RTJ golf trail commits to E-Z-GO

E-Z-GO has entered a six-year agreement to provide fleet golf cars and grounds maintenance vehicles to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama.

The Robert Trent Jones Trail, owned by the Retirement Systems of Alabama, includes 468 championship holes of golf at 11 facilities around the state. Trail facilities play host to numerous professional golf tournaments, including the Navistar LPGA Classic at Capitol Hill in Prattville, Ala., the Bell Micro LPGA Classic at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Ala., and the Regions Charity Classic, a PGA Champions Tour event, at Ross Bridge in Hoover, Ala. The New York Times called the Trail "some of the best public golf on Earth."

Under the terms of the agreement, E-Z-GO will provide a total of 1,584 RXV fleet golf cars and 300 grounds maintenance vehicles to the Trail's 11 facilities. Trail officials selected E-Z-GO as provider after using the RXV golf car extensively at Ross Bridge, the Trail's flagship resort, throughout 2008. The RXV utilizes advanced technology, such an AC Drive and full-time regenerative braking, to offer unprecedented energy efficiency and operating range and reduced energy costs to facilities. Independent third-party testing has indicated that the RXV is as much as 30 percent more energy-efficient than traditional DC-powered golf cars.

The RXV also includes features to enhance the golfer's experience, such as an automotive-style independent A-arm front suspension, ergonomically designed controls and dashboard storage, a parking brake that automatically engages when the vehicle stops and automatic speed control on steep slopes.

"Our partnership with E-Z-GO has been crucial to the success of Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail since our inception 17 years ago, and we couldn't be more pleased to extend this relationship for at least six more years," said John Cannon, president of SunBelt Golf Corp,, the company responsible for managing The Trail on behalf of The Retirement Systems of Alabama.

"We are proud and honored to provide our vehicles to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail," said E-Z-GO President Kevin P. Holleran. "The Trail includes some of the most renowned golf facilities and resorts in the world. We are delighted that the Trail's decision-makers recognized the value that E-Z-GO can provide to help these world-class facilities exceed their customers' every need."