Full Speed Fun
In Franklin, golf carts are becoming more than a way to get around the course — they are becoming part of the community’s lifestyle. Whether cruising downtown to a concert, attending local festivals or simply spending time with family and friends, more residents are discovering the freedom and fun that comes with owning a golf cart.
At the center of that growing movement is Hurricane Golf Carts, a family-owned business built on relationships, community and a passion for helping people enjoy life a little more.
For owner Chad Warweg, the inspiration behind the business began long before the showroom opened.
“We have been a golf-carting family for over 20 years,” Warweg says. “As our sons, Cole and Quinn, were growing up, we had a place in a golf-cart community at Brookville Lake, and our family really enjoyed running around on our carts and spending family time over there.”
What started as family recreation eventually became a business idea. After building a new facility for his irrigation company in Franklin in 2023, Warweg realized the extra space could become something new. With Franklin embracing golf cart-friendly streets and the business sitting near both The Legends Golf Club and Hillview Country Club, the timing felt right.
Today, Hurricane Golf Carts specializes in premium electric golf carts from Voyager, Venom and Breezy. Every cart is powered by maintenance-free lithium-ion batteries and comes equipped with features designed for both convenience and street legality in Franklin.
Headlights, taillights, turn signals, DOT windshields, seat belts, Bluetooth audio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto compatibility, backup cameras and touchscreen displays all come standard.
Warweg says extensive research went into selecting manufacturers that matched the company’s values.
“We wanted to make sure the products we sold and serviced were something we could stand behind and be proud of,” he says. “We are the only dealership in Indiana that offers these specific brands.”
The business has also embraced the changing culture surrounding golf carts. Once associated almost exclusively with golf courses, carts are now being designed for recreation, neighborhood transportation and family outings.
“There’s been a huge shift,” Warweg says. “Manufacturers are now producing carts specifically tailored for recreation and community use.”
One of the most popular trends is the rise of four-forward seating models, which allow all passengers to face forward while still offering optional golf bag attachments for traditional golfers.
Helping customers navigate those options is Mike Wynn, whose path to Hurricane Golf Carts blends decades of coaching, business experience and community relationships.
Wynn currently coaches football at Franklin College, where he has spent years mentoring student-athletes. Before joining Hurricane Golf Carts, he spent 39 years in the rental car industry. When the opportunity arose to work with the Warweg family — longtime friends whose sons he once coached — the decision felt natural.
“Relationships drew me to Hurricane Cart Sales,” Wynn says. “Last year, an opportunity arose to allow me to work closer to home, help a friend and work for a family-operated business.”
For Wynn, the transition from coaching players to helping customers was not much of a leap.
“At Franklin College, we have a Golden Rule: Treat every player like gold,” he says. “In business, I’ve always believed you treat each customer the way you would your grandma — with patience, respect and honesty.”
That philosophy has helped shape the company’s relaxed, no-pressure atmosphere.
“We sell fun every day,” Wynn says with a laugh.
The business has quickly become woven into Franklin’s community fabric. Hurricane Golf Carts participates in the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, sponsors local events and has been active at the Johnson County Fair. The company’s owners say Franklin’s close-knit, family-oriented atmosphere mirrors the values they want their business to represent.
Wynn has already witnessed firsthand how golf carts are becoming part of local life. One memorable customer was Franklin College football coach Mike Leonard, who purchased a six-passenger cart to take recruits through downtown Franklin while showcasing the community.
Another customer interaction left a lasting impression on Wynn. After helping a woman named June Griffin explore different options, her daughter reminded her they were “just looking.”
“June stopped and said, ‘We’re buying Mike just as much as we’re buying the cart,’” Wynn recalls. “That really meant a lot to me.”
Looking ahead, Hurricane Golf Carts is excited about the future of the industry. New four-wheel-drive models are beginning to emerge, and many manufacturers are shifting toward American-made production. The company is also anticipating the arrival of the new Voyager Patriot model later this summer.
For Chad and Julie Warweg, however, the heart of the business remains simple: family, relationships and helping people create memories of their own.
“We want people to find a cart their family will enjoy for years,” Warweg says.
For families across Franklin, the journey may be just getting started — one ride at a time.
