Living the golf life in Southwest Florida? Your cart isn’t just transportation – it’s basically your second vehicle. Whether you’re cruising between holes or zipping around the neighborhood, here’s the real talk on making smart choices without the sales pitch.
Picking Your Ride
Club Car, EZGO, or Yamaha – these are your solid choices, and honestly, they’re all reliable workhorses. Electric is king for most golfers (quieter, cleaner, perfect for early morning rounds), but gas carts work if you’re covering serious distance or pulling heavy loads. Some golf courses allow you to use your own cart on the course, and f you want to use your personal cart for a round, make sure to check ahead to about regulations and permissions.
For Alva folks in the market for a golf cart, Affordable Carts in North Fort Myers is your closest bet, but Advantage Golf Cars has six Florida locations if you want to shop around. Both carry the big three brands and know what they’re talking about.
Keep It Running Smooth
Florida heat isn’t the most friendly to batteries and tires. Check your battery water monthly (distilled only), keep terminals clean, and charge after every use – even short trips. Your tires? They’re doing more work than you think. Keep them properly inflated and rotate them occasionally.
Pro tip: Wash your cart regularly. Salt air from the Gulf gets everywhere, and that corrosion will eat your cart alive if you let it.
Florida Road Rules That Matter
Here’s what actually applies to you: golf carts can only operate on roads specifically designated for them with speed limits of 30 mph or less. You can only drive between sunrise and sunset unless your local government says otherwise.
Want to make it street legal? You’ll need seatbelts, efficient brakes, rearview mirror, headlights, taillights, turn signals, and a windshield. It’s a process, but worth it if you’re planning neighborhood cruising.
Etiquette That Actually Matters
On the course: Repair divots, stay on cart paths when wet, and don’t drive up to greens. Basic stuff, but you’d be amazed how many people forget. Around town: Keep right, signal your turns, and don’t block traffic. You’re sharing space with real cars, so act like it.
When Things Go Wrong
For quick fixes and maintenance, having a local guy who knows carts inside and out is worth its weight in gold. Ask around your course or community – someone always knows the cart whisperer who’ll come to you. For major repairs or if you need parts fast, those Fort Myers dealers we mentioned earlier have service departments that know what they’re doing.
Bottom Line
Your cart should make your life easier, not give you headaches. Buy quality, maintain regularly, follow the rules, and you’ll get years of reliable service. In Florida’s golf-centric lifestyle, a good cart isn’t just nice to have – it’s essential.
River Hall & Hampton Lakes: Golf Paradise
River Hall & Hampton Lakes, at River Hall Country Club in Alva, Florida, offer a premier golf experience on its Davis Love III championship course. The meticulously maintained cart paths follow natural elevation changes, providing strategic vantage points for shot planning while preserving the course’s integrity.
For residents and members, River Hall represents the perfect marriage of challenging golf and resort-style amenities. With new homes from top builders from just the $300s, this community offers anyone looking for a country club lifestyle a chance to Live Large For Less!
