Golf buggies are an invaluable way for older, injured or less mobile golfers to play the game they love for longer, and are a wonderful investment in your golfing longevity. They come in a huge variety of sizes and types, including walker and ride-on, as well as providing a wide range of features and accessories. If you’re new to the world of golf buggies, it can feel a little overwhelming trying to decide on the best choice for you. It’s important that you choose a buggy that suits your unique needs and style of play, without breaking your budget. And it stands to reason that you probably want great value for your money too.
If you’re planning on buying a golf buggy soon, here’s everything you need to consider before you do.
Consider your budget
More than anything else, your budget will dictate what you are able to afford. Figure out how much you can spend on your golf buggy and find a variety of golf buggies in that range. Remember, you get what you pay for, and always aim to buy the best quality one you can afford. To help with that, consider the following factors.
Consider your abilities
This one’s an important one, as your golf buggy will need to provide support for where you’re at. Are you capable of walking the course but just need a little help carting your clubs around? If so, choose a walker golf buggy. But if you’re struggling to walk the course and don’t think you can last for an entire round without help, go for a ride-on buggy to help you save all your strength and energy for your game.
Consider your size
It may sound strange, but your size can impact on your choice of golf buggy. Some golf buggies are designed for lighter weights (such as the Parmaker Spirit ride on buggy), whereas other buggies are designed for people who weigh more (for instance, this Parmaker Spirit Ghia ride on, which is designed for people who weigh more than 100kg). Choosing a golf buggy suitable for your size will give you much better performance and longevity.
Consider your course
Likewise, consider the course you’ll be using the buggy on the most. Most golf buggies can easily cope with a flat course, but if you regularly play on a steep or hilly course, you’d be better off investing in a golf buggy specifically designed for those conditions (like this one).
Consider reliability and longevity
Unless you want to be shelling out money every few years for a new golf buggy, you need to find a reliable model that will last and last. Many of the cheap overseas models have a ridiculously short lifespan for frames, wheels and electronics, and will give up the ghost after a relatively short time.
Consider after-sales service
A cheap buggy brought from eBay or a low-quality overseas manufacturer is unlikely to come with stunning after-sales service (or any service at all). If there’s no mention of backup service on the company’s website, or they fail to guarantee their backup service, you should avoid them like the plague. Instead, go for a company with quick, thorough, and guaranteed backup service, and who is very responsive to requests for help.
Parmaker gets all repairs done quickly and efficiently, and in fact, does most repairs while you wait. We can get parts to you overnight if you live outside of Melbourne as well. We always have stock of every part you need (because we build everything ourselves), even if your buggy is 30 years old. No more missing rounds because your buggy is “in the shop” – instead, just easy and responsive after-sales service that keeps you on the course. If a buggy manufacturer can’t offer a similar level of responsiveness, stay well clear.
Consider where the buggy is made
Where the buggy is made should be an important consideration. First, you want to know that it’s a quality, well-made buggy and not some cheap import. And secondly, you need to know that the manufacturer will be able to service your buggy when you need it, and that you won’t be left stranded. Local is usually best in both cases.
Consider the manufacturer
Always check the credentials of the manufacturer you buy your buggy from. Time in the game matters, and you want to buy from a company that has runs on the board in buggy manufacture. Be wary of any company that doesn’t have at least a decade in the buggy business, and also of companies that don’t offer an address or just have a mobile number as a means of contact. These are the companies that usually vanish quickly, leaving you stranded with a buggy that you can’t get parts or service for.
Before you buy a buggy, jump onto the web and check how long the company has been in business. Go to abr.business.gov.au and enter their name or ABN to get the information you need. And always go with a creditable, reliable company that knows its stuff when it comes to golf buggy manufacture. A company that started making buggies 12 months ago and that also manufactures 200 other products is seldom going to produce the same calibre of product as one that only focusses on golf buggies.
Consider the extras you need
You need to know that your buggy comes with all the bells and whistles to customise it to suit your game. Whether you need a t-handle, an umbrella holder, a larger seat, or a golf bag carry frame, it’s best to choose a buggy brand that provides all the accessories you need, and that are custom-built to fit your buggy.
Consider transportability
Transporting your buggy can be an issue. Choose a buggy that disassembles quickly and folds up neatly so that you can fit it in the boot of your car or on a car carrier. It should be light enough to be easily managed, without sacrificing strength and stability. The last thing you want is a bulky, unmanageable buggy that’s a pain to transport to the course.
Have a look at how easily Parmaker golf buggies fold away for transport here.
Consider the opinions of others
Word of mouth is a great way to discover which brands are worth buying from, as your fellow golfers have no vested interest in promoting any particular brand. They just want a good buggy, and they’re happy to tell you when they’ve found one (and also when they haven’t). Fellow golfers are an excellent resource to help you discover handy information about any troubles they’ve had with buggies or what a company’s after-sales service was like. So, ask around and get a range of opinions before buying.
Consider the warranty
Does your buggy come with a suitable warranty? If a company only offers you a three-month warranty on the battery and a six-month warranty on the motor, you should be incredibly nervous. The longer the warranty, the better, for obvious reasons. Here at Parmaker we offer an optional five-year warranty on all our machines. No other Australian buggy maker is brave enough to follow suit.
Consider the value
A good quality, well-made golf buggy will hold its value for years to come, and will give you a strong return on investment over the years. That’s why you’re far better off choosing a quality buggy that’s built to last and perform well, and that will never let you down on the course.
When all’s said and done, you can’t go past a Parmaker golf buggy – which excels in all these areas. Discover the range here and make one yours today.
