Over 600 dead golf carts removed from area after storms, so far

Hundreds of flooded or damaged golf carts have been picked up after Hurricanes Milton and Helene, but local vendors have made adjustments to supply carts for the season. 

Thoroughbred Golf Carts has picked up over 400 carts since the storm, with around 75 more scheduled for pickup, said its General Manager David Lutz.

They are still in the process of scheduling many golf carts for pickup from areas that have been inaccessible such as on Shore Lane, he said.

Typically, when damaged carts are picked up, insurance companies will get involved or auction companies will take them. For those that are uninsured, Lutz will take them to the junk yard or to be recycled. Lots of people have an emotional attachment and want to try to fix their carts, Lutz added. 

“My big thing is making sure they get recycled properly,” he said. “I don’t want batteries or tires to end up in the gulf.”

Despite all of this, business has been strong. “After Helene, I got on the phone with all of my wholesalers and bought carts out of Michigan and Colorado and South Carolina to make sure we fill the needs for all folks,” Lutz said. “I have been on the phone all day, every day – selling carts or out in the field picking them up.”

Caddy Carts has picked up over 200 golf carts between Helene and Milton, the majority of which were a total loss due to saltwater intrusion,” said the dealership’s Sam Cucchi. 

“The recovery effort is tedious and challenging due to the overall conditions our drivers have had to contend with,” she said. “It has been a heartbreaking experience to watch many of our customers beloved family heirlooms parish in the aftermath of the hurricane. Our hearts are with the island of Boca Grande as we rebuild.”

Gasparilla Adventures only lost four of their golf carts from the hurricanes, said CEO and Co-Founder Duane Zobrist. They had taken all the carts off island to storage but ran out of room and decided which four golf carts to leave, Zobrist said. 

They still have a full fleet of 65 to 70 carts, and the 90 bikes that were lost to the storm will be replaced this week. “Our phones are ringing like crazy,” he said, adding that carts will stay at the normal seasonal price. “We’re just happy they’re getting rented.”

“Lithium batteries in golf carts are the biggest thing people need to worry about,” Zobrist said. If a damaged golf cart is somehow covered by insurance, the insurance company will want to remove that cart themselves. “Let them.” Zobrist said. “They’ll want to try to salvage it, and they will be the ones paying for the removal.”

Above, Gus Brown removes busted carts here on Park Avenue after Helene.      
Photo by Garland