Let’s not waste any time and give you what you came here for…
The average stock golf cart speed is between 12-15 MPH (Miles Per Hour).
Not too bad but there are ways you can make them even faster.
How much faster?
In this post, you’ll discover the speed differences between electric and gas golf carts, their top speed with modifications, the current golf cart speed world record, what you can do to speed up your cart, and the top brand for fastest carts.
Safe driving!
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Gas Golf Carts Vs Electric Golf Carts: Which Is Fastest?
Which type of golf cart will get you around 18 holes the fastest? The answer may surprise you.
To determine the winner, we will look at the average speed and the maximum speed of each type of cart.
Obviously, either of their top speeds can be increased to stupid speeds, but achieving this would require a combination of a mad scientist and a great mechanic.
Anyways, DING DING DING, let’s get ready to rumble!
Electric Golf Cart’s Speed
The average speed of electric golf carts will be anywhere between 12-15 MPH.
However, by making some changes to the cart without ripping it apart, these carts can reach up to 30 MPH with no problem.
One thing to mention is that these carts do have one weakness… their batteries.
When your golf cart battery life starts to deplete, its performance will, too. So the speed you can achieve on a freshly charged battery will be faster than when the battery is almost gone.
It all comes down to how long your golf cart batteries last.
Do Cart Voltages Make A Difference To Speed?
Electric golf carts can come with different voltages, the most common ones being the 36 and 48-volt carts.
There are some newer 72-volt carts on the market, but the majority will be the previously mentioned ones.
However, just because they have more volts doesn’t mean they are faster. In some cases, a lower volt cart will outperform a higher voltage.
The speed will always stay around the same, but higher voltages have an advantage in terms of acceleration and getting up to speed faster.
Making higher voltage batteries perfect for hilly terrain golf courses with tones of elevation.
Gas Golf Cart’s Speed
You may want to sit down for this, but, the average speed for a gas golf cart is the same as the electric.
There is a difference in the top speeds of moderately modified golf carts, where gas powered golf carts max out at around 20 MPH.
Obviously, with major reconstruction, these carts would be the fastest, but we’re only considering small changes that any golfer could make to their cart to increase speed.
However, on average, gas-powered ones are more powerful and have better acceleration than most electric carts. Also, as long as there is gas in the tank, this power doesn’t decrease.
Meaning that you don’t have to worry about slowing down when climbing inclines later on in your round.
Overall, gas carts are more durable than their electric counterparts too, and in the long run, won’t be as expensive.
The Winner
Okay, the short answer is the electric golf cart goes the fastest. If you’re an everyday golfer with no mechanical skills who just wants to make a few small changes to increase speed, it’s the perfect option.
However, if you are looking for consistency in terms of speed and acceleration throughout the entire round of golf,, then gas golf carts are the best option.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a cart to take to the next level with complex changes to really crank out some speed then gas carts are the way to go.
But how fast can one of these highly modified carts go?
What Is The Highest Speed A Golf Cart Has Reached?
The world’s fastest golf cart has ever achieved was 118.76 MPH, which Robby Steen achieved in South Carolina in 2014.
The world record didn’t take place on a golf course but on a drag circuit strip called Darlington Dragway.
This cart was heavily modified, as you’d imagine, and shouldn’t be your speed goal. Imagine traveling that fast on a golf course.
Think about how often you’d be waiting for the group ahead to hit their shots.
Which Golf Cart Brand Is The Fastest?
It’s tough to name one brand as the clear winner, as most stock carts are made with similar top speeds and limiters.
But overall, golf cart brands like Car Tempo, Yamaha, and E-Z-GO would be the top 3 for sure.
Now, there are companies who make custom carts that are ridiculously fast but you will find out about them in the next section.
What You Can Do To Make Your Golf Cart Faster
There are a few ways to increase the speed of your stock golf cart, which you will find below from another one of our golf cart posts.
- Get A Better Speed Controller
- Upgrade Your Motor
- Get A Better Battery
- Make Your Cart Lighter
- Get Bigger Tires
- Don’t Buy Cheap Parts
- Look After Your Cart
- Charge Your Batteries
- Make Your Cart Lighter
For more information on the above, check out the full post here.
Can You Buy Carts That Are Instantly Fast?
Absolutely, plenty of mechanics or dealerships out there will turbocharge your golf cart for the right price.
But you will struggle to find a used golf cart with this kind of break neck speeds.
And if you do it will definitely cost you.
They can do this by putting in huge motors, stripping of weight, strapping on a rocket booster, and just about anything to get that speed going. Well, the rocket booster was a reach.
However, don’t expect to break any world records, custom golf carts usually max out at 50 MPH or thereabouts. But you have to ask yourself a question.
Do you need all that speed on the golf course? Probably not.
But speed is key if you are looking for street-legal golf carts that you can drive to and from the course.
Is There Speed Limits On The Golf Course?
Funnily enough, there are speed limits on golf courses.
Usually, the speed is capped at around 20 MPH, but this varies depending on the golf course.
Some may be even stricter than others.
But think about it: have you ever seen someone standing around with a speed gun on a golf course?
Hopefully not, which means unless you tell them your golf cart speeds, they’ll never know you’ve broken the speed limit!
While you’re here checkout our post on the 7 best golf carts of the year.