Plenty of the golf carts
that roam the roads of
the Villages in Florida
look as if they had just
come from the 18th
hole, and maybe some
did.
Kind Of Blingy
The Tricked Out
Golf Carts Of
The Villages, FL
But many of the owners there
— a retirement community with
120,000 residents and about
60,000 golf carts — want a little
more zing, and a cottage indus-
try has developed to sell tricked-
out rides.
Tom Sarauer, 63, moved to the
Villages from Wisconsin in 2017.
In the garage are his-and-hers
golf carts (or golf cars, as they’re
also known) that pay tribute to
the Green Bay Packers. His is
two-toned in Packers green and
gold; his wife’s is jazzed up with
stickers and LED lights.
Wisconsinites who have fled for
30
WWW.GOLFCAROPTIONS.COM
warmer climes always
make sure to stop and say hello
when they spot the carts. “It’s a
conversation piece and a great
way to meet people,” Mr. Sarau-
er said.
The Villages was laid out so
the residents, people in their
50s and older, could meet all
their shopping, medical and
entertainment needs without
a full-size vehicle. “If you can’t
have a real Corvette, you can at
least drive something designed
to look like one,” said Lori Res-
mondo, who has worked for the
Villages Golf Cars (which has
five locations) for 26 years.
The Villages was laid out
so the residents could
meet all their shopping,
medical and entertain-
ment needs without a
full-size vehicle. Some
reflect the owner’s alma
mater, favorite sports
team, former profession or
main hobby. There are golf
cars made to look like Model
Ts and racecars. One popular
option is to stencil the owners’
first names in decorative script
across the front. Also popular
are bonus safety features and
extra-comfy seats.
Donna Joy, 60, chose metal-
lic green paint with silver and
gold pinstripes for her vehicle,
adding reclining cushioned
seats with armrests. It also has
a “Monarch front,” a premium
add-on that gives the golf cart
the more rounded front-end