GOLF CAR UK NEW LINK-UP WITH DRIVING FORCE LEISURE

Golf Car UK of Abingdon in Oxfordshire has announced a new agreement with Driving Force Leisure Europe Ltd, the manufacturer of golf range and practice ground equipment, based in Sittingbourne, Kent. Under the new agreement, each company will promote certain elements of each other’s product range, namely the combination of Club Car’s CARRYALL® utility vehicles distributed by Golf Car UK and the EPIC range of ball collectors from Driving Force Leisure.

	Martin Lucas, National Sales Manager for Utility and Transportation vehicles at Golf Car UK, highlighted the combination of the XRT rough terrain model, one of nine utility vehicles in the Club Car’s CARRYALL range and the EPIC seven-gang ball collector:
“The combination of the XRT rough terrain vehicle and the EPIC ball collector forms an excellent time saving tool that saves money and offers an environmentally-friendly design.”

The XRT model is a petrol-powered vehicle with a larger than normal 26.5 litre fuel tank which increases uptime with less refuelling stops, an especially useful feature when it is fitted with the seven-gang ball collector. The 11 HP (351cc) engine is fitted with a pedal start mechanism, which means that when pressure is not applied to the accelerator, the engine cuts out. This is advantageous when working on driving ranges as it reduces both noise and petrol emissions in what has to be a quiet and clean environment.

The EPIC range of ball collectors from Driving Force Leisure starts with the three-gang collector model which can easily by upgraded to five or seven gangs, depending on the size of the golf range. The three-gang collector has a 1350 ball capacity width of 2.7m. The five-gang unit has a capacity of 2250 balls and is 4.6m wide, whilst the seven-gang attachment can collect up to 3150 balls and has a width of 6.4m.

Compared to alternative methods, the EPIC ball collector is a low maintenance system that reduces damage to both the balls and the turf and conforms to any ground surface.

Driving Force Leisure chose the CLUB CAR® CARRYALL range from an assessment of several utility vehicle manufacturers. Another factor was the strong ties that already existed between Golf Car UK and Driving Force Leisure as Ken Polley, Director of Driving Force Leisure, explained: “Martin Lucas and I have been dealing with each other for some time, as we have purchased a couple of CARRYALL vehicles in the past. We decided that dual promotion would benefit both of our companies and I am very excited to be working closely with Golf Car UK.”

Martin Lucas is also delighted with the new agreement: “There is enormous potential for Club Car to develop in the expanding golf range market. Driving Force Leisure has an XRT utility vehicle fitted with a range cage and protective glass, which they use as a demonstration unit for the EPIC ball collector. Driving Force Leisure is the leader in the market for equipping golf driving ranges and golfing academies and our new business relationship will bring mutual benefits to both companies.”

Driving Force Leisure was established in 1993 and started out importing and distributing golf range products from other manufactures. The company then embarked on a programme to develop their own equipment, specifically designed to suit the needs of customers in the UK and Europe. The programme was so successful that Driving Force Leisure now distributes a complete range of golf practice equipment and related accessories worldwide, including the lucrative US market.

The XRT model is part of the CARRYALL line of transportation and utility vehicles from Club Car, the industry’s only line of rustproof aluminium frame, chassis and cargo bed vehicles. Like all other CARRYALL models, the all aluminium construction of the XRT vehicle offers another advantage – a low overall weight spread evenly across the A frame aluminium chassis. Turf tyres ensure the vehicle is ideal for work on existing courses and other turf applications.