Club Car – 60 Years of Innovation and Design

Founded in 1958, Club Car is an American company with 60 years of industry-leading innovation and design. It manufactures gas and electric golf, utility and personal-use vehicles for both the commercial and consumer markets.

It began as a Dallas-based golf cart manufacturer named Landreath Machine, but was bought and moved to Augusta, Georgia in 1962 by Bill Stevens. They also introduced the first golf cart with a steering wheel, which was a big hit with celebrities and professional golfers.

History

The Club Car brand was founded in 1958 by Orville Homer Landreth of Igloo Products Inc., a Houston-based cooler company. In 1962, Bill Stevens bought the company and moved it to Augusta, Georgia, where Club Car officially began production.

Throughout the history of the company, Club Car has been known for its superbly engineered golf carts and utility vehicles. Its 60+ years of industry-leading innovation and design focus on the safety, comfort, and satisfaction of drivers and passengers.

The Club Car family includes electric and gas-powered vehicles that are designed to meet the needs of personal or commercial use. From wheels to seats, sound to storage, they’re all carefully engineered to help you get where you want to go.

Models

Club Car has a long history of making well-built golf cart. The company was founded in 1958 and is still operating today, based in Augusta, Georgia.

Club Car started off only producing 36 volt electric cars, but in 1984 they began to make gas 4-cycle golf carts. Their body design didn’t change much, until 1993 when a minor alteration was made to the front cowl and headlights.

In the 90’s Club Car worked on developing new products such as the first overhead valve engine. They also created in-demand vehicles that were specific to customer needs.

They redesigned the body of their carts, making them out of an indestructible thermoplastic resin called ArmorFlex. The material is thicker and stiffer than other manufacturers’ materials, which helps it stand up to the rigors of use.

Technology

Club Car was founded in Dallas, Texas, in the 1950s. After moving to Augusta, Georgia in 1962, the company began manufacturing golf carts and utility vehicles.

In 1978 Club Car was sold to a group of investors that included Billy Dolan and seven other top managers from E-Z-GO. They redesigned the cart and in 1982 introduced the DS model that is still familiar today.

Technology plays an important role in Club Car’s business, especially in the area of course management. Visage Fleet Management software and in-car entertainment such as the Shark Experience presented by Verizon offer video, music and news to help drive course revenue.

Another major innovation in the technology category is Tempo’s lithium-ion battery technology that extends Club Car’s TEMPO line of vehicles. This technology saves energy and requires little maintenance while delivering superior performance and reliability.

Innovation

Innovation is a process by which new products, processes or business models are created. It can be used to improve productivity, safety, performance or quality.

Routine innovation builds on a company’s existing technological competences and fits with its existing business model—like Intel launching ever-more-powerful microprocessors, or Microsoft creating new versions of Windows. Radical innovation, on the other hand, can be a completely new product or business model.

Club Car has used several types of innovation over the years to boost its market share. In 2008, they introduced the Excel Drive System to help boost golf cart efficiency and control. They then introduced the Villager 2+2 LSV, which allowed for easier travel around neighborhoods and downtown areas.

In 2017, Club Car launched the Onward(r) series of personal vehicles that let users choose their colors, accessories, and more online. It was the first time Club Car had allowed people to customize their vehicles. This helped increase sales by allowing customers to show off their own style.