In September 1952, when Allen Pilgrim was asked by Bob Jennings, professional at Commonwealth Golf Club, what his clever invention for carrying golf bags was actually called. He decided that the pull-along nature was similar to the horse drawn buggy of his youth. “Buggies” went on to become a generic term in Australia. After sales of some 4 million units over 55 years, ‘Pilgrim’ and ‘golf buggy’ have become interchangeable for many Australian golfers.
Early years saw all production based in Pilgrim’s own Australian factories and all sales channelled through the original Slazenger marketing colossus. Golfers were treated to solid sensible products with such long-gone features as bicycle spoke wheels full pump up tyres, real leather bag straps and real rubber hand grips. A ‘Foldaway’ model in 1960 had the same retail sticker price as today – cost of living and inflation rises over half a century would price it today at nearly $1000! This in a time when no electronics were available and air travel was a dream for most. In those very different times, Australian companies faced very little overseas competition due to government import barriers. The unimpressive foreign alternatives on offer helped propel Pilgrim to market dominance. Then the world changed! Australia became a global economy. Pilgrim emerged from its first 65 years with an entirely different business mechanism under the management of the second and now third generation of Pilgrims. (The original founder Allen Pilgrim still enjoys good health, is an instrument rated pilot and flies the company aircraft!) Today on the internet, new entities frequently attempt to reprise old Pilgrim models and many imitation products recycle (poorly we believe) original Pilgrim innovations such as the tilting ball-pocket seat, wide track tyres and third wheels. Should we be flattered? The long awaited range of entirely new, patented, Australian designed steel seat buggies is now moving into production. This refreshingly new treatment of a uniquely Australasian golfing product (Pilgrim invented the seat buggy in the 1970’s) brings variation to a world of lightweight aluminium types.
Pilgrim’s planned 2010 re-entry into electric powered buggies begins with a two models. Pilgrim was first to the Australian market with an electric in 1968. This brand’s move back into electrics has been delayed to ensure customer satisfaction and after sales service availability. Importantly, issues of durability and battery life were dealt with using modern technology. More of a buzz with a new generation of golfers are new collapsible lightweight designs not previously seen anywhere in the world. Wild shapes and colours inject a new life into the concept of moving around the greens in style.
Update with new buggies from a spectrum of buggy designs sure to inspire the individual golfer. Pilgrim quality and Pilgrim backup service is available Australasia-wide.
|
Home 
About Us 
