Florida may not be much to regard from the point of view of natural scenery. The highest point in the entire state, which is two-thirds the size of Britain, not created by mankind is Britton Hill, at only 345 feet high. However, it is very much a hot-spot golfing destination. Think Florida golf and you could be talking about some of the most enticing courses to play in the whole of the United States: Seminole, the TPC at Sawgrass, the Blue Monster at Doral (sorry, Trump Doral), etc. Think Florida golf and you think of heat and water hazards. Think Florida golf and you think of golf carts.

Not that golf carts are for golf only. Apparently, in a retirement village in Florida called The Villages (snappy name, hey?), there is a population of 110,000 and they own a combined total of 50,000 golf carts. A recent piece in The Guardian quoted Mike from luxury-carts.com saying his customers are “rich people who use the carts for non-golf use most of the time”.

We’re not talking here about the kind of vehicle you might get the keys to at a golf course on the Costa del Sol. Our friend Mike’s business has golf carts that look like Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, Jeeps, limousines, pick-up trucks…pretty much whatever you fancy, really. Prices range from £10,000-£17,000. Pictured here is a Hummer designed by Bad Ass Golf Carts, a company based in – you may have guessed this – Las Vegas. Their goal is to make “the most outrageous golf carts in the industry”. Their slogan is “We’ll Make Your Neighbors Golf Cart Embarrassed To Leave The Garage.” So there!

There is a serious point to all this. Well, sort of serious. In a world where we are encouraged to become more aware of environmental issues, electric cars may still only have a niche position in the car market, but it is one that’s growing. Could we one day get to the point where city centres are populated by golf carts, with no fairways anywhere nearby? If so, that would be the only way I’ll ever be able to afford a Lamborghini.