Vehicles popular with seniors, businesses

David Scott, the owner of Adventure Golf Cars in Southlake, would like to make one thing clear: He does not sell golf carts, he sells golf cars.

"That's what we call them—cars," Scott says. "And that is what they legally are. The majority of our sales are vehicles that are street legal. They are technically LSVs or low-speed vehicles. We have to have a car dealership license with the state."

And he would like to clear up a couple of other misconceptions that people usually have about his golf car business.

"We sell individual cars to individual people or companies that might or might not use them to play golf," Scott says. "The manufacturers work directly with golf courses and usually lease their cart or cars to them. That is fleet sales, and we aren't involved in it. Car sales for golf is really a small part of our business."

Scott has several different categories of buyers for the vehicles, which have a top speed of 25 mph and cannot be used on roads with a speed limit over 45 mph.

Seniors use them to get around their neighborhoods or go to the store for groceries. Corporations buy them not only to get around company grounds, but also for transportation in downtown Fort Worth and Dallas. They can be used, for example, to ferry clients from company headquarters to a nearby restaurant. Hunters buy them, as do gun enthusiasts on the range.

Adventure carries several lines.

"E-Z-GO is probably the one everyone has heard of," Scott says. "They're the biggest golf car company by far, especially when it comes to size and history."

Another company, Tomberlin, based in Georgia, promotes its cars as green and sells Anvil and EMerge electric golf cars. Garia is a European company that makes high-end luxury golf cars manufactured at the same plant in Finland where the Porsche Boxer automobile is made. Adventure also carries American SportsWork vehicles, which are primarily made overseas and are for off-road use, and Star Electrical Vehicles.

Scott sells cars powered by both gas and electricity, though battery power is more popular because of lower maintenance, noise and pollution. Golf cars start at about $6,000 and prices can top $12,000. Scott has both new and used.

Adventure is into just about every aspect of the business. Scott provides rentals, will lease to own and can help customers secure financing. Adventure does service and maintenance, and can refurbish a car so it looks brand-new.

Clients often want their cars to reflect collegiate colors or carry a business logo. Other popular additions are stereo speakers, iPod docking stations and even notebook computer stations.

"We just got through putting some Harley-Davidson speakers in a car," Scott says. "We'll do whatever the customer wants."

The back story

• David Scott doesn't always sell his cars to be used on the golf course, but he loves the sport. Scott played collegiate golf at the University of Texas and was a teaching golf pro for 25 years before opening Adventure. Club Corp is one of his former employers. Scott is a lifelong PGA professional and plays at least one round a week. "I enjoy meeting people, seeing people, helping people," he says. "Because I enjoy that, I've had a successful career."
• Scott got into the golf car business when the Tarrant County dealership for E-Z-GO opened up. He settled on Southlake when he found the right space at the right price.
• Scott has six employees, including a couple of full-time mechanics. His wife and two sons have major roles with the company.

Adventure Golf Cars, 275 Commerce St., Ste. 110, Southlake, 817-481-2800, www.adventuregolfcars.com

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., by appointment Sun.