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The 51st edition of the PGA Merchandise Show that was held January 29 to February 1 in Orlando was well attended with an encouraging 12% increase in the number of potential buyers over the previous year. Anyone who came to the show looking for new, exciting and highly innovative products was certainly not disappointed because there was an abundance of these types of items.
As has become the norm, there were many first time exhibitors at the show. Most of them were quite new to the golf car industry and they exhibited some fresh new ideas. The “regulars”, those who have had exhibits before or are there every year, were very impressive too. Many of these companies had larger booths than before and showed some exciting new products.
FIRST-TIME EXHIBITORS
Deltran Corporation, of Deland, Florida, introduced an on-board, high frequency battery charger called the Battery Tender. The charger’s innovative design and technology includes a microprocessor controlled charge cycle, which guarantees not only a perfect charge every time, but one that’s faster and more efficient. The Battery Tender is short circuit protected, reverse polarity protected, water resistant and features 5-step charging (initialization, bulk, absorption, equalization and float maintenance). It also has improved shock and vibration resistance and comes with a 2 year warranty. There are models for 12V, 24V, 36V and 48V. The Battery Tender is ideal for golf car, industrial, commercial, marina and electric vehicle applications. For more information call (386)736-7900 or visit: www. batterytender.com.
Covers To Go, of Wayzata, Minnesota, displayed their personalized golf car canopy covers.
These unique covers slip over the existing golf car hard top like a fitted bed sheet with a drawstring. The Covers To Go can be personalized with your name or team name, company name, logo, image or message. Personalization can be done in a choice of many different embroidery patterns or by silk screening. Made of coated polyester fabric, the Covers To Go are dimensionally stable and resistant to abrasion, mildew and ultraviolet light. Covers are available for Club Car, E-Z-GO and Yamaha golf cars. For more information call (800)849-8883 or visit: www.coverstogo.com.
Emobil, of Oakleigh South Victoria, Australia, presented two new vehicles; the Wild-Wombat electric vehicle and the Sun-Fleet electric golf car. The Wild-Wombat features a 5.4 hp motor and a 650 amp controller, standard bull-bar and optional brush guard, 6 maintenance-free AGM 8-volt batteries with integrated charger, head lights, taillights and signal lights. The Wild-Wombat has an impact-resistant fiberglass body and can go 50 miles on a single charge. It’s perfect for leisure, farming, hunting or maintenance work..
The Sun-Fleet golf car features a 4 hp motor and 450 amp controller, laid-back golf bag holder for easy access to clubs, impact-resistant fiberglass body, maintenance-free AGM batters with integrated charger, head lights, rear-safety lamps and a 50 mile range on a single charge. The Sun-Fleet gets its name from the efficient 210 watts mono crystal solar cell canopy that allows the sunlight to help energize it.. For more information call: 61-3-9543-1327 or visit: www.emobil.com.au.
Med-Eng Systems Inc.,of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, introduced a personal cooling system that provides a great solution to hot summer days in seconds. The personal cooling system features a CardioCOOL Vest that has tiny tubes that you don’t even see or feel woven into the vest’s fabric. A small hose with a Quick-Connector extends several inches from the bottom seam at the wearer’s side. This small hose connects in a couple of seconds to the hose of the portable water tank that sits in the golf cars sweater basket. When it’s time to hit your shot you simply disconnect the hose. When you want more cooling, simply connect it
The vest fits snuggly and can be worn unnoticeably under a wide range of outer clothing. The vest, however, is attractive and many golfers choose to wear it over their shirt The portable water tank holds enough ice water to cool for an entire round of golf. This same type of cooling system is used by the U.S.military and aerospace programs to provide quick cooling. The system lowers body temperature as well as cools. Visitors to Med-Eng’s booth were encouraged to put on a vest and experience the cooling system for themselves. Everyone marveled at not only how cooling it was but also how quickly it worked. For more information call (800)644-9078 or visit: www.med-eng.com.
Wagner’s 12Volt Air LLC, of Bunnell, Florida, unveiled their Wagner’s Cold Air AnywhereÔ air conditioner. This 134A-based , unique split unit system is fully built-in without taking any needed space from either the cabin or sweater basket. It is designed to fit fully into the unused space in the golf cart. The air provision vents are built into the dashboard and the compressor unit is housed in the recessed area in the back of the cart, underneath the sweater basket. There is no interference with the golf bags or rain cover systems.
If preferred, the air conditioner can be supplied in its fully portable configuration (no larger in size than a respectably robust boombox). Wagner’s Cold Air Anywhere is fully powered by a golf car’s existing standard batteries. It can be retrofitted to any golf car. Models are also available for application with gas powered cars. The system can be used with any standard full
enclosure or with Wagner’s Cold Air AnywhereÔ custom enclosures. For more information call (386)931-6496.
American Custom Golf Cars (ACG), of Chino, California gave many buyers their first opportunity to see the California Roadster. ACG displayed their attention-getting vehicle in the show’s New Product Center. The California Roadster is the result of years of engineering and reengineering and is now very reasonably priced. It has a hi-output 11 peak horsepower motor and a long lasting 48-volt system powerful enough to deliver a 25 mph top speed and a range of 70 miles per charge. Built using completely new parts, the California Roadster frame is made from rugged and durable steel c-channel, which is powder coated to prevent corrosion. Among its long list of standard features are an on-board 12-volt converter that provides an in-dash power source for a cell phone or laptop computer and a four-wheel braking system. A dual purpose platform makes it quick and easy to transform the California Roadster from a community vehicle to a golf car with an easy to use hand-release golf bag attachment. American Custom Golf Cars has been certified by the Federal Government to offer the California Roadster as a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) so it can be used on the street. For more information call (909)597-2885 or visit: www.californiaroadster.com.
Golf-Scooter ,of Orange, California introduced their PGS (Personal Golf Scooter) single passenger golf vehicle. The PGS has easy operational steering, acceleration and brake control. It features a belt drive system with disc brake and gearbox, shock absorbers in front and rear for a smooth ride, adjustable steering wheel, collapsing handle for easy storage and 6” wide tires for increased stability and traction. The PGS has a DC 24-volt 600 watt motor, two 12-volt 28 amp hour batteries, an AC110-220, DC 24-volt 5 amp charger and goes 10 mph with a range of 15 to 22 miles per charge. Charging time is 4 to 6 hours.The golf bag sits on a rack on the front of the vehicle and can be easily detached when using the vehicle for traveling around the neighborhood or shopping. For more information call (866) 2-TRY-PGS or visit: www.golf-scooter.com.
E-Z Care Products’Cart-Pro division, of Pompano Beach, Florida, displayed their cleaning and protection line of products for easier and more effective golf car care. This product line includes the following six products: silicone detailer & lubricant spray, foaming windshield & plastic window polish & protectant, foaming all surface golf cart cleaner, fiberglass, plastic & rubber restorer, heavy-duty long term battery terminal protector and black mark & scuff remover. All six products come in convenient spray cans which are quick and easy to use. There’s no mixing, pouring spilling or mess.For more information call (800)359-1019 or visit: www.cartpro.biz. (Editor’s Note: E-Z Care Products was at the PGA Show last year too, but somehow we missed their display, so we listed them with this year’s first-time exhibitors).
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOME
OF THE OTHER EXHIBITORS
Club Car, Inc. generated a great deal of excitement both at their display and at the test track
with the new Club Car Precedent golf car, the most significant new product introduction in the company’s history. Among the Precedent’s long list of unique features are :a 360° Bumperä that provides wraparound impact protection; SportDriveä which makes the golf car handle more like an automobile; an Ergo Seat that is wider and more contoured than traditional golf car seats; twice the dash space as previous models; a Monsoon Topä canopy drainage system that channels up to 12 inches of rain per hour away from golfers and golf bags; “Top-down” maintenance thanks to a conveniently located access panel (no longer under the seat); a computer controlled IQ system that tailors performance to course conditions; (4) 12-volt batteries—which replace the previous six eight-volt battery configuration in the DS car-thus reducing weight, improving efficiency and simplifying maintenance; and a new warranty that features four-year, 1,000-round protection.
E-Z-GO Textron presented the company’s first 4-wheel drive trail utility vehicle called the ST 4x4. This impressive looking vehicle combines the ruggedness of a truck and the performance of a true-off road vehicle. The E-Z-GO ST 4x4 is powered by a 198 hp, 614-cc, V-twin, air-cooled Honda engine and reaches speeds of up to 25 mph. It also hauls more than any vehicle in its category, boasting a 1.100-pound bed load capacity and a 1,500-pound vehicle load capacity (see Industry Update on page 83.
Yamaha Golf Car Company displayed a new line of “off fairway” or utility vehicles called U-MAX. There are 5 new U-MAX models for use in golf course, recreational, agricultural and industrial applications. The G-23 medium duty 1 comes in a gas and an electric version as does the G-27 light duty. The most aggressive U-MAX model, the medium duty 2 G-28, is powered by a 4-stroke, 357-cc gas engine, the most powerful engine in the industry. Other features of the G-23 and G-28 include self-adjusting, individual drum-shoe brakes on all four wheels and heavy-duty rear suspension.
GMT, Inc introduced their new Woody Kit to add nostalgic automotive styling to a golf car. The Woody Kit goes on the side panels of the golf car and along the sides of the front cowl. Molded with a raised border to create a true classic “Woody Look”’ it is available in either a light oak or two-tone finish. Additional matching GMT accessories, such as dashboards, are also available. Woody Kits are designed for Club Car, E-Z-GO and Yamaha.
Red Dot Enclosures exhibited their new upholstered seats that are available in vinyl or fabric in a wide range of colors. Red Dot is now also offering both over-the-top and track style enclosures for the new Club Car Precedent. These no Velcro enclosures are available in vinyl, colored vinyl, Sunbrella and camouflage. Red Dot has also come out with a new catalog.
The Club House showed their new Ultimate Sand Or Cooler Bucket. When used as a sand bucket it can hold nine liters of sand. When used as a cooler it can hold 12 (12 ounce) cans.This new product is a perfect accompaniment to The Club House’s very popular Sand Shaker sand and seed bottle. The Club House is also the exclusive supplier to the new Club Car Precedent for all golf car bag covers. The Club House makes matching enclosures for the golf car bag covers.
Mobile Equipment Enclosures LTD (MEE) now has an air-conditioning system developed for standard 48-volt golf cars to go with their sliding door enclosures. MEE’s sliding door enclosures feature aluminum extrusions and transparent acrylic panels that come in clear or tinted. They can be assembled without any alteration whatsoever to the golf car. They are also available for 4,6 and 8-passenger shuttles.
Tampa G Mfg. touted their new products for the new Club Car Precedent which include vinyl and Sunbrellaâ zipper enclosures, acrylic and Sunbrellaâ seat covers and clear and tinted ¼” windshields.
If you were unable to attend the PGA Merchandise Show, that’s all the more reason to check out the PGA Fall Expo being held this year at the Las Vegas Convention Center from September 20-22. Next year’s PGA Merchandise Show will be January 27-30, 2005 in Orlando. Make it a point to try to attend.
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