Revving Up Your Ride for Spring

By Ella Holt

Golf carts have become a staple in the area. Whether you’re headed down the street to grab some ice cream or just taking a joy ride to enjoy a beautiful sunset, owning a golf cart can be a great way to enjoy the wonderful weather headed this way. But even if you're ready to hop in your golf cart, is it ready for you?

Jim from Cottleville Caddy Shack shared a few important things to keep in mind when it comes to maintaining and storing a golf cart. With gas golf carts, it’s important to know when you last had an oil change or tune-up. For all golf carts, keeping an eye on tire pressure is also important. However, one of the most common issues comes down to the battery in electric carts.

“Typically, we see more issues with the electric carts and it comes down to battery condition in a lot of people's golf carts,” he said.

One common issue arises with lead-acid batteries. Many owners don’t realize these batteries require regular maintenance.

“You'd be surprised how many people don't realize that they have to check the water level and actually refill the batteries in their golf cart,” he said.

Lithium batteries, on the other hand, are generally maintenance-free.

To keep lead-acid batteries in good condition, it’s recommended to charge the batteries every month to month and a half. Golf carts should also be kept out of extremely cold weather whenever possible, since the water inside the batteries can freeze and damage them.

When properly maintained, lead-acid batteries can last around five years. Without proper care, they may only last a year and a half to two years.

Because of the upkeep required with lead-acid batteries, some owners choose to convert to lithium batteries instead.

“If you have a lead-acid golf cart and you do need batteries and it's a golf cart you're planning on keeping, we can actually convert the lead-acid to lithium batteries. The lithium batteries will last 10 years and they're a hundred percent maintenance free,” Jim said.

For people thinking about purchasing a used golf cart, Jim recommends checking the battery condition closely.

“Check to make sure the water level in the batteries is full. Another good thing to do is check the battery cables and the connections. If the cables where they connect to the battery are corroded, it's a good indication that the owner before did not take care of the batteries,” he said.

Cottleville Caddy Shack sells mostly new golf carts, though they occasionally offer used carts as well. They also provide services ranging from general maintenance to accessory installation.

For more information, visit caddyshack-cottleville.com.