Club Car, the world’s largest manufacturer of small-wheel, zero-emissions electric vehicles and Official Supplier to The Ryder Cup since 1995, has delivered more than 540 vehicles to Gleneagles for the biennial match, which takes place on September 26-28, 2014.
This is the largest-ever fleet Club Car has supplied to assist operations ahead of and during a Ryder Cup event, proving, once again, it is a ‘driving force’ behind the world’s third biggest sporting event.
In excess of 300 cars have been shipped from Club Car’s US headquarters in Augusta, with a further 240 sourced from the UK.
As Official Supplier to The 2014 Ryder Cup, Club Car is providing each team with seven vehicles, including the familiar Captain’s cars, which will enable the squads’ skippers, vice-captains and support staff to navigate the course quickly and efficiently, and keep up with each day’s play.
As in previous editions, Club Car’s involvement in this year’s Ryder Cup extends beyond the requirements of the two Ryder Cup teams.
“There are approximately 7,000 staff and volunteers involved in the staging of a Ryder Cup, including marshals, hospitality, merchandising, rules officials and media – all of whom need to get around the site easily and quickly,” explained Club Car distributor, Chris Hopkins.
Hopkins, from Buggy Hire UK, part of Tractor Hire Limited, was entrusted to supply the Club Car fleet at the last Ryder Cup held in Europe, at Celtic Manor, Wales, in 2010, and is providing support at this year’s event.
He continued: “The television crews alone require more than half the vehicles supplied by Club Car to help broadcast the biennial match to millions of viewers around the globe who will be watching the action unfold at Gleneagles.
“Between 150 and 200 vehicles will be assigned to broadcasters such as Sky TV and NBC and stored overnight in a dedicated media compound.
“The security detail will also have its own vehicles, as will the plumbers, electricians, scaffolders and behind-the-scenes staff who make this event ‘tick’. Each of The Ryder Cup’s Partners will also be given cars to ensure the smooth running of the part they play. For example, a technician from Rolex will have a vehicle allocated to them to service the clocks on each tee, to ensure they remain running to time.
“Perhaps the most inconspicuous requirement for a Club Car vehicle is for the volunteers who rope off the fairways. Every morning, they go out ahead of the crowd’s arrival and again, after the matches are finished to ensure all the ropes are up and provide an effective barrier for spectators.”
Commenting on Club Car’s longstanding partnership with The European Tour, the company’s Vice President in EMEIA, Marco Natale, said: “We have been fortunate to forge such a close relationship with the Tour and be integrally involved in The Ryder Cup operations.
“Over the years, we have come to understand at a granular level what the job entails and what the demands of the various stakeholders are. Each time, we not only aim to deliver on these but also, and more importantly, aspire to go beyond expectations to fulfilling the part Club Car plays in helping promote a first-class Ryder Cup event.”
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