(AUGUSTA, GA) — E-Z-GO, a Textron (NYSE:TXT) Company, introduces the TXT 48 fleet golf car, the next generation of the classic E-Z-GO TXT vehicle. The TXT 48 updates the proven E-Z-GO TXT electric golf car platform with a 48-volt DC drivetrain and exclusive TruCourse Technology system that allows golf course operators an unprecedented degree of freedom in tailoring the vehicle’s performance to match the unique topography and conditions of their course.

TruCourse Technology offers more customization settings than any other fleet golf car on the market, allowing course owners to alter TXT 48 performance characteristics such as acceleration and motor-braking to best fit conditions of their course. An optional handheld diagnostic tool provides even greater customization capabilities.

The combination of the 48-volt DC drivetrain and TruCourse Technology also makes the TXT 48 more energy-efficient. The vehicle offers 10 percent greater energy efficiency than the previous 36-volt TXT golf car, and its improved regenerative braking system provides up to 10 percent more power back into the batteries under normal operating conditions – lowering operating costs for the golf course operator.

The same technology gives the TXT 48 better on-course performance than its predecessor, with greater, more consistent power and hill-climbing from the first hole of the day to the last, and downhill speed control that offers a comfortable ride over even steep paths and grades.

In addition to the advanced technology detailed above, the TXT 48 retains the classic styling and proven features of the E-Z-GO TXT platform, including a welded, tubular steel frame with powder-coat protection, scratch-resistant body panels, center-mounted cup, ball and tee holders, slip-resistant floormats, double-walled canopy and handle, and a walkaway braking alarm.

“E-Z-GO is excited to be able to improve the already outstanding TXT golf-car platform with the introduction of the TXT 48,” said Kevin P. Holleran, president of E-Z-GO. “The TXT 48 is the perfect complement to the E-Z-GO RXV, which continues to change the industry with its own unmatched technology and performance.”

“Whether a golf facility needs the industry-leading, second-to-none energy efficiency and performance of the RXV, or the enhanced performance, classic styling and increased efficiency of the TXT 48, E-Z-GO offers the fleet golf car to meet those needs,” Holleran said.

Like all E-Z-GO vehicles, the TXT 48 is manufactured in Augusta, Ga., at E-Z-GO’s world headquarters, recently honored as one of the top ten manufacturing facilities in North America by Industry Week magazine.

Detailed features of the TXT 48 include:

TRUCOURSE TECHNOLOGY

The TXT 48 uses new TruCourse Technology from E-Z-GO to allow an exceptional degree of customization of vehicle performance characteristics, allowing golf-course operators to change the performance of the vehicle to the unique terrain and topography of their course. An optional handheld diagnostic tool offers even more precise customization of vehicle performance.

48-VOLT DC DRIVETRAIN

The TXT 48 offers a 48-volt DC drivetrain with 10 percent greater energy efficiency over the 36-volt model, and larger battery capacity for longer daily range, with consistent power and hill-climbing ability from the first hole to the last.

IMPROVED REGENERATIVE BRAKING

The TXT 48’s regenerative braking sends 10 percent more power back into the batteries during normal operation when compared to the previous 36-volt model, for greater energy efficiency and more consistent performance across more rounds of play.

DOWNHILL SPEED CONTROL

Enhanced downhill speed control, made possible by the use of TruCourse Technology, offers a smooth and comfortable ride over challenging hills and course topography.

ENHANCED BATTERY LIFE

The TXT 48 offers the largest battery in the industry, backed by a battery warranty of four years, 1,000 rounds or 20,000 amp hours – whichever comes first — to guarantee longer battery life under normal operating conditions.

CHARGER LOCKOUT

A charger lockout feature, passed down from the industry-leading E-Z-GO RXV, disables the vehicle while the charger is plugged in, preventing damage from “drive-off” incidents. New LED lights on the charger receptacle provide information about the charging status of the vehicle at a quick glance.

HANDHELD DIAGNOSTICS

A new, optional handheld diagnostic tool allows for more precise customization of vehicle performance to match the unique characteristics of any course. The tool also provides immediate, user-friendly information on the status of key vehicle systems, allowing for simplified maintenance and better fleet rotation practices.

CLASSIC E-Z-GO STYLING AND FEATURES

The TXT 48 retains the unique styling and many of the proven features of the classic TXT fleet golf car, including scratch-resistant body panels, a tubular, welded steel chassis with powder-coat paint, rack-and-pinion steering, a one-piece front axle, slip-resistant floormat, center-mounted cup, ball and tee holders, double-walled canopy with handle, and walkaway braking alarm.

The TXT 48 is available for lease or purchase now. For more information, visit www.ezgo.com or contact your E-Z-GO sales representative.

About E-Z-GO

E-Z-GO, a Textron Company, is a leading manufacturer of golf cars and utility vehicles. E-Z-GO is the preferred golf car fleet provider for seven of the top 10 of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses as ranked by Golf Digest. E-Z-GO is also the golf car of choice of nine of the nation’s 10 largest course-management companies. E-Z-GO boasts the largest sales and service network in the industry, with more factory branch locations and independent distributors than any other manufacturer.

More than a maker of golf cars, E-Z-GO is also a leading provider of industrial, turf and utility vehicles for a variety of applications and industries. Products under the E-Z-GO flagship include the Shuttle Personnel Carrier, ST Trail Utility vehicles, and the Clays Car, the world’s first vehicle designed specifically for the sporting clays shooter. E-Z-GO also produces the Cushman line of heavy duty burden carriers.

Founded in 1954 in Augusta Ga., E-Z-GO became part of Textron Inc. in 1960. Textron Inc. is an $11 billion multi-industry company operating in 32 countries with approximately 40,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.

About Textron

Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a $14.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 28 countries with approximately 42,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defense and intelligence, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.

Check that golf carts are allowed where you plan to use it.

Does your golf course allow carts?  Do they allow personal ownership carts?  Is there a charge for usage?  A charge for storage?

Is you retirement community golf cart friendly?  Do golf carts have dedicated lane for use on the road? Are there restriction on where you can store it?  Perhaps guidelines for color, size, etc. are enforced.

Is your beach house a good place for a used golf cart?  Where will you store it?  Is there parking at the beach access specifically for golf carts?  How will sand and salt water affect the usage?

Do you want a used electric or used gas golf cart?

All golf carts are separated into these two categories.  Electric golf carts have their advantages, as do gas golf carts.  How do you plan to use the golf cart?  Is it heavy use with lots of hills and no access to electricity.  Sounds like a used electric golf cart is best.  But maybe you live somewhere gas golf carts are no allowed?  And you foresee just shorts trips in the cart, over level ground and will only one person. Plus, you don’t want to worry about buying gas and changing gas prices. Sounds like a used electric golf cart is the best choice for you.

Is the used golf cart in good condition?

Just like cars, used golf carts vary in condition.   It is best to find one in good shape that runs well and has a new battery and battery connectors.  But of course the newer and better condition the used golf cart is in, the more expensive it will be.  If the golf cart appears to need repairs, be sure to get estimates before you make the purchase.  The cost of repairs can be much more or even much less than you anticipate.  Better to know for sure before you make an offer.

There’s a used golf cart out there for every type of buyer and for every budget.

Doing your homework ahead of time and ask questions. If you can’t find the right used golf cart for you, keep looking.

Others simply find that they prefer owning their own golf cart, even if the cost is greater than renting. First look at how often you play golf.  If you’re playing quite frequently, perhaps buying a used golf cart is for you.  For example, if you play five times a week and pay $20 per round for cart rental, that $100 per week and over $5000 per year.  With used golf carts available for less than $4000, your investment could pay for  itself quite quickly. Also keep in mind that well-maintained golf carts can last 10 year or more, making it an even smarter investment over time.

Have you thought about the used for your used golf cart beyond the golf course? Many planned communities, including retirement villages, encourage the use of golf carts.  Perhaps you have vacation home and easy transportation to the beach or lake would be welcome.  Or think about a golf cart for transportation around your farm or even within a large RV park.

Now that you know a used golf cart is right for you, what is the next step?  Start by becoming informed on the product.  Attend golf shows, visit dealerships, talk to friends, etc.  It can also be helpful to find a golf cart technician who could help with any problems should you not be handy with golf carts yourself.

Soon you’ll have a golf cart of your own and will be happy you too the leap to purchase a used golf cart of your own.

The St Andrews Links are also dedicated to the development of golf worldwide and are a leader in environmental and ecological research. It is no coincidence that St Andrews turned to Yamaha Golf Car Company for the their new Golf Car fleet. Yamaha, a name known the world over, synonymous with quality and dependability is constantly improving its community’s environment and workplace. The plant in Newnan Georgia where Yamaha produces golf cars received both the ISO 9001 and the ISO 14001 Certifications for Total manufacturing excellence and environmental compliance.

St Andrews Links has played the host to 26 past Open Championships. Tiger Woods won in 2000, the last one. This year the Open Championship will be contested at Royal Troon, in southern Scotland. In 2005 the Open Championship comes back up the coast again to St. Andrews Links and another chapter of golf history will be written. Quietly behind the scenes, from the yellow and black scoreboards to the last double green; Yamaha will be helping to turn the page.

About Yamaha Golf-Car Company:

Yamaha Golf-Car Company is the producer of G-MAX Golf Cars and U-MAX Utility

Vehicles the golf industries benchmark electric and gas-powered golf cars and utility vehicles.

Yamaha’s leadership in advanced engineering, production and marketing of high quality

power sports products has helped its golf cars and utility vehicles earn a reputation as the

toughest, most durable car in the industry. Located in Newnan, Georgia since 1988, Yamaha

Golf-Car Company manufactures and exports golf cars and utility vehicles worldwide.

Yamaha’s current line of golf cars and utility vehicles feature the G-MAX G22E 48V electric

car with Genius Diagnostic System, the G-MAX G22A gas car with the industry’s most

powerful 357cc four-stroke purpose built engine, a complete line-up of specialty vehicles and

a complete line of U-MAX utility vehicles. Contact us at www.yamahagolfcar.com for

further information or call toll free 866-747-4027.

The competition attracted more than 50 entries, which were judged in three categories. Winners in the golf course category were Makena Golf Course in Makena, Hawaii; Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Kiawah Island, S.C., and the Fairmont Southampton in Southampton, Bermuda. Troon Golf, a golf course management company, was the winner among associations and operators, and W.R. Love Golf Course Architecture was the top finisher in the product-service provider category. Club Car was the only honorable mention recipient named in the product-service provider category.

“Our goal is to honor those in the industry who are demonstrating outstanding innovation and cutting-edge leadership when it comes to environmental issues. We believe these courses and companies can inspire others to follow their lead,” said Golf Inc. managing editor Keith Carter.

Club Car’s main contribution to environmental friendliness is the trend it is leading toward zero-emission electric vehicles. Club Car is also sourcing parts from around the world based in part on their ability to be recycled. In 2007 the company recycled more than two million pounds of waste (mostly in the form of cardboard and metal) and decreased the amount of landfill trash produced by 25 percent.

Club Car has installed automated turn-off switches on power equipment to reduce energy consumption when the equipment is not in use. Auxiliary power units are being installed on the tractor-trailers that deliver vehicles to reduce idling time and fuel consumption. Last year Club Car also began using nitrogen to fill the tires on many of the vehicles it manufacturers; nitrogen improves fuel economy, promotes longer tire life and is friendlier to the environment than compressed air.

“Manufacturing operations like Club Car have tremendous potential to have a positive impact on the environment,” said Gary Michel, Club Car’s president and CEO. “We’re very serious about doing our part, and we appreciate Golf Inc.’s recognition of those efforts.”

Golf Inc. is a trade publication covering the golf industry. The 2008 Green Awards were the magazine’s first environmental competition.

To learn more, please contact us or visit: www.clubcar.com.

About Club Car:

Club Car manufactures a wide range of electric- and gasoline-powered vehicles for the golf, utility, transportation, private owner and rough terrain markets. Based in Augusta, Ga., Club Car is part of Ingersoll Rand, a global diversified firm providing products, services and solutions to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties, and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Driven by a 100-year-old tradition of technological innovation, we enable our customers to create progress and a positive impact in their world. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com.

Under terms of the agreement, Black Knight International, which includes Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate, Black Knight Enterprises and The Player Foundation, will work with Club Car to introduce the company’s vehicles, equipment and services at courses and real estate developments where Black Knight is affiliated. Club Car also will develop strategies to promote the company and its golf car and utility vehicle lines through an association with the Gary Player brand.

“As Club Car strengthens its presence in international markets, our association with Black Knight International is a great fit,” said Robert McElreath, Club Car’s vice president of Global Marketing. “Mr. Player is admired as much for his integrity and dedication to excellence as he is for his golfing accomplishments. We like to think we have those values in common.”

Gary Player is the most successful international golfer in the history of the sport and is also a renowned golf course architect with more than 300 design projects and over 50 currently active projects throughout the world.

“We are excited to be working with Club Car especially as it moves to increase its international presence. It is quite simply a fantastic company with a team who are committed to excellence,” said Marc Player, CEO of Black Knight International.

About Black Knight International

Black Knight International, established by Marc Player, is the global holding company for all divisions of The Player Group. The company provides a range of services and products that reflect the superior quality of the Gary Player®, Player® and Black Knight® brands. The various divisions under the group umbrella include: Gary Player Design, which has over 300 championship courses worldwide to its credit, Player Real Estate, which works with master-planned community developers around the world to create high-end golf resort and residential properties; Black Knight Enterprises whose focuses include luxury goods, apparel, event management and promoting Mr. Player as an ambassador for global companies, and The Player Foundation, which executes global charitable efforts in support of underprivileged children. Established in 1983, The Player Foundation has been making a difference in the lives of children for over 25 years, and in that time has raised over $30 million globally. For more information about Black Knight International please visit www.garyplayer.com.

About Club Car

Club Car has been one of the most respected names in the golf industry for more than half a century. The company’s dependable and efficient Precedent golf cars and Carryall Turf utility vehicles are integral to the successful operations of thousands of courses in the U.S. and around the world. The world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles is also recognized as an innovation leader. The Visage Mobile Golf Information System is the latest in a long line of technical advances that improve the golfer’s experience as well as help courses operate more efficiently. The Augusta, Ga.-based company, a division of Ingersoll Rand, is equally respected for the support it provides the game’s leading associations and organizations, including the PGA of America, the NGCOA, GCSAA, CMAA, The First Tee and the Executive Women’s Golf Association. For more information, go to www.clubcar.com or www.ingersollrand.com.

Image of the two-millionth vehicle

The reveal of Club Car’s two millionth car.

Golf cars and utlity vehicles dominated production at Club Car during its first half century. But the vehicle chosen to symbolize the manufacturing milestone, which fell on Earth Day 2010, was a Villager LSV, an eco-friendly zero-emission vehicle that incorporates a number of features as defined by federal regulations that enable the vehicle to be driven on specfied public roads with speed limts of 35 mph or less.

LSVs are the fastest-growing segment in the light transportation vehicle market. They’re especially popular for short commutes, shopping, transportation and deliveries in campus-style environments, including hospitals, clinics, schools and universities.

“One of the hallmarks of Club Car over the years has been innovation and the ability to produce vehicles that meet – and sometimes even anticipate the needs – of our customers,” said Gary Michel, president and CEO of Club Car. “Zero-emission low-speed vehicles, which reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and provide an environmentally friendly mode of travel, are an example of that ongoing commitment.”

Jim Bolch, Gary Michel, and George Pennington

(l-r) Jim Bolch, Ingersoll Rand Industrial Technologies Sector President; Gary Michel, Club Car President and CEO; and George Pennington, Club Car Driver, celebrate the milestone.

Michel credited Club Car employees as the “champions” responsible for producing a million vehicles in record time. “We have a great team of people who come to work with one thing on their mind every day: How do we improve on yesterday?” Michel said.

The ceremony was attended by Club Car associates, executives from parent company Ingersoll Rand and a number of local political and civic leaders. Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver read a proclamation that declared April 22, 2010 “Club Car Day in Augusta.”

The event coincided with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the global celebration of environmental awareness. In recognition of its commitment to sustainability, Ingersoll Rand on Thursday launched its Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (CEES). The center will focus on identifying and implementing best practices for the long-term use of energy and other resources for customers and communities.

Speaking at the Club Car ceremony, Jim Bolch, president of Ingersoll Rand’s Industrial Technologies Sector, said the CEES will partner with non-government organizations and universities, as well as technology and industry leaders to fund research, support scholarships and host seminars on the subject of environmental sustainability. “Maybe most importantly, we’ll engage and educate our own employees about ways to bring green solutions to market and to make our own organization and the communities we serve greener,” Bolch added.

Club Car’s two millionth vehicle was produced nine years and one month after Club Car reached the one million milestone. “Our business continues to evolve as our customers’ needs and the types of customers we serve continue to evolve,” Michel said. “It’s hard to predict the vehicle that may symbolize the three millionth Club Car, but I’m sure it will be one that is right for the times.”

About Club Car

Club Car is the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles and on the forefront of environmentally responsible Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) technologies. The Club Car product portfolio includes golf cars, golf and commercial utility vehicles, multi-passenger shuttle vehicles, rough-terrain and off-road utility vehicles and street legal low-speed vehicles for commercial and consumer markets. The Augusta, Ga.-based company, a division of Ingersoll-Rand plc (NYSE:IR), is widely respected for the support it provides golf’s leading associations and organizations, including the PGA of America, the NGCOA, GCSAA, CMAA, The First Tee and the Executive Women’s Golf Association. For more information, go to www.clubcar.com or www.ingersollrand.com.

The zero-emission LSV from Augusta, Ga.-based Club Car carries up to four passengers and builds on the Villager’s history of providing dependable, energy-efficient transportation for thousands of businesses and consumers worldwide.

Customers have until the end of the year to take advantage of a federal tax credit – based on the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008. The credit is equal to the sum of the base credit of $2,500 plus $417 for each kilowatt hour of battery capacity in excess of four kilowatt hours. For those who qualify, the credit would amount to $4,168, almost half the base price of the $8,876 Villager 2+2. Some states have additional tax credits that can lower the purchase price further. The credit amount is scheduled to reduce to a minimum of 10 percent of the MSRP as the end of 2009.

LSVs are the fastest-growing segment in what is known as the small task-oriented vehicle (STOV) market, increasing by nearly 50 percent in the last year, according to International Market Solutions, a NY-based research firm.

According to a study conducted by Green Car Institute, a nonprofit California research corporation, consumers and businesses are using LSVs instead of cars or trucks with gasoline internal combustion engines for daily short-distance trips and for cargo transport. In the same survey, LSV owners said they purchased the nimble, street-legal vehicles because they offer an environmentally friendly mode of travel, save on gasoline and fit their lifestyle and business needs for economical transportation.

The four-wheeled motor vehicles weigh less than 3,000 pounds and have a top speed between 20 and 25 mps. Currently LSVs are allowed in 47 states and the District of Columbia on many roads where the posted speed limit is 35 mph or lower.

In accordance with LSV requirements, Club Car’s Villager 2+2 features headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals and a horn. In addition, a wrap-around impact-resistant bumper system and an onboard charger are standard. Colors include white (standard), beige and black (optional) and diamond white pearl, titanium silver, and desert sand (premium). Option packages are available.

Military bases, college campuses, residential neighborhoods and urban environments with congested driving and parking conditions are among the target markets for the new LSV, according to Robert McElreath, Club Car’s vice president for global marketing, who notes the vehicles’ wide-ranging benefits.

“Even when the purchase of an LSV does not replace a personal or commercial vehicle, ti will replace many of the miles a vehicle with an internal combustion engine is used for, and that’s going to translate to fuel and energy savings as well as convenience,” said McElreath.

Club Car vehicles are sold through authorized dealers. To locate a dealer, go to clubcar.com and click on Dealer Locator.

Club Car, which is the world’s largest producer of four-wheel, small task-oriented electric vehicles, was one of the first manufacturers in the LSV market, partnering with General Motors in 2003 as part of a test program. In 2008 Club Car introduced LSV versions of its Carryall 2 and Carryall 6 utility vehicles aimed at commercial and government markets. The latest Villager model has been restyled to appeal to commercial and consumer users with a priority on comfort, convenience and efficiency.

Club Car’s more than 85 base models of small task-oriented vehicles serve thousands of commercial and consumer applications worldwide through more than 400 commercial and industrial utility vehicle dealers.

About Club Car:

Club Car provides fleet, turf, hospitality and financing solutions for golf, agricultural, recreational and industrial markets. For more information on Club Car, go to www.clubcar.com. Based in Augusta, Ga., Club Car is part of the Industrial Technologies sector of Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited. Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR) is a global diversified firm providing products, services and solutions to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Driven by a 100-year-old tradition of technological innovation, we enable our customers to create progress and a positive impact in their world. For more information, go to www.ingersollrand.com.

A study of energy use by the Golf Resource Group recently concluded that most golf courses use between 250,000 and 5 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in their annual operations. At the high end, that’s equivalent to the amount of electricity used in 278 2,500-square-foot houses, according to the report from the Phoenix-based research firm.

“Power costs are very expensive here on Long Island and are getting more expensive around the world,” said Michael Pascucci, owner of the Sebonack GC, which is ranked No. 7 in Golfweek’s 100 “Best Modern Courses” and No. 39 in Golf Digests’s “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses. “Why not take advantage of the free solar power we have on earth?”

But reducing the charging requirements for the club’s 40 golf cars and lowering its electric bill isn’t the only reason Pascucci retrofitted his fleet with solar canopies, which are sold as an option on Club Car golf cars.

“We penciled it out and concluded we were going to get our money back pretty easily,” said Pascucci, who first saw the solar canopy system while playing golf with Ernie Els in Jupiter, Fla., last winter. “But even if the numbers weren’t as strong as they are, I still would have done it.”

The price of SolarDrive panels (normally $2,700) often can be defrayed by approximately 30 percent with tax incentives. For information about tax credits and incentives when purchasing products that promote energy efficiency through solar technologies, go to www.dsireusa.org/solar.

Pascucci thinks Sebonack members will be impressed that their club is going green.

“I think it’s really a positive thing for our members and their guests to see that they’re not using any energy while they’re riding around on the sun’s power. It makes a statement,” Pascucci said.

The SolarDrive-equipped golf cars capture and convert daylight into sufficient energy to power the vehicles year-round, even on cloudy days. Pascucci calls the system “a major industry innovation.”

The solar-cell roof panels installed on 40 cars at Sebonack and on 205 cars at The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course were designed and engineered by SolarDrive, a Denmark-based firm specializing in off-grid, solar technology for mobile use. SolarDrive and Club Car entered a marketing alliance earlier this year.

“SolarDrive and Club Car have provided us with what we believe is a smart solution that makes both environmental sense and good business sense, too,” said Cameron Halliday, general manager at The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau, the only public golf course in Hong Kong.

Peter Randow, managing partner of SolarDrive, estimates the Jockey Club will reduce carbon emissions by up to 30 metric tons per year as a result of the fleet’s reduced power consumption requirements. Consumption of grid electricity for the fleet will be reduced by 50 to 75 percent and the cars’ battery life will be significantly extended, Randow added.

The high-profile nature of Sebonack and Jockey Club, and their decisions to go all solar, are expected to lead other courses to evaluate the technology, according to Mike Read, marketing director for Club Car’s golf car category. “The need to conserve energy as a means of lowering costs combined with more widespread environmental awareness makes solar energy an attractive strategy for many courses,” he said. “We think we’ll see more courses here and in other parts of the world take a serious look at solar.”

About Club Car:

Club Car provides fleet, turf, hospitality and financing solutions for golf, agricultural, recreational and industrial markets. For more information on Club Car, go to www.clubcar.com. Based in Augusta, Ga., Club Car is part of the Industrial Technologies sector of Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited. Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR) is a global diversified firm providing products, services and solutions to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Driven by a 100-year-old tradition of technological innovation, we enable our customers to create progress and a positive impact in their world. For more information, go to www.ingersollrand.com.

About SolarDrive:

SolarDrive is a Danish company that specializes in applied solar technology primarily for mobile use. It develops highly efficient solar products for electric vehicles and off-grid solar powered products. SolarDrive equipped vehicles are capable of transferring between 180-360 watts of energy to a vehicle’s battery system. This results in carbon free charging and driving and considerable additional range between charges in typical applications. Financial benefits include: lower electricity costs, lower battery costs due to extended battery life through continuous charging and, at some courses, increased revenue opportunities from the improved rental capacity of the carts. For more information visit: www.solardrive.com.

Like most courses, the Austin club has some places it would rather its players not go while driving a golf car. Such as native rough areas where there is minimal irrigation. It also has a couple of places – like the sharp turn in the cart path going to No. 6 tee and the steep downhill area leading from the forward tee on No. 7 – where it wants players to proceed slowly and with caution.

Now, with the help of Club Car’s Guardian system, which operates based on GPS technology, the UT club programs its golf cars to keep players away from environmentally sensitive areas and to slow to safe speeds at certain points on the course.

“The system eliminates things people don’t like on a golf course, like marshals telling them what they can’t do and ropes and stakes that take away from the beauty of the course,” says Greg Garner, head golf professional at the private course in Austin. “It’s a much cleaner approach to educating your members.”

Using the golf car industry’s first Local Interconnect Network, which allows the vehicle’s controller and on-board computer to communicate in real time, Guardian makes it easy for course managers to define restricted areas and to limit vehicle access or maximum speed anywhere on the course. “I don’t think it could be any simpler,” Garner said.

The UT Golf Club, which is helping Club Car during the final stages of field testing, is the first course to install the Guardian system, which is designed to help golf facilities protect their course and their players while lowering operating costs. The system, which can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection, is capable of limiting vehicle access, controlling vehicle speed, reviewing the history of where a golf car has been driven and monitoring and diagnosing vehicle performance.

Mancil Davis, head golf professional at Canongate at The Woodlands in The Woodlands, Texas, who participated in a product demonstration at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, can relate to the awkwardness of confronting members over minor transgressions. He appreciates Guardian’s ability to prevent unauthorized use of golf cars through its ability to lock down vehicles until golfers have checked in at the pro shop and paid their fees.

“We have a handful of members who have a tendency to bypass the shop and jump on the course,” Davis said. “That’s lost (golf car rental) revenue for us. But confronting members on an issue like that can be uncomfortable. It would be a lot better if we didn’t have to have that conversation.”

David Yanez, golf course superintendent at The Grand GC in San Diego, Calif., who saw the product demonstrated during the Golf Industry Show in New Orleans earlier this month, was impressed with the system’s round-replay feature and safety features.

“Our mechanics spend a lot of time fixing carts that are damaged on the golf course. The golfer may say, ‘It was like that when I got it,’ but this system gives us recourse to show when and where the damage occurred so we can charge the person responsible,” Yanez said.

“We have a lot of fairly steep grades and switchbacks. So having the ability to control speed is a great feature from a safety standpoint,” Yanez said. “The first time you avoid a lawsuit because you’ve prevented an accident, you have more than paid for this system.”

Guardian also monitors the car’s electrical system to prevent a vehicle from going out on the course with an insufficient charge to complete the round. Diagnostic capabilities help course technicians identify and address potential vehicle faults.

“The system provides an unbelievable amount of information,” Davis says. “And it’s not just fluff – it’s valuable information that would help us manage our fleet more effectively.”

The Guardian system, which will be available in the second quarter of 2009, is offered on Club Car’s 2009 Precedent models equipped with the company’s Excel drive system. It also can be installed in the field on existing 2008 Precedent i2 and i2L Excel models.

Club Car, a business of Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited, a diversified industrial firm, Honors the Game in its service to customers and support of the golf industry. Club Car is the exclusive premier partner of the National Golf Course Owners Association in the U.S. and NGCOA Canada’s exclusive Golf Car Supplier and Platinum Partner. Club Car is also a sponsor of the European Golf Course Owners Association, a Silver Partner of the GCSAA and a Corporate Advantage Partner of the Club Managers Association of America. It is the Official Supplier of Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles to the 2010 Ryder Cup, the Official Golf Car and Golf Utility Vehicle and an Official Sponsor of the PGA European Tour, the official supplier of golf cars and utility vehicles to PGA Tournament Players Clubs, and leading sponsor of the PGA Professional National Championship, The First Tee and the Executive Women’s Golf Association.

About Club Car:

Club Car provides fleet, turf, hospitality and financing solutions for golf, agricultural, recreational and industrial markets. For more information on Club Car, go to www.clubcar.com. Based in Augusta, Ga., Club Car is part of the Industrial Technologies sector of Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited. Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR) is a global diversified firm providing products, services and solutions to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties, and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Driven by a 100-year-old tradition of technological innovation, we enable our customers to create progress and a positive impact in their world.