Clear Creek purchases Justice Golf Car, Anderson will remain as president of Oklahoma operations
By Ken MacLeod
The name Justice Golf Car was synonymous with the sale and service of Club Car in Oklahoma since 1959, when the company was founded by Dave and Dolpha Justice. That will no longer be the case, as the company was sold to Clear Creek Golf Car and Utility Vehicles, based out of Ozark., Mo., with the sale closing on March 1.
Chip Cutler, who has been the majority owner and CEO and run the company since purchasing it from Ab Justice in 2000, said the sale was a perfect fit.
“I honestly believe the Lord brought these two companies together,” said Cutler, who sold the company in consultation and agreement with co-owner and vice president David Justice, Cutler’s brother in law and the grandson of the founders. “They may have been the only company in the world I would have sold to and we may be the only company they wanted to buy. Just the culture they have, the way they treat their employees, it all made it a perfect fit.”
“The acquisition of Justice Golf Car was much more than a perfect geographic fit for us, it was an opportunity to acquire a highly successful established company, who like us, has built their business on service and support,” said Brian Cheever, CEO of Clear Creek Golf Car. “We believe there is a tremendous growth opportunity in this newly acquired territory and our entire team is excited for the opportunity to engage and make that happen.”
Clear Creek has six stores in Missouri and Arkansas and the acquisition of Justice’s operations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa will make eight. Shawn Anderson, who has run fleet operations for Justice Golf, was retained and promoted to president of Oklahoma operations.
Justice Golf has close to 3,500 golf cars in its lease portfolio and did just under $20 million in sales in 2022, while Clear Creek did around $47 million in sales. Anderson said the main growth area right now for both companies has been in retail sales or rentals and that Clear Creek “are superstars in retail. They will take us to the next level.”
Anderson said he was equally grateful for the opportunity moving forward with Clear Creek and the 19 years he spent working for Cutler.
“I was only 25 when I started and Chip took me under his mentorship and taught me everything I know about the business. But honestly, the industry knowledge I gained by working alongside him pales in comparison to the personal side of our relationship. To this day, I seek his wisdom and invaluable counsel in all aspects of my life. He means that much to me. “
Cutler was sorting through files and personal effects when Golf Oklahoma caught up with him Tuesday. Nearing 63, he said the decision to sell was actually made a year ago.
“I’ve been doing this a long time and it’s not just a job to me,” Cutler said. “But you can’t do it forever. There comes a point in time when you need to get out and hopefully while there’s still a little fuel in the tank to go and enjoy yourself a little bit.
“I’ve been really blessed that Justice Golf Car has had the majority of the fleet business in Oklahoma for all these years. And when I say that a course like Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club allows us to be their fleet provider, I mean since 1982. And it’s that way with course after course. We view them as our partners and that’s what I’m most proud of.”
“We’ve always respected Justice Golf Car’s commitment to their customers,” said Justin Fraker, President of Clear Creek Golf Car. “We’re excited to build on their legacy to serve more customers throughout the great state of Oklahoma.”
Clear Creek Golf Car expanded from two stores to six within the last four years, acquiring the Club Car distributor in Little Rock, Ark., in early 2021. Clear Creek recently was honored as Club Car’s Distributor of the Year for the second time in three years, which is the highest award Club Car presents, with the Little Rock location earning the Consumer Dealer of the Year award.
About Clear Creek Golf Car & Utility Vehicles: Clear Creek Golf Car is an award-winning Club Car distributor in business for 40 years with territory in four states. With locations in Ozark, Osage Beach, Lamar, and West Plains, Missouri; Little Rock and Rogers, Arkansas; and Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Clear Creek Golf Car has a team of over 100 employees and is headquartered in Ozark, Missouri. Clear Creek can be found online at clearcreekgolfcar.com.