Ready to roll: today's golf course vehicles emphasize convenience & opportunities for revenue generation.

When Club Car introduced its 2006 model Precedent golf car several months back, it came with one very noticeable new feature--a large video screen located directly in the middle of the dash. While on-course GPS technology has been used in golf cars for several years now, "the Inova system represents the next evolution in that technology," explained Mike Read, vice president of marketing for Club Car.

The Inova system is just the latest result of Club Car's ongoing relationship with UpLink Corp., a leading supplier of wireless GPS course installations. The wide-screen technology utilized in the new Inova system "takes the whole technology of GPS to the next level," Read said, "especially with its enhanced audio-video delivery capabilities." More practically speaking, the new in-dash location of the GPS screen lends itself to easier viewing than the traditional canopy-mounted system, which is still available. "The wider full-color monitor is more easily viewed from any angle, even outside of the golf car."

While added comfort for the golfer is one plus, the benefit of Inova from a club's perspective comes from the opportunity to provide improved beverage and snack service out on the course. "With this GPS unit the golfer can more easily summon the food and beverage vehicle," Read added. "All the new functions that have been included are especially helpful during golf outings and large tournaments."

For the 2006 model year Precedent, the vehicle boasts the following additional enhancements:

* Updated features on the IQ Controller to offer more flexibility with additional speed settings, better diagnostics, and an additional pedal-up speed setting.

* On gas models, an upgraded FE 350 gas engine (updated from the FE 290), which offers 11.5 hp for better hill-climbing performance and improved acceleration with reduced maintenance.

* Softer seats with an improved adhesive attachment to the seat bottom for enhanced durability and longer wear.

* Reinforced clips on the windshield to help it maintain its position--either up or down.

* Improvements to the towing system with a stronger attachment to prevent bending.

* Governor Protection Kit with tamper-resistant locking brackets for access panels and engine cover plates that eliminate access by unauthorized personnel to the governor arm, governor cable, and carburetor.

E-Z-GO Textron continues this year with improvements to its standard TXT fleet vehicle. "We've made tweaks to the subsystem to improve the vehicle operationally, and made some other changes under the hood to deliver improved performance," said Kevin Holleran, vice president of sales and marketing for E-Z-GO. The electric TXT comes in three base models that all feature E-Z-GO's unique Precision Drive System.

Over at Yamaha, the company is offering their G-MAX Limited Edition golf car this year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its parent corporation. This special model vehicle features chrome wheels and hubcaps, a tan suntop and seats, and an exterior paint scheme of Artic White.

Also seeing a need for improved food and beverage transportation out on the golf course, E-Z-GO Textron has also introduced a new refreshment vehicle to its line-up of models for this year.

The ST 4x4 Refresher utilizes the base design of its popular ST 4x4 utility vehicle to provide a more rugged and sturdy frame upon which to build its new food and beverage hauler. The ST 4x4 Refresher features a custom-built snack and beverage unit built by a company called 19th Hole Marketing. "The hefty payload and increased size of the Refresher also means fewer trips for restocking," Holleran said.

Rising Fuel Costs & Fleet Management

While the trend toward all-electric fleets has been a steady movement, "the issue now of rising fuel costs has pushed things even more in that direction," Holleran said. "It makes more long-term economic sense to run an all-electric fleet, but there are initial start-up costs related to setting up the car barn and wiring it."

Club Car's Read concurred, "There is definitely an infrastructural investment that is required in going all-electric, but what we're seeing is that new facilities are planning only for electric. In places such as California and the Sunbelt there is purely an electric play when it comes to fleet vehicles, while the Midwest and Northeast have been the slowest to move over to electric."

For fleets that use electric, improving the performance of the vehicles' batteries is the prime component in getting the most out of your energy expenditure. To that end, Club Car has also introduced a new accessory: a single-point watering system. Manufactured by Flow-Rite Controls, the single-point watering system eliminates the need to remove battery caps to add water through the use of an interconnected valve system. When the proper electrolyte level is reached during the filling process, the valves act independently to shut off water flow to the cells and prevent overflow. It's estimated that the process to fill a car's batteries takes just 20 seconds per vehicle with the use of the single-point system, where it would take several minutes without.

When it comes to utility vehicles, however, the switchover from gas to electric has been less pronounced, mostly due to the expectation that utility vehicles offer more power--traditionally the domain of gas-powered vehicles. For the last year, however, Club Car has offered its unique IQ System on its electric utility vehicles, "which quite literally offers gas performance on an electric platform," Read said. "But even though there's been a lot of talk about electric, there's always been an interest in gas."

Going for a (Single) Ride

While there continues to be much debate and controversy swirling around the issue of single-rider golf cars, SoloRider company of Centennial, CO continues to improve their vehicles to provide enhanced safety and reliability for their golfing clientele.

"We've incorporated an elongated frame in the vehicle and made it more robust," explained Roger Pretekin, president of SoloRider. "We listen carefully to our customers to make sure that the car is safe and reliable." To further that objective even more, SoloRider hired a suspension expert who previously served in the Indy racing circuit to make improvements to their vehicles. "With his input, we made our power steering system 40 percent easier to use in comparison to previous models," Pretekin said. "Also, having independent four-wheel suspension has given our vehicles a stability that is unique to the industry."

Since SoloRider's vehicle, the SoloRider 3400, is primarily designed for golfers with physical impairments, the new features to the car include the following:

* A programmable controller "designed to ramp up speed so it doesn't spin its tires," he said. "We also won't allow the vehicle to exceed 14 mph."

* An emergency "kill" feature that immediately locks the tires upon turning the key, so the vehicle won't roll off uncontrollably.

* An elongated steering system that is more functional for shorter golfers.

* An improved scorecard holder that is better and easier to use, as well as stronger and larger pouches for balls and tees.

* Thicker vinyl on the seats to make them more durable and wear-resistant.

* Improved strength and thickness of the on-board storage basket.

In addition to these improvements, the 36-volt electric SoloRider vehicle comes with a 360-degree swivel seat that stands up to a fully upright position.

And, while there is a tendency to conclude that the single-rider vehicle is only useful for disabled golfers, Pretekin suggests that clubs actually look at the single-rider vehicle in terms of serving other kinds of golfers.

"The overall number of facilities that are using these vehicles is still very low, somewhere around two percent," he said. "But the state of the industry is changing every day. There are 78 million baby boomers in this country, and this group is starting to deal with problems due to aging, such as knee issues. Our car was designed as a golf car, yet it features adaptations that meet the needs of people with moderate to severe disabilities."

Consider also promoting the novelty of using the single-rider vehicle as a way to generate revenue. In a promotional program that SoloRider conducted with six golf courses in Monmouth County, NJ, Pretekin furnished 21 cars that were to be offered at a rental fee of a few dollars cheaper than the two-seater vehicles. Prior to this time, a sole single-rider car at one of the courses had been rented out a mere two times in five years, at a cost of $13 per rental.

However, by actively promoting the rental of the single-rider cars in the pro shop, "there was a change in perception," Pretekin explained. "Within the first 90 days, the cars had been rented out 75 times, then in the next 90 days it was rented out 80 times. What happened is that it lost the stigma of being a disabled person's vehicle."

Pretekin also points out that this is the only recommendation made by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) that affords you the opportunity to recoup the costs associated with compliance. "There are features you must include in the design of your clubhouse to comply with ADA, yet you have no way of recovering those costs," he said. "Also, consider that by providing access to even one disabled golfer, that individual will likely bring guests--and added potential revenue--with him or her to the course."