14 Golf Operations in Clubs - CMAA

Golf Operations in Clubs 509
cars than its daily average rental to handle peak-demand periods and allow for
cars taken out of service for repairs. According to the Club Managers Association
of America, the average number of golf cars for clubs is 64. 7
The club should have an insurance package to cover its fl eet of golf cars. The
policy should provide for both liability and property damage.
Golf Car Maintenance. The head mechanic or car-maintenance supervisor should
keep all golf cars in proper working order and service them according to the manufacturer’s
specifi cations. Golf cars should be cleaned and serviced aft er every use.
Few things are worse in a member’s eyes than a golf car that is dirty, runs poorly,
or stops running in the middle of a round of golf. The PGA’s Golf Car Fleet Maintenance
Handbook is a good resource for information on how to maintain a golf car
fl eet.
Golf car batt eries should be checked for complete charges or gas tanks checked
to make sure they have adequate fuel before the cars are delivered to the pickup
area. Service should include checking the batt ery charge levels, batt ery terminals,
batt ery water level, tire pressure, brake operation, steering action, cleanliness, and
so on. At the end of the day, the staff should clean the interior of the car, replace
pencils and scorecards, and wash the exterior. The car should be parked in the golf
car barn. If the golf car is electric, the charger should be plugged in and turned on;
if the car is gasoline-powered, the tank should be refi lled. Before leaving at the end
of the day, the staff should secure the golf car barn and make sure that the fan is
turned on. A rotation system should be in place so that the same cars are not used
day in and day out when play is slow and all cars are not used. All daily, weekly,
monthly, and seasonal maintenance as well as repairs should be recorded and the
records stored in an easily accessible place for all staff members.
Clubs should replace their golf cars every three to fi ve years. (According to
the Club Managers Association of America, the typical golf car is replaced every
four years. 8 ) A fl eet of cars can be replaced entirely at one time or a portion at a
time. Clubs with concerns about their cash fl ow may replace a quarter or a third of
their golf cars every year.
Leasing versus Purchasing Golf Cars. The question of whether a club should
lease or purchase its fl eet of golf cars has been bantered around for years. Thirtyfour
percent of golf clubs own their cars, while 40 percent of country clubs own
their cars. Forty-nine percent of both golf clubs and country clubs lease their cars.
The pro owns the cars at one of the golf clubs and at four of the country clubs in
the 2004 survey. The cars are leased by the pro in one golf club and in one country
club. Seven percent of golf clubs have members who own their cars; this number
falls to fi ve percent among country clubs. Approximately 34 percent of clubs own
their golf cars; approximately 49 percent lease their cars. (At the rest of the clubs,
the members own their cars.) 9
Many variables aff ect a club’s decision. Proponents of ownership argue that
non-equity (for-profi t) clubs that are well capitalized, have a healthy debt-equity
ratio, and have the staff to properly service the golf cars will benefi t from the