Caution When using EZGO Golf Carts

I worked as course marshal of one of the more active golf courses in Texas for more than nine years (Sherrill Park, Richardson, Texas), and their cart of choice is EZGO. Over the years of working there, I noticed golfer's bags sometimes would become detached and fall off. In many cases, they would land on a concrete cart path.

One year I was playing in the EZGO Championship Pro/Am and there were several of the top EZGO executives there. I called three over and told them I was glad to be able to point out a flaw in their golf cart, and by me making them aware they could fix the problem - a faulty "bag strap." They all laughed and said they had known of the problem for years.

Their comments echoed statements made by the head pro of the golf course when I had mentioned it to him several times over the years. As the course marshal I had seen it plenty of times, and it had happened to me numerous times. The head pro told me it had happened to his bag three times during one round.

As the executives walked away I asked them to wait up a minute I had a question. They stopped and I asked them about the damage done to the golfer's equipment. They looked at each other like a deer in the headlights, and I continued I am one of those golfers.

Then the laughing stopped. They asked that I show my clubs to the head pro, and he would advise them. This is the same head pro that was a good customer and friend of EZGO. More importantly, he is the head pro of the golf course EZGO had selected to hold its EZGO Championship Golf Tournament. By now, you probably have figured out, because his own clubs had fell off several times, his interest was more on profit margins than on confronting EZGO and that includes hosting the tournament at his course.

A few days later I showed my clubs to the head pro. He said they would send my Callaway irons back and have them reconditioned. As far as the other clubs were concerned, he didn't feel they could be repaired, but he would talk with the regional manager for EZGO, and get back with me. Later he called me and said they had decided that the other clubs (like the driver) could not be repaired, and it was only cosmetic damage anyway. The clubs had not lost their performance.

I told the head pro to call his friend the regional manager and tell him the next time he was visiting the course and returned to his car to find it had been keyed not to worry because it was only cosmetic damage, and the car would still perform just fine.

EZGO gave the head pro shop credit to buy a new driver. Of course it had to be purchased at his shop (full retail markup), not a surprise. Always a way to turn a bad situation into a profit for the pro's shop.

I thanked him and told him to donate the money to a fund benefiting "Youth Golf," young kids needing financial help. I did not want a new driver, only for EZGO to acknowledge its responsibility.

The story goes on. This head pro also was president of the PGA section and now is being considered to be placed on the PGA board. He was also named pro of the year. So it goes without saying that I am not speaking of a pro that just fell off the turnip truck. He is well regarded and very knowledgeable.

OK for him and EZGO, but for the golfer that uses the product and plays at Sherrill Park I would advise an extra safety strap (I use a small bungy cord) hooked to my bag and the cart's basket.

I was relaying this story to one of the older customers of Sherrill Park while we were enjoying a cup of coffee in the snack bar. He was surprised and said he was not aware there was ever a problem with the bag straps on the carts, and about that time a golfer drove by and his bag fell off and banged off the concrete. The golfer did like many others, just picked up the bag and put it back on the cart. Were his clubs damaged? You bet, but he was too embarrassed, and felt it was his fault.

My comments are designed to help other consumers to be aware of the faulty product made by EZGO. With their full knowledge, and the knowledge of many of the clubs pro's watching their profits rather than their customers' best interests. As golfers, we would hope that the staff, especially head pros making the decisions would look out for our (their customers') best interests rather than their personal profit margin.

The damage is to the golfer's equipment both cosmetic and play-ability. The golfers often feel it is their fault - that they themselves did not do a good job of securing the bag strap. Believe me the pro shops will encourage the golfer that it was the golfer's fault, and that the staff were not the ones that secured the bag. That ends the golfer's efforts at that point because there is no argument, or proof. It ends up he said, I said.

It works well. EZGO can sell more carts because they are cheaper, pro's can have a better profit margin, and the shops can sell more replacement clubs. The golfer? Someone has to lose.

Update: 12-01-2009

Since I last published my warning it appears EZGO has upgraded their carts. I have not seen a single bag fall from a EZGO Cart do to a bag strap problem. This is good for you and good for me. Still based on my experience I still use a bungy cord as a precaution like people use a safety latch on a bracelet. It is up to use to be vigilant, and protect our equipment. The PGA Pros, like the Head Pro I mentioned, focus on their profit margin first customers last. To make changes to improve equipment requires customers, like you and me, to stand up, point out the faults that effect our game. Manufactures are, as a rule, not only margin conscience but they recognize that they are in a competetive position with other manufactures for your business. Lets stick together and help them earn our business.