(Dublin, Ireland - November 15, 2023) Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup captain’s Club Car, signed by every 2023 Team Europe player, is on its way to his home in Florida as a memento of the brilliant victory in Rome.
Donald was presented with the Captain’s Car during the Sunday celebrations at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club following the team’s win, with Rory McIlroy saying a few words of thanks to his captain on behalf of the team.
Club Car has been an official supplier to the Ryder Cup since 1997, and the tradition of the captain keeping his golf car began in 2002, when Sam Torrance led Europe at The Belfry.
In 2018, the players added a special touch and started a new ritual by signing the cowl of the vehicle in gold marker.
Donald said, “I’m humbled and grateful for this gift and for the words of my teammates when they presented it to me.”
“The Ryder Cup was one of the best weeks of my life, and it was an honor and a privilege to lead the team. The guys were immense and to have the car signed by all of them means a great deal. Every time I drive it at home, I will remember their incredible performance which led to the epic celebration in Italy,” Donald added.
Club Car, a Worldwide Supplier to the 2023 Ryder Cup, provided 550 vehicles that were used in many different areas of the event including staging, security, medical, catering and rules – as well as the official team golf cars.
Kevin Hart, Club Car’s Golf Sales Director EMEA, said: “As a longstanding supplier of the Ryder Cup we have a wonderful relationship with the event, and this tradition with the captain’s golf car further adds to that.”
“Luke’s dedication to the captaincy was remarkable and he fully deserves the praise and thanks he received from his team when they presented him with the Captain’s Car,” Hart added.
Thomas Bjorn, 2018 European Captain
"I live in London now so my captain’s car is kept at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort in my home country, Denmark. It was great to drive it around during the Made in Himmerland event on the DP World Tour this summer - it brought back so many good memories of that incredible week at Le Golf National, Paris, in 2018.”
“I remember sitting on my buggy on the morning of the final day, taking a rare quiet moment to think about how the day would unfold. I couldn’t have imagined at that point how euphoric it would turn out to be."
Paul McGinley, 2014 European Captain
“My captain’s buggy is kept at Quinta do Lago in Portugal, where I have the Paul McGinley Golf Academy. I use it every time I go there, and it always attracts attention when I’m out on the course in it.”
“People like to stop and chat and take some photos. It’s always a hit for social media, too. It’s an honour to have my Club Car as a reminder of what was one of the best weeks of my career at Gleneagles."
Sir Nick Faldo, 2008 European Captain
“My truest memory with the car was ‘The Greatest’ literally, when Muhammad Ali sat beside me and took photos with the team. To be in the presence of a champion, who at that point communicated with few words and champion’s heart, was a lifetime memory and had a true impact on me. So, every time I see that car, I think of all that the Ryder Cup has meant to me. I think of Seve and Tony Jacklin, of partnerships, and of Muhammad Ali.”
Club Car supplies many of the world’s leading golf destinations and premier sporting events with its wide range of vehicles, and is an official supplier to the DP World Tour, the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and St. Andrews Links Trust.
About Club Car With over 60 years of experience of innovation and design in producing small-wheel vehicles, Club Car is a leading manufacturer of gas and electric golf, utility and personal transportation vehicles. Founded in 1958, the Club Car product portfolio has grown to include much more than golf cars, now encompassing vehicles for commercial and consumer markets, built with an uncompromised desire for superior performance. As an industry leader in electrification and sustainability, Club Car is proud to be on the forefront of environmentally responsible Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) technologies.