Glenagles has recently taken delivery of a fleet of 45 bespoke RXV ELiTE E-Z-GO buggies, which director of golf, Gary Silcock, hopes will add value to the ‘Gleneagles experience’ at the Scottish resort that will next month host the Solheim Cup. Since joining Gleneagles in March 2015, Silcock, has been on a journey to improve the visitor experience for golfers of all abilities, with replacing Gleneagles’ previous fleet of buggies top of his agenda. Lithium batteries and an accurate GPS system were the stand out functionality that Silcock desired, with the customer journey paramount at every stage.
For Gleneagles, lithium batteries are at the forefront of golf car technology, with multiple environmental and practical benefits making them the key factor. Lighter buggies allow guests to go on the fairways more often, increasing both revenue and the golfers’ experience, while reducing stress on the turf and preventing wear and tear on the course. Silcock assessed a number of lithium options, but it was the combination of features on the RXV ELiTE range that stood out: “We looked at the TFM system E-Z-GO offers, and it did everything we wanted it to, and we’ve been very surprised at the ease and usability,” he said. “The topography of the land at Gleneagles has a lot of interesting slopes, and the IntelliBrake system on the RXV EliTE prevents any skidding. We were focused on health and safety when making our decision, and the braking system was an interesting piece that was unique to E-Z-GO.”
With the new fleet to be parked on the approach to the clubhouse, it was important that the new buggies were aesthetically pleasing to the eye, providing guests with a valuable first impression. To show how what could be achieved, director of sales for E-Z-GO, Andre Andrade, produced a sample buggy with Gleneagles branding to show precisely how a high-specification RXV ELiTE could look and perform, which for Silcock, was a crucial stage in the decision-making process.
