AUGUSTA, GA (Jan. 17, 2008) - Club Car and Coolwell, which manufactures a patented climate control system, are teaming up to "take temperature out of play" and keep more players on the course even on the hottest and coldest days.
Club Car and Tempe, Ariz.-based Coolwell, which is joining the Club Car Solutions Network, will offer the golf car-mounted cooling and heating unit as an aftermarket accessory on Precedent and DS model cars. The unit, which mounts beside the car's sweater basket, directs cool or warm air onto the necks and faces of golfers while they are seated. The Club Car Solutions Network is made up of a group of companies, including parent company Ingersoll Rand, whose products and services complement Club Car's support of golf course owners and operators.
The 10-pound Coolwell unit is capable of delivering air that is nearly 50 degrees cooler than the ambient temperature for an entire round. In the heat mode, with the help of a flexible mounting arm, the system produces bursts of warm air that can be directed onto golfers' hands and faces.
"The Coolwell system helps golfers play comfortably all day in most any weather conditions. That means more rounds, more revenues and a competitive advantage for our customers," said Mike Packer, Club Car's vice president of Worldwide Sales.
Privately held Coolwell has installed the system at more than 50 U.S. courses since 2006. Most of its customers are located in Arizona, Florida and Texas, where summer temperatures often drive players away from the course and force operators to discount green fees, which can erode revenues.
"While our competitors suffered through one of the hottest summers on record (in 2007), our properties saw a significant increase in market share and guest satisfaction," said Kenny Huff, director of golf at The Cascades of Texas in Tyler. "It's definitely a point of distinction."
The system is based on simple physics and turbulent air technology, said Doug Lecker, president and CEO of the company he helped form in 2003. "Hot, damp air is drawn into the unit and directed over aluminum fins that have been chilled by ice. As water molecules condense on the fins, a fan directs a cool, dry air flow onto the golfers' necks," Lecker said.
By cooling the neck and face, where there are high concentrations of nerve and blood channels, a person's overall body feels more comfortable, according to Lecker.
In addition, the unit functions as a sanitary beverage cooler and can be equipped with specially designed aroma cartridges to reduce stress and make the round more enjoyable.
Whether in the heating or cooling mode, the system uses less than one amp of electrical current and will not affect the car's overall performance, according to Packer.
To learn more, please contact us or visit: www.clubcar.com.
About Club Car:
Club Car manufactures a wide range of electric- and gasoline-powered vehicles for the golf, utility, transportation, private owner and rough terrain markets. Based in Augusta, Ga., Club Car is part of Ingersoll Rand, a global diversified firm providing products, services and solutions to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties, and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Driven by a 100-year-old tradition of technological innovation, we enable our customers to create progress and a positive impact in their world. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com.