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Golf Cart Drivers Seek Comfort, Style

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By LAURA CONE

The Sun

Published: March 4, 2009

With tough economic times and unpredictable gas prices, many Sun City Center residents own a golf cart as their second car. In addition to being environmentally friendly, golf carts today give drivers the chance to express their personalities.

Barry Klawans, the owner of Sun City Center Golf Carts, Inc., has been busy as customers seek style and comfort as well as nostalgic trips down memory lane.

"We have made 57 Chevy's and Hummers," he said. "We can custom design any kind of paint scheme or style. We can match it to popular body styles with custom wheels and dashboards."

Klawans said people are driven to buy golf carts because they are becoming more "car-like" with heat and fan units, turn signals, headlights, built-in trunks and horns.

He said weather is a concern for many golf cart drivers. With new door enclosures that function like regular doors, people don't need to worry about rolling up the older rain curtains that snap shut.

Charles Washington of Sun City Center brought his four-seater golf cart to Klawans to be outfitted with an attachment that holds golf clubs. Unlike some golf cart drivers, Washington does use his golf cart for playing golf.

"Barry is fantastic," said Washington, who lives in Bowie, Md., part of the year. "They believe in customer service and satisfaction. He remembered my name and I bought it 18 months ago."

Washington said he began using his golf cart to drive to the post office, bank and grocery store after hurting his back. He likes the fact he can save a lot of money on gasoline.

Doris and Albert Anderson of Kings Point came to a four-day factory direct sale at Sun City Center Golf Carts, Inc. looking for a new golf cart. The Andersons sold their two golf carts when they thought they would be moving. Those plans were derailed due to the tough housing market.

"We used our golf cart for everything. It was a second car," Doris Anderson said. "It has been a handicap not having a golf cart because we used to go all over shopping and to yard sales."

While they used the golf carts for many activities, the Andersons never used their golf carts for golfing.

Klawans has owned the golf cart business for five years. He said 95 percent of the golf carts sold are electric.

"Since the advent of batteries, golf carts are able to run 20 miles on a charge," he said. "There is plenty of range for people in the Sun City Center area. They can use their cart all day and not have to worry about running out of juice by the time they get home."

For more information on Sun City Center Golf Carts, Inc., 1605 Sun City Center Plaza, call (813) 633-7843.

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com.

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