A Rocking Good Ride

By Andrew Penner

Golf, apparently, is a good walk spoiled. My advice? Take a cart. But not just any cart. A state-of-the-art, solar-powered, made-in-Alberta FTR Model 1 would be your best bet. It has the potential to be a game changer in the golf world.

And the owners of FTR Golf - Alberta PGA Professionals Sean Mills and Garret Fraser - would say, wholeheartedly, that the golf cart scene has been a little stagnant in the past few decades and in need of an overhaul.

“Every aspect of golf has seen significant technological advancements except golf carts,” says Fraser, who resides near Wainwright, not far from the facility where the carts are currently being manufactured. “The same ‘big three’ manufacturers have been playing virtually the same game with the same products for years now. Something needed to happen. We sensed an opportunity.”

Enter FTR Golf. (In case you’re wondering, “FTR” is short for “Future.”) After a number of years of testing, trials, and tribulations, the FTR Model 1 cart has been launched. Make no mistake, the Model 1 is not your grandpa’s cart. For starters, the Model 1 is faster, goes farther and lasts longer than any cart currently on the market. This is in large part due to the significantly lighter, maintenance-free, lithium-ion battery that charges twice as fast as conventional golf cart batteries.

Not only that, but FTR’s carts are also equipped with solar panels on the roof - the Solar Drive - that harnesses power from the sun. This state-ofthe-art system - guaranteed to last 20 years! - further alleviates charging costs and dramatically boosts overall efficiency. Even with overcast skies the solar panels will still provide a power boost and make the cart go farther!

“Instead of getting a round-and-ahalf out of a cart, our carts can go all day without any issues,” says Fraser, who has over 10 years of experience developing and manufacturing various products and systems in the oil and gas industry. “The cost savings are significant. Golf carts that use traditional lead batteries are approximately three times more expensive to run.”

Another benefit is the programmable controller that allows each facility to customize torque, hill-climbing power, and overall speed of each cart in the fleet. This ensures the experience for golfers is comfortable, enjoyable, and efficient based on the unique demands of the terrain that must be negotiated during the round.

“Our service guarantee is another notable benefit when choosing FTR carts,” says Fraser. “We have a talented team of technicians that are readily available to assist courses when required. There’s no need to wait in a queue and talk to operators who are likely a world away. We’re in Alberta. We’re here. And we’re ready to assist at a moment’s notice.”

And, last but not least, FTR carts are equipped with a customized entertainment system with built-in Bluetooth, phone holders, USB phone chargers, and waterproof speakers.

So, make no mistake, with a Model 1 cart, your golf game will not be a “good walk spoiled.” It will be a rocking good ride.