AUGUSTA, GA (March 31, 2008) – Badges to the Masters Tournament and hotel rooms aren’t the only things in high demand during Masters Week in Augusta. Just try getting a golf car to park in front of your business establishment. Each year Club Car, a golf car manufacturer based here, is flooded with requests from restaurants, hotels and car dealerships that want to place one of the company’s vehicles on display for the week.
“It’s not exactly in the same league with the green jacket, but it’s certainly become a tradition,” says Mike Read, Club Car’s director of marketing.
No one seems to know exactly when the tradition began (most seem to think it dates back to 1986-87) or why it’s become so popular, especially with businesses located along Washington Road leading to the Augusta National Golf Club. What is certain is that requests for the cars seem to start earlier each year, and no one wants to get left off the list of establishments that will receive a golf car.
“We started getting requests about two months ago,” says Ray Bentley, Club Car’s director of aftermarket sales. “We’ve had requests for 90 to 100 cars already.”
Bentley says Club Car tries to fulfill as many requests as possible. It also tries not to overlook any deliveries, as happened once a few years ago.
“We forgot Hooters one year, and they weren’t too happy,” Bentley recalls. “They even put a message on their sign out front saying they didn’t need us any more and they’d get a Harley instead.” Evidently Hooters has forgiven the oversight because an orange golf car has been requested once again. “We won’t forget this time, either,” says Bentley.
One of the most challenging parts of Bentley’s job comes after the tournament ends and it’s time to load up the cars – a combination of golf cars and utility vehicles – and return them to the Club Car plant. “We always seem to find two or three cars not where we left them,” he says. “One year there was a big party at one of the hotels and one of our cars went swimming.”
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.