The Best Golf Carts to Use at a Senior Citizen Community

With the ever increasing number of retirees comes a corresponding increase in the availability and appeal of senior housing. Senior housing provides security, comfort, and independence for senior citizens while maintaining the lifestyle to which they are accustomed. One of the major trends occurring in Senior Citizen Communities at the moment is the use of golf carts as a means of safe, affordable, and fun transportation.

Benefits of Using a Golf Cart During Your Retirement

They Are Affordable
What once used to be a simple means of traveling around the local golf course has now become an exciting, convenient, and affordable addition to the senior citizens’ vehicle collection. Carts can be transformed from basic to luxurious with the easy addition of some cheap golf cart parts.

The cost of a brand-new car can range from $15,000 to $100,000 or more, depending on the kind of car desired, whereas a brand-new golf cart will set you back only a small sum between $5,000 and $10,000 for a high-end luxury cart. This means seniors can enjoy the ease and independence of owning a golf cart, and there will still be plenty left in their retirement fund for doing other activities that they enjoy.

Carts Promote Independent and Active Retirement
Though not officially “street legal,” carts are currently allowed within the walls of gated Senior Citizen Communities and enable senior citizens to move around the enormous housing communities with the kind of ease they may no longer find when driving a car.

Promoting independence is one of the great benefits of retiring to a community that encourages active retirement, and golf carts are a wonderful mode of transport for those seniors who may no longer be eligible for a driver’s license.

However, should a golf cart owner wish to make their cart street legal, they can purchase a golf cart light kit with a selection of upgrades such as seatbelts, brake lights, and turning signals which will allow them to travel through the neighborhood without worrying about being pulled over by the police.

Carts Are Convenient and Eco-Friendly
While gas-operated carts are available, most golf carts on the market are now battery-powered. Battery-powered carts produce fewer emissions than gas-operated carts and can be charged overnight to be ready for use the following day.

A golf cart battery will generally need to be replaced every 2-3 years, depending on the amount of usage, but this is a relatively low maintenance cost when compared with the amount normally spent on car maintenance. Battery-powered carts also cause less noise pollution than both gas-operated carts and cars, which is a feature that is sure to please the neighbors.

Which Is the Right Cart for You?

There are many different brands of cart on the market, all varying in price and performance; however, one of the great features of golf carts is they are able to be endlessly customized. In many Senior Citizen Communities, it is not unusual to see carts “tricked out” to look like hot rods or favorite classic cars.

Although most communities cap the speed limit at around 20-25mph, there are a variety of golf cart upgrades available to boost the performance and ensure you get the best ride possible from your cart.

Safety Upgrades
Safety is always a primary concern, especially for seniors venturing out with street legal carts. One of the best and most important upgrades to make to your cart is the addition of front and rear disc brakes to ensure optimum braking performance and reduce the risk of collisions with other vehicles in the neighborhood.

Another important upgrade to make is to customize your golf cart wheels and tires according to the terrain you plan to drive on and the amount of traveling you intend to do. This will ensure your cart will be suitable for on- or off-road travel, as well as be able to navigate narrow lanes and wider streets of the community with ease.

Cosmetic Upgrades
A fun way to personalize your cart is to add cosmetic upgrades to give it a unique and fun look. There are custom body kits available for most brands of cart with which you can customize color, shape, and style.

Some other fun accessories include: golf cart rear seat kits, which will automatically double the carrying capacity of the cart; radio kits; and kits that include fans and blowers to ensure your comfort. The possibilities are limitless when it comes to personalizing your cart to suit the lifestyle at your community.

SummarySenior Citizens’ Communities are great places to enjoy your retirement, and one of the best ways to do that is with a fun, safe, eco-friendly personalized golf cart. There are many options available to suit a variety of lifestyles and communities. With a golf cart, seniors can remain independent, have fun, and travel in style.