The design of the standard golf cart hasn’t changed much in the last 25 years, other than the addition of luxurious features to increase the comfort of the ride.
Now, however, a South African company has broken the conventional mould by launching the Mobi G cart which is distinctly different from any of its competitors, packed with interesting features. I first encountered the Mobi G in December at Sishen Golf Club in the Northern Cape, the first Top 100 club in the country to lease a fleet of 26 carts.
Golf carts are an essential requirement in the summer heat in Kathu, and few golfers seem to walk there any longer. After lockdown the club decided to replace their aging fleet and were attracted by the deal offered.
The Mobi G instantly grabs your attention with its sleek lines, mag wheels and stylish dashboard. Those at Sishen are a striking blue in colour, and the first radical difference you notice is that the golf bags at the back are strapped in at a horizontal angle rather than upright. It makes the clubs easier to access for younger golfers and those short of stature.
And there’s an extended bonnet which can be used as a lockable storage compartment, a water tank with a tap, a cooler box, scorecard holder, USB charging point, all useful features.
But it’s the construction of the cart, and the price, which separates it from others on the market. The company claims that a fibreglass body makes it more sturdy and easier to refurbish, and a heavier steel chassis increases the cart’s longevity.
They also give the assurance that the colourful paint job won’t fade, as it is gel-coated. The basic model begins at R119 000. The top of the range, with all the extras and a solar system, is R149 000.
The company, with factories in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, is three years old with branches in Gauteng and the Western Cape. The idea was formed by Ian Theron (CFO) and the cart designed by Marius Ras (CEO), who owns the Mobi Lodge offroad caravan brand. The golf cart was launched in February 2020, tough timing just before the first lockdown.
Cricketer AB de Villiers is one of five shareholders in the business, and Sunshine Tour professional Chris Swanepoel joined the company as a strategic sales executive.
