The golf cart companies at this year’s PGA Show expanded their booth displays to show off even more stuff than they had in prior years.

I saw at least 50 carts, from single-riders up to six-passenger behemoths.

One reason for the larger presence is because state and local governments and large HOA-type communities are showing an increasing acceptance of these carts for street-legal purposes. 

That option comes with extra requirements, but the cart companies are more than happy to meet the market’s demands.

When I attended a press event at the E-Z-GO booth, therefore, I was not surprised that the first half of the presentation was dedicated to the Augusta, Ga., company’s new Liberty vehicle for 2027.

The Liberty is beautiful, highly stylized, full of cool things, and not for the faint of wallet. It is also available as a street-legal “low-speed vehicle,” meeting federal and voluntary standards. These rules include a maximum speed of 25 mph and the ability to travel on roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less, as well as headlights and taillights – in this case, provided by bright LEDs.

Even without the street-legal elements, the difference between the lithium battery-powered Liberty and a stock golf cart from 20 years ago is immense.

Many features provide car-like elements, such as a 10-inch touchscreen, plenty of instrumentation, driving mode selection options and a charging pad for tablets or smartphones. A 28-inch soundbar eliminates the need to bring your own loudspeaker, and the hanging pedals and steering wheel match the driver to the automobile experience.

There is even a backup camera and, at premium trim levels, three-point seatbelts for the driver and all passengers.

Storage is enhanced with a “frunk,” along with under-seat space and a more traditional trunk in the back. The dashboard spaces are also huge. 

By the way, the Liberty cart can also carry golf bags.

The press event also showed off E-Z-GO’s Onyx system, aimed at golf course operators for whom knowing where all the golf carts are at any given moment on a 150-acre property is a critical issue.

The system’s touchscreen gives operators a hi-def screen for course displays, pace of play data, music controls and GPS distance measuring services, as well as food and beverage ordering if desired.

Onyx works with the company’s pre-existing Pace Technology platform. This includes providing real-time location data for each vehicle, geofencing capabilities to dissuade the more adventurous golfers from going to unsafe places. On-screen widgets display useful critical weather alerts or other safety information to the cart drivers. 

Real-time tracking of carts with real-time instant communication with cart drivers can provide enhanced experiences while adding useful management elements for course operators.

Putting practice options

During this year’s ShopRite LPGA at Seaview Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., I watched LPGA players go through their warmup routines on the putting green before their rounds on the Bay Course.

Amateur golfers can learn from these examples.

Aline Krauter of Germany won the NCAA Division I title while playing for Stanford in 2022. On Seaview’s putting green May 31, Krauter used three putting holes for her routine, taking advantage of the fact the green was not full of other competitors at 7:30 a.m. 

She rolled in several putts from about 4 feet toward one hole, using a mirror device with a narrow two-tee gate. 

Krauter then switched to another nearby hole for a set of 20-footers, two at a time. If she missed the putt, she walked up and tapped in from short range. From that hole, she took aim at another one 30 feet away and did the same thing. Krauter putted back and forth between the holes, alternating 20- or 30-foot attempts.

 After several rounds with this series, Krauter returned to the mirror drill for a few minutes before stopping her session completely.

In essence, she combined intense short-putt practice with the longer approach attempts she would see on the course.

Local club competition results

Kings Creek Country Club held its LGA Championships Sept. 17, in flights and in gross and net categories.

Jean Chlastawa won the overall gross championship for the 18-Hole LGA, while Jeannine Doane earned the overall net championship in a scorecard playoff. 

Deb Ward won first place gross in the first flight. Anita Pettitt won first net for that flight, with Sally McGovern in second. 

Kathleen Nilles won first place gross in the second flight. Arlyce Dubbin won first net for that flight, with Gail Letts finishing second.

Diane Knizer won the overall gross championship for the 9-Hole LGA, with Pam Cranston winning the overall net championship.

Sherry Schaffer won first gross in the first flight. Kim Kavchok won first net, followed by Chris Piasecki in second. 

Dina McCullough won first gross for the second flight. Tracy Gordon and Sue Griesemer tied for first net.

Pam Cranston won first gross in the third flight. Sandy Singer won first net for that flight, with Jennifer Liner taking second net via tiebreaker. Joanne Yurik won first gross in the fourth flight, with Margaret Connors winning first net. Brenda Schilli finished second.