Follow-up: Just thought I would post the results, I installed the Alltrax 4834 along with the additional components such as the pre-charge resistor and the blocking diode.
The cart is running fine now and the little old lady is happily nosing around the airfield again! For a few hours of labor in the hot southeast Texas weather I got a big bowl of home made potato salad!
Thanks to cgtech and Lifted G16 for your help.