Golf, like most other professional sports, is now a year-round business. Courses cater for players of all standards and ages and mobility need be no restriction, for most courses have golf buggies for hire, or regular players may buy their own. That is the aspect of the golfing industry where Golf Buggy Services, established three years ago at Steventon, plays its part.

It is a family concern run by Martin and Ann Thomas, with their son Ashley and daughter Hannah, plus salesman Matt Patton.

The company oversees the import of buggies from Augusta, one of the homes of golf in the USA. It then organises their distribution to courses and tournaments. During the quieter winter months, it carries out maintenance, either on various sites or at the workshop at Steventon.

The company also provides vehicles for spectators at a number of major events, including the British Masters Tournament at Wentworth. The buggies may also be used to transport materials such as TV cameras and catering equipment at the courses.

They are moved around the country as the tour events progress. Among local courses which keep stocks of buggies for hire are Frilford Heath, Hinksey Heights and Hadden Hill, Didcot.

“It is surprising how much use they get,” said Mr Thomas.

Two courses in the Bristol area — Woodlands and Kendleshire — have about 50, most of which are taken out on the courses daily.

Mr Thomas, 48, explained: “I had already had 12 years in the business, as I was operations manager of an international company with branches in the UK, France and Spain. It had 4,500 buggies hired out in this country alone.

“When that business closed, I decided it was time to start up on my own. I had started out as workshop manager and worked my way up through the company. I had seen there were systems that could be managed in a better way, particularly the after-sales service.”

Golf Buggy Services also operates maintenance contracts. Mr Thomas said: “People still manage to prang their machines — there are a lot of accidents at this time of the year.”

As well as being year-round, it can also be a round-the-clock business.

“I am working a 16-hour day — you could say all the time it is light, we are working,” Mr Thomas said.

He and Ashley travel around the courses dealing with urgent call-outs, Mrs Thomas deals with administrative matters, and Hannah looks after the accounts.

There are few free evenings for father and son. Even while he was taking a short holiday in Dorset, Mr Thomas was calling to check if he was needed to help out urgently anywhere.

These calls are chiefly to the sites where the buggies remain throughout the season. For those who move from tournament to tournament, a mechanic stays at the course to ensure they are charged up overnight, and to deal with any necessary maintenance.

On a recent occasion, an early morning call came from a golfer in Princes Risborough who had been hoping to start his round at 9am.

In case the problem it was not going to simple to remedy, Mr Thomas took a spare buggy along in the back of his van. Fortunately, it was not needed, and his client was able to set off in his own buggy on time.

The buggies have uses in many other situations: at airports, hotels, resorts, fisheries and even football grounds.

When the late Sir Bobby Robson was manager of Newcastle United, he had a buggy to use at the training ground — in a bespoke livery of the club colours, with a black body and white roof.

Mr Thomas said a friend of Sir Bobby wanted one like it, but Sir Bobby preferred his to remain unique, and his friend had to settle for one in burgundy and white.

Manchester United have two buggies for use by the ground staff — not, however, in the club colours but in a standard green.

Most buggies are two-seaters, but in some situations, such as at airports, can seat six. Blenheim Palace has two eight-seaters which are used to give visitors a lakeside tour.

Nowadays, most buggies are electric. They have a top speed of about 13mph and cost around £3,200 new, or about £1,800 at three years old.

Although they do not get to attend many of the big events, the Thomases did have an enjoyable trip to the Spanish golfing centre of Valderama, which Mr Thomas described as more like a working holiday.

The family also have another major sporting interest — Ashley, 22, has been riding in motocross events since the age of ten. He is now among the UK’s top 30 riders.

The family will be supporting him next month as he aims to consolidate his leading place in his section of this season’s British Schoolboy Motocross Association championships.