Can Golf Carts Drive on Sand?

Golf carts can be loads of fun to drive around on both, dirt or paved roads as well as, of course, the golf course. However, many golf carts come with a standard rule that you shouldn’t drive them on sand.

This is why so many golfers and golf cart owners wonder, “Can golf carts drive on sand?”

Well, I want to answer this question once and for all.

Most golf carts are designed to be driven on sand. They could be driven on the beach as well as the different kinds of sandy areas within a golf course. 

However, there are some golf carts out there that aren’t manufactured with the right kind of wheels to make it suitable for sand.

With that said, not every golf cart is designed to be driven over sand. The reason behind this is that they don’t have the right tires to make the journey safe. 

Also, even if you own a golf cart that can drive over sand, it wouldn’t automatically mean that it would be a good idea to do so. To be able to drive your golf cart on sand, you will need 2 things. 

The first will be a good set of tires, and the second, a strong motor.

Good Golf Cart Engines for Driving Over Sand

Golf carts need a strong motor to be able to drive over sand because sand doesn’t let the vehicle create momentum. Due to this, the golf cart’s engine will always require a little extra power when driving over sandy areas. 

Most people who plan on driving over normal sand should understand that they will require at least 48-volt engines to do so.

In fact, most experts will tell you that you will be better off with a gas-powered golf cart. This will especially be true if their golf cart is going to be meandering through some sand dunes.

Golf carts that have underpowered engines will be able to pass over some smaller patches of sand or what you may refer to as flat sand (such as the kind you would find close to the ocean). The only problem will be that after a prolonged period of time of driving in such conditions, you will find your golf cart getting slower and slower until it is finally stuck.

Golf Cart Tires for Driving Over Sand

Your golf cart doesn’t necessarily have to be fitted with special tires to be compatible with smaller patches of sand. If you don’t plan on doing a lot of driving over sand, you’re going to be better off if you just reduce your tire pressure before you go at it.

By lowering your tire pressure, or even the tires of the vehicle you drive, you will be able to increase traction. The reason for doing this is that you will have increased the surface area of the tire that comes in contact with the sand.

It’s just that simple. The more rubber you have on the road (or on sand), the more traction you will experience.

However, the biggest problem in this technique is that once you drive off the sand, you will be driving around with deflated tires, which if you didn’t already know, isn’t good for normal roads. In fact, this could be very dangerous because your handling wouldn’t be so good and your tires will most likely experience a blowout.

Alternatively, you could hold off deflating your tires and instead invest in tires that are designed to be driven on sand. A brand new set of all-terrain tires will definitely improve your overall experience of driving over sand and you will still have tires that are fully-inflated.

Some Other Issues of Golf Carts Driving Through Sand

Sand has a knack of quickly clogging up the fuel filters in a golf cart’s engine. If you ever find yourself regularly driving through sand, you might want to keep a check on these filters every now and then.

Clogged fuel or air filters tend to have a very dramatic effect on the driving performance of golf carts. Also, if you plan on driving through sandy beaches, then you should also research the destructive tendencies of saltwater. 

For instance, saltwater will make sure that all the parts of your golf cart begin to corrode and rust faster than they would if they were driven on a golf course.

To stop the saltwater from eating away at your investment, you should always give your golf cart a thorough wash after driving it at the beach.

Accessories That Help You Drive Through Sand

Another thing that you should know is that there are many accessories out there that make it easier for golf carts to drive on sand. 

For example, you could wear a nice pair of goggles to keep all the sand from getting in your eyes. Of course, it will be a lot more practical to just invest in a nice windshield for the golf cart.

Moreover, those people who often find themselves driving across the beach on colder  days should think about opting for a golf cart with a full enclosure. This could be done with the help of plastic doors that can either be zipped on or the ones that are permanently attached.

If you don’t like the idea of a fully enclosed golf cart, then you should consider installing a glove box that will keep all your important belongings out of the sand. A lockable glove box will also keep all of these items safe while you’re splashing away with your loved ones.

Final Thoughts

Can golf carts drive on sand? Well, yes and no.

After reading this article, you know everything you need to know to make the answer to this question lean a little more towards the yes and I really hope that you don’t have any problems in the process.

Good luck and don’t forget to wear your sunglasses or goggles!