BRADENTON — Come November, the golf carts zipping around neighborhoods such as Heritage Harbour won’t just be those of seasonal residents getting in a round of 18 on the links.

They’ll also include seasonal workers for the United Parcel Service.

UPS’ holiday hiring spree — 50,000 jobs nationwide — includes jobs of a different sort for local residents: golf cart delivery drivers.

UPS will hire 151 seasonal workers in Bradenton and Sarasota at $8.50 an hour to help drive and deliver packages from a fleet of 55 golf carts.

This is the fifth year UPS has utilized golf cart delivery drivers locally and statewide.

Bob Masters, a district manager for UPS’ Sarasota North office, said the service has grown locally by about 20 to 40 percent since 2005. And due to economic conditions, Masters said the interest among job applicants is stronger than ever.

“Our (human resources) department is getting overwhelmed with the applications,” Masters said.

Greenbrook, Heritage Harbour, Mill Creek, Braden Woods, Manatee Oaks, University Park and The Legacy are among some of the local neighborhoods where UPS will utilize the golf cart delivery service.

Masters said the service is reserved for residential areas that see an influx of deliveries during the holiday season.

“We know certain areas that will pick up volume during the holiday season,” Masters said. “Areas where during the normal year they get 10 to 15 stops but Christmas time get 60 to 70 stops, those are areas we look for.”

Christina Houston, spokeswoman for UPS, added that the company selects residential areas like retirement communities and gated subdivisions.

“Typically it’s communities where the environment isn’t conducive to big diesel trucks running through the neighborhood,” Houston said.

The UPS golf carts can carry 20 packages on average, and up to 60 with a trailer hitched to the cart.

UPS estimates 59,000 miles will be driven by golf carts; saving the company more than 341,000 gallons of fuel by taking traditional trucks and package vehicles off the road.

In addition, UPS estimates the seasonal golf carts will reduce emissions in South Florida by 3,700 metric tons.

“We’re reducing the emissions, the fuel and increasing the safety in the neighborhoods we service with these carts,” Masters said.

For more information, visit UPSjobs.com.