Club Car, the world’s largest manufacturer of small-wheel, zero-emissions electric vehicles, has lined up a powerful fleet of golf cars, passenger transporters and utility vehicles for The 2012 Ryder Cup at the Medinah Country Club, Chicago, Illinois, 28-30 September 2012.
Officially, Club Car will provide 358 vehicles – 14 golf cars, 111 four-seater passenger transporters and 233 utility vehicles – although there are more than 750 Club Car vehicles on site in total.
Much of the fleet will be used by television crews to supply pictures for what has become the third most viewed sporting event in the world behind the Olympics and World Cup, according to The Financial Times.
The golf cars include 12 specially equipped Captains’ Cars that European Captain José María Olazábal, U.S. Captain Davis Love and their Vice-Captains will use during the matches.
Speaking from Medinah on the eve of The Ryder Cup, Club Car Director of Golf Business for Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa, Kevin Hart, said: “It’s an impressive sight to see so many of our vehicles servicing this extraordinary event. It is a major logistical operation, and with all the TV crews, hospitality supplies and facility maintenance teams on site, the venue is effectively a self-contained community running on electric vehicles.
“Of course, our golf cars also play an important role in the Match itself, and I’ve already seen José María Olazábal and his Vice-Captains driving around in their captains’ cars. Everyone at Club Car is extremely proud of our role in this global sporting event.”
Club Car has been associated with The Ryder Cup since 1999, with many memorable images capturing the company’s vehicles’ role in the matches, not least Colin Montgomerie driving through rain and puddles en route to victory at the Celtic Manor Resort in 2010.
Speaking exclusively on www.clubcar.tv, in the run-up to The Ryder Cup, José María Olazábal said: “For the Captain, it is important to be as close to your players as possible. You need to get to each match as fast as you can, so the golf cars are crucial.
“You need to know how your team is getting on and how your opponents are doing, and to share that information you need to cut through holes, cut through the crowds to cover the distance.”
Olazábal will be familiar with his Club Car vehicle – he has twice been a Vice-Captain, as well as playing seven times in the biennial match.
Kevin Hart added: “Clearly, with Club Car’s headquarters in Augusta, Georgia, and our EMEIA central office in Brussels, Belgium, there’s going to be some friendly competition between staff from both sides of the Atlantic at Medinah this week. But everyone at Club Car wishes both teams outstanding golf, sportsmanship and a memorable Ryder Cup.”
Club Car www.clubcar.tv