This is what you get when pirates take over a golf car at Ocean Lakes

Mark and Paige Miller’s quest to find the best custom golf car dealer started like most other big purchases – with a search on the Internet.

The Charlotte, N.C., couple had the vision for the golf car they wanted to use at their second home in North Myrtle Beach – a perfect pirate theme that captures their fun side. But they needed an experienced, top-notch builder to turn that vision into reality.

After Ocean Lakes Golf Cars popped up on the Millers’ web search, Mark dialed up Greg Bender, the longtime manager at Ocean Lakes Golf Cars. By the time that phone chat ended, Mark knew he had found a builder who was genuine and down to earth who he trusted to create the custom car that would meet his high standards.

“They were just so nice,” Paige said. “We just liked the feel here. Once Mark talked to Greg on the phone – that was it.”

Ocean Lakes Golf Cars created this custom 2017 Onward with a pirate theme, including airbrushed body, croc seats, custom dash, 14-inch wheels and more.

Ocean Lakes Golf Cars is known for renting golf cars for guests to buzz around the campground, but also builds and sells golf cars to buyers’ specifications. The team has built cars featuring nearly every theme imaginable, including beach life, 5 o’clock somewhere and sports teams.

Ocean Lakes Golf Cars even built a custom golf car this season for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the minor league baseball team. The Pelicans’ mascots – Splash and Rally Shark – ride onto the field before every home game at TicketReturn.com Field in the tricked-out ride from Ocean Lakes Golf Cars.

The mascots for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans ride onto the field before every home baseball game in this custom golf car built by Ocean Lakes Golf Cars.

Simply put, if you can imagine it, Ocean Lakes Golf Cars can make it.

The Millers – who are pirates at heart; well, at least on Halloween – picked pirates as the theme of their custom car because they wanted “something different, something fun,” Paige said.

“I just love the whole pirates theme, being mysterious,” Mark said.

Mark and Paige Miller dressed as pirates for Halloween. The pirate theme inspired the couple's new custom golf car built by Ocean Lakes Golf Cars.

The Millers worked closely with the builders throughout the process. Mark is very particular, Paige said, and “it didn’t take [Greg] long to read that."

Mark admitted he lost count of how many emails and text messages he sent to Greg making suggestions for the golf car and checking on the progress.

“I know I drove him crazy,” Mark said. “It’s probably the toughest sale he’s made.”

But that close working relationship paid off with the finished product: A lifted golf car with pirate images air brushed on the sides and front, 14-inch wheels/tires and croc seats, with navy blue and red accent colors. The Ocean Lakes team customized an Onward, Club Car’s latest model that just rolled into the campground in May.

Ocean Lakes Golf Cars created this custom 2017 Onward with a pirate theme, including airbrushed body, croc seats, custom dash, 14-inch wheels and more.

The Millers were blown away when they picked up their new pirate golf car from Ocean Lakes Golf Cars – a big smile came on Mark’s face and was still there as he loaded it up to cart away.

 “I was really pleased. Y’all did a super job,” Mark said. “I’d say we are customers for life.”

The Millers were equally impressed with the service. The Ocean Lakes custom shop, located off S.C. 15 in Myrtle Beach, sent photos to the Millers throughout the building process, including pictures of the tires, rims and covers.

 “That’s over-the-top service,” Paige said. “That’s special.”

All in a days work, said Greg Bender, who started working at Ocean Lakes as a teen-ager 29 years ago and has led Golf Cars for 20 years. As a teen, he learned the importance of great customer service from Nelson and Mary Emily Jackson, the couple who co-founded Ocean Lakes Family Campground more than four decades ago. The Jacksons passed away in 2010, but their legacy of providing top-notch customer service has remained a cornerstone of Ocean Lakes’ operations.

“It started with Mr. and Mrs. Jackson – they drilled that into us,” Bender told the Millers. “It’s all about customer service.”

 About the Millers’ custom pirate golf car

Make | Club Car

Model | 2017 Onward PTV (Personal Transportation Vehicle)

Body | Custom airbrushed with pirates

Specs | 4-inch lift, 14-inch wheels and tires, underseat storage and trunk assembly, hitch assembly

Seats | Croc seats custom built by Lazy Life

Dash | Dual USB port, custom elite dash from Custom Golf Car Supply with dash inserts custom painted to match seats and exterior paint

Stereo | Bluetooth stereo system

Onward features | Overhead Bluetooth stereo, trailer hitch, rear under seat storage, trunk valence, side mirrors, turn signals, horn, headlights, tail lights, brake lights

Want more information about building a custom car at Ocean Lakes Golf Cars? Visit the website or call the Golf Cars team at 843-828-4868.