Diamond Golf Cars
Photo by Nathan kelly
0513 diamond golf cars
Diamond Golf Cars
In 2012, after working in country clubs and golf equipment retail for more than 20 years, Bill Ochsenhirt was ready to branch off – not too far, though. He wanted to remain in a business related to the golf family.
His idea was to develop the next generation of golf car dealerships that featured clean, upscale environments and made customers feel comfortable but in control. So, he modeled his showroom after a Lexus dealership and developed a way to make the relationship with his customers and their cars unique.
“Most people who come in have an idea in their minds of what they want their car to look like,” Ochsenhirt said of his new store on 280, Diamond Golf Cars. “How to get that thought to reality is where we come in and build that bridge for them.”
Ochsenhirt’s team is a knowledgeable, experienced group of technicians who not only work on the cars requested by customers, but also help coach them to find exactly what they’re looking for out of their vehicle. Ochsenhirt said his dealership separates itself from others by the level of customization it offers to its customers.
“We can literally take a customer in the door and ask them what they want done to their vehicle, it’s limitless,” he said.
Customers at Diamond Golf Cars will choose from a wide range of color, wheels, lifts, seats and stereo systems to be installed in the cars. Availability and variety are two central points of Diamond Golf Car’s business, going as far as having an iPad inside the store with an app that lets the customer see his or her vehicle before the designing even starts.
The app features every golf car Ochsenhirt has in his showroom along with every customization option to add to the vehicle. It allows customers to more easily visualize the exact golf car they want.
Ochsenhirt said the level of detail and options his business offers was a challenge to demonstrate. Making sure the customer doesn’t buy more car than they need but still leaving happy with the look and performance is what his business boils down to.
“It winds up being a very personal relationship with our customers,” Ochsenhirt said. “We had one gentleman who acted like an expecting father coming by every day to watch his car being built and the progress we’d made.”
Business has been steady – if not booming – in Diamond Golf Cars’ first few months. Its cars are being used by security guards, in malls and as personnel shuttles.
“We supplied all of the vehicles used for the Compass Bowl at Legion Field,” he said. “You name it and we can provide it.”
Diamond Golf Cars
4647 U.S. Highway 280, Birmingham, Alabama
Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.