Luke is an avid weekend-warrior golfer from the East Coast who plays golf more than he cares to admit.
Answer: Generally speaking, the average golf cart can travel at speeds up to 12 or 14 miles per hour.
The main factor that impacts how fast a golf cart can go is power. As a result, different golf carts have different speed capabilities.
Golf carts offer a fast and convenient way to get around the golf course. They are a great vehicle to use if we want to get around the golf course as quickly as possible. In fact, they can dramatically cut down how long it takes to complete a round of golf.
That’s not all though! Golf carts are also vital to people that struggle to walk long distances. If it weren’t for the trusty golf cart, some people wouldn’t be able to play the sport they love.
As a result, we have a lot to thank the golf cart for.
One common question golfers have in regard to golf carts is how fast can they go. The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, including the type of cart and legal speed limits.
The History Of The Golf Cart
Before we look at how fast golf carts can go, we’d like to tell you a little bit more about where they came from. We’ll do this by looking at their history.
The history of golf carts dates way back to the 1930s. The golf cart was first invented in 1932 by Lyman Beecher. In 1932, Beecher invented a rickshaw-style cart that golfers could use to carry their clubs around the course.
He invented the cart to help himself get around the course as he struggled with arthritis. Interestingly, this first golf cart was powered by hay. It still had to be pulled along too.
Things changed massively in 1957 when Max Walker invented the first gasoline-powered golf cart. He called it the “Walker Executive”. This was the first classic golf cart that featured two seats and space for the golfer’s clubs.
Since then, technology has only improved with further advancements increasing the speed, comfort, style, and quality of the golf cart.
How Fast Can Golf Carts Go?
Now you know more about where the golf cart came from, we can look at how fast they can go. Generally speaking, the average golf cart can travel at speeds up to 12 or 14 miles per hour.
The main factor that impacts how fast a golf cart can go is power. As a result, different golf carts have different speed capabilities.
For example, an electric golf cart and a gas-powered golf cart both perform differently. To make things easier, let’s look at each type of golf cart individually.
How Fast Can Electric Golf Carts Go?
Most electric golf carts come with a battery package that is either 36, 48, or 78 volts. Despite the differences between these volt packages, the speed between the 3 differs very little.
The 36-volt golf cart is the basic model of cart. You have probably used one of these at a public golf course. 48-volt golf carts aren’t too much different. However, they do tend to have faster acceleration.
48-volt golf carts can usually travel for longer too.
A 72-volt golf cart offers more horsepower and torque. The extra volts in this type of cart make it much easier to power around the course. Their battery tends to last longer, and they can accelerate faster.
Having said that, the top speed of most electric golf carts is still 12 to 14 miles per hour.
How Fast Can Gas Golf Carts Go?
When it comes to speed, you might be surprised to hear that most golf-powered golf carts aren’t any quicker than electric golf carts. The average speed of a gas-powered golf cart is still 12 to 14 miles per hour.
However, there are some differences. The main difference between the two types of golf carts is that gas-powered carts always maintain speed. The same can’t be said for eclectic-powered golf carts.
As electric golf carts reach the end of their charge, they can start to slow down. As a result, their top speed might start to change.
Can Customized Golf Carts Go Faster?
Whilst most golf carts found at your local course won’t go any faster than 14 miles per hour, there are other carts that can go much faster. However, these golf carts are usually customized carts.
Customized carts can be altered and adjusted to reach much faster speeds. There are golf companies out there that can customize your cart to make it capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.
Of course, you can’t drive around the course at this speed, but it’s still pretty impressive.
However, despite this extreme speed, golf carts can still go faster. In fact, the record for the fastest golf cart ever recorded is 119 miles per hour.
How Can You Make A Golf Cart Faster?
So, how can golf carts be customized to increase speed so dramatically? The answer is actually very simple.
Golf cart speed can be increased by making basic upgrades. Simply upgrading the cart’s motor, speed chips, and speed codes are all it takes to increase your golf cart’s speed. These simple changes could increase your golf cart’s top speed to 19 miles per hour.
Another change you can make includes using larger wheels.
How Fast Can You Drive Your Golf Cart On The Course?
Most golf courses will have their own rules and regulations as to how fast a golf cart can be driven on their course. As a result, giving you a definitive figure can’t be done.
Having said that, you can expect your local course to have rules that don’t allow any golf cart to be driven over 15 miles per hour. Seeing as though this is the top speed of most carts, you don’t have anything to worry about.
Always check course rules before driving your cart though as your local course might want you to drive much slower than others.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, everything you need to know about golf cart speed. In this guide, we told you that most golf carts can’t travel quicker than 12 to 14 miles per hour.
That’s not all we told you though. We also looked at the difference in speed between different types of carts, how a cart can be made to go quicker, how fast you’re allowed to drive, and the current world record.
Now you’ve read through this guide, you should know a lot more about how fast golf carts can go. Who knows, we may even have encouraged you to make some upgrades so you can drive your cart faster.
