With such a universal piece of equipment like the golf cart, you may wonder, why are golf carts left hand drive? Considering that the majority of those who purchase a golf cart are not actually using them on the road and there are not always driving guidelines on a golf course pertaining to which side of the path you will have to drive on, this can be a rather common curiosity. Although there are modifications that can be special ordered for your personal golf cart, the majority of golf carts will be left hand drive, but why?
The majority of golf carts are manufactured in the USA, where the roadways are built to be traveled on the right side using a left-hand drive vehicle. The USA is also one of the biggest distributors of golf carts to the rest of the world, which is why the majority of golf carts are left-hand drive.
While you can purchase a golf cart that is right-hand drive, depending on where you are in the world, you may have to place a special order or purchase from a company that manufactures right-hand drive golf carts.
The majority of golf carts are manufactured and sold within the United States of America and other countries whose populations drive on the right side of the road. This will allow the golf cart to feel more natural while being operated by an individual that drives on the right side of the road. So which explanations for golf carts being left-hand drive are fact and which are supposed to be a joke?
Why Are Golf Carts Left Hand Drive? Which Is Fact, Which Is Rumor?
Fact: Manufacturing Company and Country Plays A Huge Role
The majority of golf carts manufactured and sold are from companies based in the United States of America. The United States of America manufactures its vehicles with left-hand drive due to the fact that the population drives on the right side of the road.
Once the United States of America seceded from England and gained their independence, the people of the United States of America wished to further distance themselves from the ways of the old country and developed their own way of traveling down the roads, which consisted of switching from the left side to the right side. Depending on which company you purchase your golf cart will determine if your golf cart is a left-hand drive or right-hand drive. Companies based in the United States of America include but may not be limited too:
- Polaris Industries, Inc.: Based in Medina, MN, USA
- Club Car, Inc: Based in Evans, GA, USA
- Textron, Inc: Based in Providence, RI, USA
- Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA: Based in Marietta, GA, USA
- Cruise Car, Inc.: Based in Sarasota, FL, USA
Companies that manufacture right hand drive golf carts include but may not be limited to:
- Suzhou Eagle Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Co., Ltd.: Based in Jiangsu, China
- Guandong Yatian Industrial Co., Ltd.: Based in Guandong, China
- Tianjin Zhongyi Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd.: Based in Tianjin, China
With so few countries that still drive on the left side of the road, left-hand drive golf carts are more widely manufactured, sold, and purchased throughout the world. You will have better luck finding a right-hand drive golf cart from a company based out of China unless you plan to purchase a custom golf cart from an American company.
Rumor: Laziness
A common joke among golf cart enthusiasts includes the rumor that people from the United States of America are lazy, which would be the explanation for why the majority of golf carts are manufactured, sold, and purchased in the United States of America.
The United States of America contains the majority of the population of golfers throughout the world, which is why there are so many golf cart manufacturers based in the United States of America. The image of the elderly, rich, entitled men come to mind when picturing the average American golfer, a stereotype that does not fit all golfers.
This image dominates the idea of what the majority of golfers would look like in the United States of America, further feeding the fuel of the ‘All Americans are Lazy’ stereotype in the golfing community. It is widely known that golf carts are used for multiple purposes, not only in the United States of America but throughout the entire world, which includes but may not be limited to:
- Golf Courses: Golf carts provide the perfect storage and assistance while playing a round or two of golf with your friends by carrying not only you but your clubs as well, to the next destination.
- Chores: Due to their storage capacity and user-friendly manufacturing, golf carts make for the perfect vehicle to assist you in your chores around your property, especially if you reside on a farm with several acres to tend to.
- Leisure: In the United States of America, golf cart communities are quite popular, especially for the elderly and retired, and golf carts make for simple transportation around the community.
- Hobbies: Whether you are a golfer or a seashell collector, golf carts allow the perfect assistance to any person with a special hobby by providing ample storage, simple transportation, and even protection from the sun’s rays.
Although the jokes and rumors provide a comedic explanation for the majority of golf carts being left-hand drive, they just are not facts. Golf carts provide a wide range of assistance for people from all walks of life in many different countries.
Left-hand drive golf carts allow for easier manufacturing and purchase for those countries that drive on the right side of the road, which happens to be the majority of the countries in the world. The United States of America just so happens to be one of the largest producers of golf carts which are sold all over the world for many different purposes.
