Story by Mike May | Photos by Abner Pedraza
Francisco and Francine Orozco, along with their three sons Erick, Steven and Kevin, have always spent much of their free time working on and repairing machinery, such as golf carts. Fixing machinery has always been a family hobby. They got so good at specifically fixing and refurbishing golf carts, that it has now evolved into a successful family business, ESK Golf Carts, named in honor of the three sons.
“Before starting our business, we perfected our craft,” Francisco said.
While Francisco and his sons work on the golf carts, Francine is the one who puts the finishing touches on each job. “My wife is in charge of quality control and oversees the final details on each golf cart,” Francisco said.
The company repairs golf carts and provides fully customized golf carts to clients.
ESK Golf Carts does not sell its products to the most obvious clients, which are country clubs, golf clubs and golf courses. Instead, ESK Golf Carts focuses its sales on members of the general public, housing communities, schools, churches and municipalities.
ESK Golf Carts also buys its golf carts from the general public, which can be a somewhat unsteady supply chain. But the Orozco family makes it work.
“We buy used and second-hand golf carts from consumers,” Francisco explained. “We search online, and we get them from word-of-mouth. We work on both electric and gas-powered golf carts.”
While ESK Golf Carts does buy and sell carts produced by well-known manufacturers, such as Club Car, E-Z-Go, Yamaha and Gem, it doesn’t buy the carts directly from those manufacturers.
“Ideally, we’d like to buy new golf carts from the main plants,” Francisco said, adding that right now, that’s not possible.
Once ESK Golf Carts takes ownership of a cart, regardless of its condition, the fun begins.
“We strip each golf cart down, replace the brakes, install new bushings, insert a new battery, put a new frame on it, paint it, put in new seats and customize it according to the wishes of the client,” Francisco said.
Customers usually want a golf cart that is unique and high performing. It all starts with the battery.
“Customers prefer a lithium battery since it has a longer battery life, is maintenance-free, has a longer-lasting charge and is quicker to charge,” Francisco said.
Many clients also want a faster golf cart.
“We can engineer a golf cart to go as fast as 35 to 40 miles per hour,” he added.
After you look at each finished product, it’s clear that the Orozco family’s true talents are in the customization process.
“We can make limo golf carts that seat six people, and we produce all-terrain golf carts with special tires,” Francisco said. “We also paint the golf cart according to the wishes of the client. Right now, silver-gray is very popular. But we also paint the carts green, purple and many different shades of blue. When we produce a golf cart for an equestrian client in Wellington, the name of the farm is often placed on the outside. For private country club members, their first names are placed on the side of the golf carts. People also want golf carts with fans and USB ports, so they can charge their cell phones while out playing golf.”
Francisco noted that the golf cart business has picked up since 2020, when people started spending more time at home due to the pandemic.
Right now, most of the clients for ESK Golf Carts live in Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, the Acreage/Loxahatchee area, Delray Beach and Jupiter.
When ESK Golf Carts takes ownership of a used golf cart, which usually has a large amount of wear and tear, the company’s experts will turn it into a thing of beauty — and the process doesn’t take very long. In about two weeks, ESK Golf Carts can transform a golf cart that was considered “trash” into a treasure.
On any given day, the shop at ESK Golf Carts is filled with 12 to 15 golf carts that are being repaired, and the crew is also working on customizing roughly 20 to 30 golf carts for clients.
One of driving philosophies at ESK Golf Carts is customer service.
If you own a golf cart that needs work, ESK Golf Carts will come to your aid. “We will pick up your golf cart, bring it to our shop, fix it and return it to you,” Francisco said.
In addition to restoring carts, ESK Golf Carts provides regular repairs, if necessary.
“We provide service to address any wear and tear on a golf cart,” Francisco said.
When it comes to the bottom line, the prices of a golf cart range depending on the amount of customization and detailing involved.
According to Francisco, prices range from $3,500 to $15,000. The most common golf carts have room for two passengers or golfers.
The next larger version of golf carts has room for four people, who will use it to travel within their communities, neighborhoods and housing developments.
The limo golf carts are big enough for six people.
At ESK Golf Carts, the owners will work with your budget to provide you with the golf cart of your dreams, as the company’s goal is ultimate customer satisfaction.
ESK Golf Carts is located at 4657 Southern Blvd., Suite A, in West Palm Beach. Visit www.eskgolfcarts.com or call (561) 684-8188 to learn more about this unique family business.
