ISB’s residential neighborhood, Nichada Thani is a popular community for families. When walking into Nichada for the first time, there are many unique phenomena to notice: luscious greens surrounding the roads, a huge lake surrounded by tall condominiums, and most surprisingly: golf carts cruising around the roads. As the name suggests, golf carts are often seen on the golf course. However, due to the short commutes within Nichada’s tight-knit community, golf carts make an optimal way for students and parents to drive around.
Unfortunately, the price of a golf cart doesn’t come cheap. On average, according to Facebook Marketplace, one costs around 75,000 baht. For such a big investment that is only able to be used around the community, many parents and students wonder if buying a golf cart is worth the costs and benefits.
So, where can a golf cart take you? In Nichada, you can drive your cart anywhere, including ISB itself, a friend’s house, recreational centers, shops, etc. You can also go to Si Chai Tong road, accessing the immediate community outside Nichada, which has markets, shops and restaurants. Through Si Chai Tong road, you can visit Central Chaengwattana, the closest shopping mall in the area. Additionally, you could drive in the Prasert Islam area, gaining access to more businesses.
Sid Kapur, a student in ISB, bought a 6-seater gasoline golf cart for 55000 baht, a fairly cheap price for a cart of that caliber. Sid and his family are planning to keep their golf cart for 5 to 6 years, and are already adamant about selling it through the Nichada Expats Yard Sale Facebook page. When asked what benefits a golf cart gave him, Sid stated “It improved (my life) immensely. It played a huge role in our experience in Nichada”. He says he uses his golf cart mostly for driving himself and his friends around the area and running errands. “Let's say we’re cooking a meal and we thought we got everything, but we don’t. You can just go get it quickly (with a golf cart)”.
However, owning a golf cart is not all fun and games. Gabe Winkles, another ISB student, received a golf cart for only 6000 baht. Such a cheap price doesn’t fully cover the costs, though, as his cart was very old. “It’s horrible”, he says, “it goes around 8 kilometers an hour”. When asked how a golf cart worsened his quality of life, Gabe said “it’s really slow and annoying”, as he sometimes finds himself pushing it back home after breaking down. Maintaining and fixing a golf cart isn’t cheap either. After leaving ISB, Gabe and his family are planning to give their golf cart to a friend at church. They plan on repairing it to make it work better, which Gabe claims is “like paying for a brand new golf cart for them”. Despite the inconveniences and high costs the golf cart gave him, when asked if the costs of a golf cart matched its benefits, Gabe replied with a certain “100%”. “It’s convenient and an easy way to get around”.
Marcello Quicho, a veteran golf cart owner of over 20 years, has had both of his children own and operate golf carts. After buying a golf cart, he claimed that his children owning golf carts gives him “more free time and saves gas for my larger vehicles”. He also believes that his children owning a golf cart was an integral part of their transition to driving real cars. Mr. Marcello gives a clear warning to all parents looking to buy a cart, commenting that “the sellers are looking to make a profit, so they increase the price accordingly”. When asked for tips for other parents, Mr. Marcello advises buying a golf cart that fits your needs instead of the biggest or fastest one. “As long as it gets me somewhere reliably and efficiently, then it’s good enough.”
Although it comes with lots of responsibilities, students and parents alike believe that a golf cart is a worthy investment when living in Nichada. Along with being the most convenient mode of transportation, golf carts are a great segway for young adults to eventually learn how to take on real cars in the future. If you choose to buy a golf cart for your children or yourself, consider these things: whether you need it brand new, how long you will be using it, and what your plans are to sell it. With proper planning, a golf cart would be a great investment for your stay at Nichada.
Credits:
Created with an image by Ruben - "Electric golf - passenger buggies cars parked in row in Hamilton Island, Australia."