you won’t have to pay for expert help or a full replacement cart.
As with other vehicles, the spark plugs can undergo wear and tear. They should be taken out and inspected as the threads may become damaged if they are overtightened.
If you are replacing spark plugs, ensure they are properly gapped. Should you be updating the spark plugs for the first time, double check the spacing in other buggies for comparison or get expert help.
The brakes on a golf cart need checking at least once a year. The pads, drums, cables, and pedal need to be checked, cleaned, and adjusted. It’s crucial that the brakes are in good working order. While a golf course is very different to a road, it can still be busy during peak playing times so it’s important that everyone is safe.
No matter how much experience you have with tinkering with golf buggies, sometimes you’ll need to get professional help. Knowing when to get someone else to check things over can be hugely beneficial, especially if it means them spotting issues you may have missed and advising on when to replace the cart with a newer version.
Subscribe for early access to promotions, feature announcements & more.
