When Your Golf Cart Breaks Down Is It Cheaper to Fix or Replace It? By Darryl Kontra

If you’re like most golf course managers, you have a strict budget to adhere to. When things go wrong—like a golf cart breaking down—you cringe because you don’t know how you’re going to justify the money for a new one, but you also know your course operates with a certain number of carts and you can’t afford to have a cart out of commission for several days or even weeks. Similarly, if you own a golf cart for your own enjoyment, the cart breaking down means no more golf until you can get it fixed or replaced. But you probably don’t have a ton of money set aside to do either.

There are times when buying a new golf cart is the best and most affordable option in the long run, but a lot of the time, a repair is far less expensive. Parts are more affordable than you might think, especially if you find a reputable online golf parts dealer to supply you with everything you need. Not only is it less expensive to buy most parts than it is to buy a golf cart, much of the time a quick repair is all you need to get the thing up and running, so it’d be a waste of money to buy a new cart, even if you might get the new cart out on the course faster. Keep common replacement parts on hand and you can get a repaired cart back out there just as quickly.

How Old Is It?

Golf carts, like any vehicle, will simply wear down over time, especially if they get a lot of use at a golf course. However, unless it’s twenty years old or even older, it’s not beyond all hope. When a part that costs less than $100 can get the cart back into top operating shape, it doesn’t make sense to replace it. Only when parts have been replaced time and time again or a part that’s so large or expensive needs to be swapped should you consider buying a new one.

Can You Order in Bulk?

If you order golf cart parts in bulk, you may qualify for a discount. If you’re in charge of a fleet of golf carts, it makes sense to stock up on the parts most likely to wear down. Not only does it make repairing the carts even cheaper, but it makes fixing them much faster because you’ll have the parts on hand. This is essential if you don’t have any backup carts and you need the full fleet operational at all times. It’s cheaper to plan ahead for repairs this way than to reluctantly purchase a new cart because you can’t have your carts out of operation for days or weeks at a time.

Is It an Easy Fix?

In most cases, the cause of a broken golf cart is something simple, like a battery that needs replacement or a new belt. These parts cause a small fraction of what it costs to replace the cart—plus, your new cart will eventually need small fixes as well. Always consider the scope of the repair job before you consider replacing the cart, even if you think the cart is long overdue for replacement.

Call or email your online golf cart part supplier with any questions you have about saving money when fixing or replacing a golf cart. Rely on their expertise to help you find the best-priced parts and direct you to the right set of parts in the first place if you’re unsure what’s causing the issue. From there, contact an expert repairperson or have your on-site mechanic fix it up; it’ll cost less if you order the parts instead of relying on a service to order them for you.

About the Author: Darryl Kontra is a golf course manager in Florida. He recommends Blockbuster Golf Cars Inc. for all golf club repair parts.