How to choose a golf cart: seven questions to answer first

Seats, power, terrain, storage and budget. Settle these before you compare brands.

Most people start with a brand name. It is easier to start with the job. A cart that spends its life on a flat estate road has different needs from one that climbs farm tracks or shuttles guests between resort buildings.

The seven questions

• Who rides? Count the regular passengers, not the occasional full load.
• What is the surface? Tar and paving are forgiving. Gravel, sand and slopes call for better tyres, braking and motor output.
• How far is a typical day? Range matters more than top speed.
• Where will it be charged or fuelled, and who looks after it?
• Does it need to carry things: golf bags, tools, coolers or a rear flip seat?
• Will it be driven on public roads? Rules differ by municipality and by estate; check before you buy, not after.
• What is the budget, including accessories, enclosures and a charger if one is not supplied?

Write the answers down and send them with a quote request. A good dealer can only recommend sensibly when they know the job.