A Brief History of the Golf Cart

Nowadays, it may seem like golf carts have been around practically forever, or at least as long as the motorized vehicle has existed. The truth is that the golf cart is a fairly recent invention. Scotland invented golf during the 1400s, and for centuries, golfers and their caddies simply walked the course themselves.

Golf carts were invented only around 90 years ago as a means of traversing those long courses without having to have a caddy to haul your clubs around for you. Keep reading to learn more about the history of golf carts.

1930s & 1940s

In 1932, Floridian golfer Lyman Beecher invented an actual golf “cart” that was pulled like a rickshaw by two caddies. Due to Beecher’s poor health, he found it too challenging to walk the course himself, so he debuted his invention at the Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, North Carolina. Soon, Beecher added two more wheels to his cart and included six car batteries to make the cart operate independently.

Similar electric-powered golf carts were developed during the remainder of the 1930s and the 1940s, but they didn’t prove very popular with most golfers who enjoyed walking the course themselves. The carts were primarily used by disabled golfers or older golfers who found the walk too challenging and delighted in this simple means of transportation.

1950s & 1960s

Finally, during the 1950s, Texan oil tycoon R.J. Jackson earned a patent for his three-wheeled gas-powered golf cart design. Jackson’s cart was called the Arthritis Special and was used by disabled and older golfers as well. However, his cart soon became the bane of many golf course owners’ existences, as it produced a great deal of smoke and noise that was disruptive to the quiet and peaceful game.

In 1951, Californian Merle Williams created a company called Marketeer which manufactured electric-powered vehicles specifically designed to be used as golf carts. While other companies joined in on this trend, the golf carts were very expensive and many golf courses still weren’t thrilled about their presence.

As golf carts became more popular, though, the courses finally began to purchase and rent out their own golf carts to golfers young and old. Golf cart usage soared in the 1960s and the prices gradually became lower as more and more companies joined in.

1970s Onward

Many golf cart manufacturers had their start during the 1960s and found great success by the 1970s. This was also the decade that saw widespread usage of golf carts off the fairway, as a means of transport on beaches, islands, retirement villages, college campuses, airports and other places where a typical car or truck would not work.

Today, we have both electric- and gas-powered golf carts with lots of features and different seating layouts to suit all kinds of golfers’ needs. Golf carts are more popular and more affordable than ever before! 

Looking to buy a new cart? Visit our dealership in Murfreesboro, TN, to check out our wide stock of new and used golf carts for sale. Mikey's Motors serves all of our Tennessee customers, including those of you coming from the cities of Nashville and Franklin.