Maybe you’ve always dreamed of owning a Roadster or a Hummer, but never had the money — or the garage space. Or maybe you’re just looking for a way to save a few bucks on gas. That’s right — the carts pictured here, and the numerous others available from Puget Sound-based Country Club Carts, are all street-legal. “You can use it on the course, then take it to the grocery store,” says company owner David Dahl, who has been selling the carts in the Puget Sound market since 2006. In fact, Dahl prefers the term “neighborhood electric vehicle” to describe his carts, which are rapidly becoming the rage in gated or other small residential communities, where customers can use them for numerous short trips to minimize cost. The electric carts plug into a standard 110-volt outlet, and typically take around six hours to charge from empty. Dahl estimates the additional power cost to a typical user at about one cent per mile. “They top out at around 25 miles per hour, so they’re certainly not going to replace your regular car for longer trips,” Dahl says. “But for short trips, the gas savings are huge. And insurance is easy, too.” All of the carts are custom-made from scratch by American Custom Golf Carts in Chino, Calif. Customers can either choose from one of the many common models already developed — including the aforementioned Roadster and Hummer — or design one for themselves. Skateboarding superstar Tony Hawk and racing legend Richard Petty each boast custom carts in their garages. “Every single cart is built from the ground up,” Dahl says. “We’re not just putting new parts on standard carts. We don’t build it until you order it.” In addition to private sales, which are conducted entirely through his website, www.countryclubcarts.com, Dahl also provides use of the carts at corporate outings and weddings, and as Hole-In-One prizes for local golf tournaments. On the website, interested customers can review photos, pricing options and technical specs, then arrange to have Dahl deliver a cart to their door for a test drive. New orders take about three weeks to process. “We’ll come to your home, or meet you at a course,” Dahl says. “I always get a kick out of watching a new customer drive one of the carts around for a bit, as all of their neighbors and friends come out to get a closer look. That’s always fun.”