So, when did rolls-royce get into the business of manufacturing golf carts?
It hasn’t, but one could be excused for thinking so when one surveys the inventory of Island Rides’ luxurious low-speed vehicles (LSVs).
Available for rental or purchase, these high-end carts are packed with amenities, from Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity to premium seating, and have all the desired safety features.
Owners Paula and Joe Gilchrist, native Pennsylvanians who moved to Charleston in 2021, already enjoyed a successful background in luxury automobile sales before trading in enclosed vehicles for the open-air variety.
“Being in the automobile business for so long, it was an easy transition into golf cart LSVs, and what better place to do it than the Charleston area with its wonderful year-round climate, beaches and friendly people,” says Joe Gilchrist. “With so many golf cart communities around and the ability for tourists to use the carts on some of the roads, it just made perfect sense for us to jump in.”
The company’s main office and showroom are located at 488 La Mesa Road, Unit C, in Mount Pleasant, with an additional showroom at 547 Long Point Road. Island Rides also operates rental locations in Mount Pleasant, Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, Downtown Charleston, James Island, Seabrook Island, Daniel Island and the Wild Dunes Resort, with more locations in the pipeline.
The company is in the process of constructing a new 15,000-square-foot facility on Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant to allow the dealership to stock a much larger sales inventory while continuing to expand its product offerings. “Toward the end of last year, we jumped into selling our carts and will continue to grow this segment,” says Gilchrist, who opened the business in 2022. “But rentals make up roughly 85% of our business at this point.”
The allure of the greater Charleston area was not lost on the Gilchrists, who have three children. Shortly after purchasing a home in the area, they invested in a golf cart, just as many other families have done. “With more than 12,000 people moving to the area annually, paired with thousands of new homes being built, I believe there will be tremendous growth in this industry for years to come,” Gilchrist adds.
He says among the chief facets separating Island Rides’ battery-powered product lines from the bare-bones golf carts scooting around residential neighborhoods is their ability to travel any city road with a posted speed limit of up to 35 miles per hour. This, plus quality construction and the host of features offered.
“In terms of sales, we currently carry seven different models, ranging in price from $9,900 to more than $17,000,” Gilchrist says. “Our brands of carts carried offer great features, such as an infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear backup cameras, Bluetooth connectivity, soundbars, wireless phone charging, push-button starting, keyless remote, LED lights and party lights, and premium seating. We utilize multiple manufacturers to source our inventory so we may offer different carts with different price points.”
Mechanically, the carts come with a two-year warranty and are powered by lithium batteries, which allow for a maximum driving distance of up to 80 miles between charges. Battery warranties go up to eight years. Independent suspension provides a much smoother ride.
“Quality control is another item that makes our carts stand out during production and our in-house inspection, which decreases customer downtime due to repairs or adjustments that could have been avoided before the sale,” Gilchrist says.
Safety features are paramount and include three-point seatbelts, rear and side view mirrors with signals, a horn, blinkers, headlights and taillights, backup alarm, front and rear bumper guards, and a Department of Transportation-approved windshield.
If specifically registered with South Carolina’s Department of Motor Vehicles as a low-speed vehicle, with a license plate and insurance, buyers or renters can drive at night and any distance from the registered property address on a street with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less. If registered as a golf cart with no license plate, carts are limited to daylight operation and can be driven no further than four miles from one’s registered address.
“If a cart is registered as an LSV, then the owner must have insurance on their unit,” explains Gilchrist. “If the cart will not be operated on public roads with registration and a license plate, then insurance would be optional for the owner.”
The top allowable speed according to South Carolina state law is 25 mph for LSVs on roadways with a 35 mph or under speed limit. Drivers must be at least 25 years of age.
Recently, Island Rides introduced an LSV chauffeur service, where guests can rent carts with personal drivers supplied by the company, an appealing prospect for weddings, corporate events, and bachelor or bachelorette parties, or simply for having a safe night out on the town.
If the carts are a delight for renters and buyers, they are no less a pleasure for the dealer. Gilchrist says working in the sun and fun of the Charleston area is great to begin with but offering the rental services and sales to locals and tourists is something that is hard not to enjoy. “Our team gets to visit everywhere, from the charm of the historical district downtown to the beaches of Isle of Palms and Seabrook Island, all day, every day, delivering carts to friendly customers,” he says. “We interact with so many customers from around the globe visiting Charleston and hear their stories, which makes for a great time here at Island Rides.” *
Bill Thompson covers the arts, books and design.
