Open Championship 2013: Robin Barwick blog

Open Championship 2013: Robin Barwick blog

Often the best things in life come when a vivid imagination becomes reality. That was the thought that came to mind this afternoon when Open patron Mercedes-Benz unveiled its Vision Golf Cart concept.

Mercedes-Benz, the official car of three of golf's majors, launched a competition earlier this year for design enthusiasts to come up with concepts for the ultimate golf cart. The brief was to let imaginations loose, to think beyond conventional boundaries, and now the design has been created for what would be without question the most sophisticated, innovative and highly functional golf cart ever made. In fact it would be more of a golf car than a cart.

"The Mercedes-Benz Vision Golf Cart has a refined, simplified yet functional shape that fits well into our ‘Sensual-Purity' design philosophy," starts Gorden Wagener, Vice President of Design for Daimler AG, whose team collaborated with the best public entries to produce the Vision Golf Cart design. "The flow shapes create a ‘sculpture on wheels' impression. I was inspired by the idea of designing a golf cart, giving it a new shape and new sorts of meaning - treating a golf cart like a 'Golf Car'".

Mercedes-Benz has not yet revealed whether it will actually build the Vision Golf Cart, but let's hope they do. It would be built with an electric engine, and the road-worthy vehicle would be powered in part by a solar module integrated into its roof. Instead of a steering wheel it would have a joystick in the central console, so that passengers on either side of the cart can drive it, and its doors would be removeable.

Many functions of the Vision Golf Cart would be controlled via iPhone or iPad in the central console, such as music selection and loudspeaker volume, air conditioning, GPS and course information, personal and tournament scoring, and communications with the clubhouse and other carts. Ergonomic seats are heated, ventilated and feature ‘Airscarf' neck-level heating, and the cart also comes with ample stowage space. There is even a small fridge beneath the console.

I want one.

Robin Barwick travelled to Muirfield with Mercedes-Benz, Official Patron of the Open Championship and a partner of three Major championships