Cart-ball GCA just got a big boost (compliments of the Obama admin)

[Jim Nugent]

Traditionalists may frown, but fans of cart-ball architecture may cheer the latest news.  From the WSJ:

"Thanks to the federal tax credit to buy high-mileage cars that was part of President Obama's stimulus plan, Uncle Sam is now paying Americans to buy that great necessity of modern life, the golf cart.

"The federal credit provides from $4,200 to $5,500 for the purchase of an electric vehicle, and when it is combined with similar incentive plans in many states the tax credits can pay for nearly the entire cost of a golf cart. Even in states that don't have their own tax rebate plans, the federal credit is generous enough to pay for half or even two-thirds of the average sticker price of a cart, which is typically in the range of $8,000 to $10,000. "The purchase of some models could be absolutely free," Roger Gaddis of Ada Electric Cars in Oklahoma said earlier this year. "Is that about the coolest thing you've ever heard?"

Budding entrepreneurs can even turn this credit into a money-making venture:

"...you can buy the cart for $8,000, get a $5,300 tax credit off your 2009 income tax, lease it back for $100 a month for 27 months, at which point Golf Cart Man will buy back the cart for $2,000. "This means you own a free Golf Cart or made $2,000 cash doing absolutely nothing!!!"

This may be just the shot in the arm new cart-ball course construction needs, to get back in the swing again. 

[Rich Goodale]

"EARTH TO MELVYN!  EARTH TO MELVYN!

CLOSE DOWN ALL SYSTEMS UNTIL THIS THREAD REACHES PAGE 3!

OVER AND OUT."

[cary lichtenstein]

Can this possibly be true?

I don't need a new golf cart, mine is 11 years old, but I'll get a new one, what do I do with the old one? Is this a cash for clunkers deal?

I don't understand why the O administration would do this?

[astavrides]

Without doing too much research on this (always a danger), I think they are intended to be neighborhood trip vehicles.  Many of them are street legal, and if you adjust the governor, they can do a reasonable speed.

[Jim Adkisson]

Sounds like a loophole in an administrative rule to promote the purchase/use of electric vehicles suitable for use on roads and highways...the question is; how long will it take for the loophole to be closed...if at all.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Rich

I am please for all the Cart Balling player out there, I hope they enjoy their newish sport.

I hope that one day they decide to play Golf and enjoy that as much as they have when playing Cart Ball.

Melvyn

[Michael Huber]

I saw this posted on another golf forum and there has to be a catch with this credit.

I havent read the rules on this particular credit, but most tax credits limit the credit to 10% or 25% or some percentage of the purchase price.  Uncle sam's tax code is far from foolproof, but I have reason to doubt they would pay entirely for something like this. 

But again, I haven't read the code.

[Jim_Kennedy]

For the facts/truth:

http://action.pluginamerica.org/t/5960/content.jsp?content_KEY=5591

There are some states, like Oklahoma, that offer tax credits up to 50% of the vehicle's price, so the car could be "free" when this is added to the Federal credits.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

From what I hear from friends in Arizona, this is creating a lot of business for golf car dealers near the Sun City communities and other "active adult" communities. These golf cars are street legal ones with turn signals and lights and are prevalent on the streets in the Sun City areas. The shopping centers and supermarkets have separate parking areas for them.

[Michael Blake]

Certainly good news for my father-in-law who lives in a private residential lake development in the Poconos where most residents get around the grounds on a golf cart.  There, they're streel legal ONLY in that development.

He could use a new one.

[Bill_McBride]

The residents of Peachtree City, GA and Sun City, FL will be tickled pink!

[Charlie Goerges]

The question Melvyn is would you use a cart to make trips to the post office, the grocer, the butcher shop, heck even to the golf course (where you could unhook and walk like a normal human being once you've arrived)?

[Melvyn Morrow]

Charlie

No not my way, Carting is for others. Long may they enjoy their easy life

Melvyn

[Brian_Ewen]

I know , who I blame for the introduction of carts on golf courses .

[C. Squier]

Charlie

No not my way, Carting is for others. Long may they enjoy their easy life

Melvyn

Lol....so the cart itself is offensive, not the intended use?  I make a motion to make the horse you ride around town an official member of GCA.com.

I do hope I get to one day meet you at St. A's and get to buy you a drink.  My frequent flier miles can't add up fast enough.

[Pete_Pittock]

Old news. http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,38616.0/

[Jim_Kennedy]

We should not forget to thank the three republican Senators, Snowe, Specter and Collins, for having the foresight to vote yes and help save our country from a repeat of The Great Depression.

Their's was an electryfying decision that defied the current state of polarized politics. Hopefully they'll all be reelected and keep charging towards modulation. 

[Melvyn Morrow]

Brian

Photo from 1902
The car was a 1900 Napier parked on Grannie Clarl’s Wynd

Front seats
Driver and owner of car was Willie Rusack
Passenger Old Tom Morris
Lady standing is Agnes Hunter Rusack (Old Tom’s granddaughter) married
to Willie

Melvyn

[mike_beene]

So even though as a matter of principle I avoid golf carts when it is not rude to a host and always at my home club,I have to pay for others to use them?Expatriation looks better all the time.

[Steve Pozaric]

Thanks for sharing.  Our lease on carts is up and it is good to have this information.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Steve

Sorry mate, some bad news, they stopped making the Napier, it’s no longer available. They had stealth technology and seated four, none of this GPS crap as you sat high in the seats allowing good all round views of the course. The special (basic) suspension allowed you to feel each and every contour - now there was a true golf cart, not like this modern rubbish. So, if you can't get the best why bother accepting second best so start walking. Just a suggestion

Melvyn

[Jim_Kennedy]

So even though as a matter of principle I avoid golf carts when it is not rude to a host and always at my home club,I have to pay for others to use them?Expatriation looks better all the time.

Mike,
Think about that for a moment. You already "pay for others to use them"  for every round of golf you ever have played in your life at any course or club that had carts on the premises, and anyone who says you didn't subsidize those carts is full of it.



You want to be an expat, do it for a good reason, like the weather or the food.    ....and on your way out you can tell all those immigrants coming in how bad it is here.   

[Ulrich Mayring]

Great picture, I always suspected Old Tom Morris wasn't above getting himself hauled around the golf course.

Further evidence:
- if you go to the website of Old Tom Morris' Golf Shop, there will be a link "view cart".
- the road of the Road Hole on the replica course Royal Links is actually a cart path.

Ulrich

[Tony_Muldoon]

Brian

Photo from 1902
The car was a 1900 Napier parked on Grannie Clarl’s Wynd



Melvyn

Melvyn can you please clarify something?  I was told by an apparently knowledgeable local that the path that the car is on is correctly called "Shore Road" and that the television people, the R&A and the plans all get this wrong. Grannie Clark's Wynd only exists between the houses and does not extend onto the course.  Is this correct and has more than the spelling changed in the past century?

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tony

Courtesy of the Uni. Of St Andrews, a photo with some road names dating back to 1939.  I will have to check further back but I have always known it by that name.



The road Old Tom's shop is on is called 'The Links', The back of the R&A Clubhouse is on Golf Place and at the end of that road where it meets the see is called 'Bruce Embankment'. The Scores runs from the back of the R&A to the Castle. The only Shore I know is The Shore which is along the old harbour the other side of the old cathedral ruins  (top right of photo passed the towers). Grannie Clark's Wynd rund from the R=The Bruce Embankment to Pilmour Links accross 'TOC', then straight accross 'The Links' then runs a short distance between the buildings to Pilmour Links.

Melvyn

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