Golf Carts in Popular Culture

Golf has been around for centuries, but golf carts have been around for less than a hundred years. However, in that short period of time, golf carts have worked their way into American culture and cemented themselves firmly as an object of entertainment and whimsy. Movies, TV shows and music videos all feature golf carts regularly, and celebrity golfers love to show off their custom models. Here are just a few of the opportunities you have to spot golf carts in popular culture.

Celebrity Owners

Hollywood celebrities during the mid-20th century were actually part of the reason that golf carts became popular in the first place. Actors and politicians and musicians all used golf carts to play golf, making them more and more commonplace on courses. Today, plenty of avid celebrity golfers own golf carts to make their way around the 18 holes.

Some early golf cart owners include actor and singer Frank Sinatra (who once furiously drove a golf cart through a plate-glass window in 1967, because a casino refused to extend his gambling credits), fellow singer and Rat Pack member Dean Martin, and former presidents Gerald Ford and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Movies

So many movies have prominently featured golf carts, because they’re fun to ride and lend themselves well to carefree beach scenes or comedic situations. Many of the movies also feature the game of golf itself as a main plot point, but not always. Here are some movies where you can spot a golf cart (or several):

Caddyshack (1980)
Happy Gilmore (1996)
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Goldfinger (1964)
Tag (2018)

Music Videos

The world of music doesn’t just boast golf-obsessed musicians like Alice Cooper or Adam Levine. You’ll also see golf carts in several recent music videos, including:

Tones and I, “Dance Monkey.”
Rae Sremmurd, “Swang.”
DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber, and 21 Savage, “Let It Go.”

Speaking of music and golf, some courses have even begun to install speakers that play music on the course, since many golfers already love listening to music in their golf carts. Reviews are mixed, but don’t be surprised to hear a new hit song emanating from the green!

Web Series

In 2015, an online show came out on YouTube called Celebrities in Golf Carts, hosted by the sports broadcaster Mark Willard. The show featured famous comedians and actors playing golf and talking with Willard while riding around in golf carts.

Golf Cart Communities

Finally, some smaller cities and island communities have made golf carts a prominent part of local culture as a primary means of transportation for their residents. Here are just a few places you can go in the United States to hop on a golf cart for errand-running or going out to dinner:

Peachtree City, Georgia
The Villages, Florida
Palm Springs, California
Bald Head Island, North Carolina

When you’re ready to check out new and used golf carts for sale, visit one of our two Kentucky dealerships to see what we have available. Dever Golf Car Sales proudly serves the cities of Lexington and Louisville, KY.