Sport Electric Vehicles Inc., which does business as Berline, manufactures luxury golf carts. It makes five models at present, ranging in price from $13,500 to $17,000, with a sixth version coming out this summer.

McGrady, whose Houston Rockets lost to the Utah Jazz in the first round of this year's playoffs, is one of Berline's customers. Another is Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett, who has had even more time to ride around the links in his luxurious cart since his team fell far short of making the playoffs.

"We have sold to a number of celebrities," added Berline spokesman Kurt Black, citing actors Will Smith and Adam Sandler, Wayne Newton and Cedric the Entertainer.

Each Berline cart is equipped with 12-inch sport aluminum wheels and fancy drink holders. All have custom paint jobs, plus cloth or marine-grade vinyl seats. Optional items include hard tops, golf bag holders, chrome tilt-wheel steering and stereo systems.

Black said Berline has sold carts to some Utahns, although probably not too many, since most of the state's courses do not allow patrons to bring their own carts.

Certainly not Hobble Creek Golf Course, Berline's neighbor in Springville. "We're city-owned and carts are a big part of our revenue, so we don't allow personal golf carts," said Ashton Casper, a pro shop employee. He has never heard of Berline and added that, frankly, he would be surprised if Berline ever finds many customers close to its new home.

"Utah County people are known for being frugal with their money," Casper said. "We'll have to see how [Berline] will do with golf carts that are more expensive than some cars."

Even at Willow Creek Country Club, one of the state's more upper-crust golf courses, there is little chance of seeing a Berline LSV or a six-seater Cadillac Escalade ESV cruising down a fairway at max speed - 19.5 mph.

"We don't allow outside carts," said head pro Eric Nielsen, for Willow Creek also counts on revenue from rentals of its carts, which typically cost around $3,000. But he knows there is a market for them, having plied his trade in the golf hot spots of southern California.

"It's amazing what you see in Palm Desert," Nielsen noted, referring to the upscale community two hours from Los Angeles that boasts two dozen golf courses. "The carts have bodies like Chevys or whatever you want custom-made. They have air conditioning and misters, just about everything."

Berline operated relatively close to that golf epicenter, at Chino, Calif., until May 1, when it moved its manufacturing facility to a 14,000-square-foot building in Springville.

"We looked at quite a few different locations, in Texas and Arizona, but most of our employees were willing to move to Utah," Black said, particularly citing the quality of life. "And we were able to find the high-quality suppliers we need for the seats, paint shop and fiberglass. We need a lot of welding and the guys next door handle that. It worked out great."

The company currently has five full-time employees, plus six outside sales reps whose customers hail from faraway places such as Russia, England, South Korea, Japan and Qatar.

Although small now, the company's presence will be felt in Utah, Black added. "We source many of the parts from local suppliers and then assemble the cart completely. . . . As we grow, we plan to train and hire locally."

John Gleave, Springville's community relations administrator, was unaware of Berline's move and eager to get to know the company. Its sales tax revenue could be valuable to the city, he said. Better yet, "I can see the mayor and council riding in one of those golf courts in parades."

mikeg@sltrib.com

Berline golf carts

Luxury golf carts built by Sport Electric Vehicles Inc., newly transplanted to Springville, do not come cheap. Models start at:

* $13,495 for Berline LS

* $13,995 for Cadillac Escalade

* $15,995 for the Smoothster

* $16,495 for Berline LSV

* $16,995 for Cadillac Escalade ESV

Source: Sport Electric Vehicles Inc.