The fleet has arrived.
Gainesville’s Chattahoochee Golf Course welcomed 65 new golf carts this morning, complete with new tires and working batteries.
Director of Golf Rodger Hogan asked the City Council on Tuesday for a loan to purchase the new carts, noting the old fleet lasted past the warranty dates.
“The life expectancy of a fleet is three to four years, and these will be 4 years old in October. They’re electric and run off batteries, and when we’re busy, they have to go out for two rounds,” Hogan said Monday. “During the last few months, most haven’t been able to get through two (rounds), and on an occasion or two in the past few weeks, it would only go four or five holes.”
A $161,905 interfund loan, transferred from the city’s Community Development Fund, purchased the new Yamaha carts to last for the next three or four years. To repay the loan, Hogan raised the 18-hole cart fee by $1 and the nine-hole cart fee by 50 cents, effective today.
“I don’t mind the $1 fee at all. Golfers are always looking for a good cart,” said Frank Patten, who will be one of the first golfers to use a new cart at 8:10 this morning. “I’m delighted to be getting new carts. We all are.”
The increase sparked debate among council members, some arguing for a higher price or a more concrete solution to pay back the loan. Other council members noted a higher fee would push golfers to another course, and the Gainesville course would lose business. They decided to raise the fee again when the economy starts to recover.
“We need to accommodate our golfers and give them the best experience possible,” Hogan said. “The responses I’ve gotten have been positive. They know we need new fees and will pay the extra dollar.”
Yamaha workers were in the parking lot of the golf course Monday, removing the tops, windshields and bags off 60 carts before loading them into a large truck today. They will then be repaired and sold to Yamaha dealers, and Hogan will keep five carts from the old fleet for the maintenance crew.
Workers will then assemble the new carts, which will roll in about 7 a.m. today. The new design features a sleeker look, with a white body, gray cushion, slightly wider seat, more aerodynamic back and cell phone holder.
“They’ll also ride better,” said Richard Brown, a Yamaha service technician who regularly works on the carts at Gainesville’s golf course. “There are drains on the top that allow rain to flow through the cart and run out of the bottom, rather than pour over the side. That’s a cool new technology.”
The new fleet also will save maintenance money.
“Lately, I’ve had to come out often, almost daily, but this will save some money,” Brown said. “There won’t be that much work right now. Just charge them up and send them out.”