Spring is here, and it’s time to break out the golf cart for another season of golf cart-friendly weather. But before your cart is ready to hit the course…or the campground or wherever you use your cart…it’s time for a spring tune-up. After sitting in storage all winter, your golf cart may need a little work to keep it running smooth for another season.

If you own an electric golf cart, your first order of business is to inspect the batteries. If regularly maintained and properly stored through the winter, your batteries should be in working condition. Check the water level in each battery cell and add water as needed. At minimum, both plates should be covered with water. Check your service manual to find the correct water level for your cart. You may also need to fully charge the batteries before starting up your golf cart after long-term storage.

Whether you do your own maintenance or take your golf cart to a service shop, spring is the ideal time to make sure your cart is properly tuned up for the season. The more you focus on preventative maintenance, the longer your golf cart will last and the more money you will save in the long run. Any time you store your cart over a period of time, including during the on-season, it’s a good idea to protect your cart with a storage cover as an inexpensive and easy way to prolong the service life of your golf cart.

Golf cart use has picked up as concern for the environment and uncertainty over the price of oil and gas has pushed Americans to look for more economical and earth-friendly modes of transportation. Golf carts are handy for more than just zipping around the golf course. Retirement communities, university campuses, and sprawling apartment and business complexes also rely on golf carts to get around.

With their compact build, golf carts can go places where cars are restricted. They provide quick and easy transportation over short distances, which makes them ideal for dense population areas and for getting around in communities that are spread out, but not so much that you need to drive a car.

Golf cart use benefits the environment by reducing consumption of our natural resources and promoting clean air. Electric golf carts eliminate the need for gas altogether and support environmental awareness through their lack of pollutants. They run quietly, which improves the quality of community life by reducing noise pollution. They also travel at lower speeds, which is safer for both pedestrians and golf cart drivers.

Golf carts are easier to maintain than other vehicles, which adds to their appeal. Simple maintenance and a golf cart cover will help to keep your golf cart running newer for longer.