Golf Cart Safety

Once you have paid your green fees and cart fees, and are about to climb into your golf cart and speed off to the first tee, pause for a moment. Are you sure you know all the golf cart etiquette and safety rules? Probably not! Most people tend to take golf carts for a joyride and end up with serious injuries. Most golf courses post notices at certain places, while some also provide golf cart safety training tips for beginners. The golf cart rules may vary for each club; however, the basic structures remain same. Have a look at some of the common golf cart rules and safe practices for riding golf carts.

Cart Path Only

This rule states that you must always drive your cart on the designated cart path and avoid treading on the grass. Sometimes, driving on grass, may prove fatal due to the moisture which makes the surface slippery. Over a period, continuous commuting of golf carts may make the soil hard and compact. This soil then, fails to provide ideal growing conditions for the turf grass and low-grade turf grass leads to inferior fairways for golfers. Hence, the cart paths must be followed, as much as possible. Some golf clubs may not have a rule as such, but it is always a good practice to drive on the designated cart path.

90 Degree Rule

The 90 degree rule enables the golfers to drive on the grass, but only at right angles. This means that you have to drive on the cart path until you are parallel to your ball, and then take a 90 degrees turn and drive on the grass, straight to the ball. This 90 degree rule eliminates any inconvenience to the golfers, as well as minimizes the time for which the cart rolls on the grass.

Cart Path Only on Holes X and X

This rule states that the golfers should strictly follow the designated cart path, while traversing between the specified holes. This may be due to unfavorable conditions for driving, like moisture or ongoing repair work. If the golfer decides to drive on the grass, then it might prove dangerous and may lead to an injury.

No Carts Beyond This Point

You might have come across this sign on a fairway. It aims at keeping the golf carts away from the putting green. Whenever you encounter this sign, turn around and drive back on the designated cart path. You might also find this sign near water hazards or bunkers. The purpose is the same, to keep the carts off the dangerous area.

Other Safety Tips

• Do not speed up or take sharp turns at top speed.
• Wait for your partner to sit down, before putting your foot on the accelerator.
• Ensure that none of your body parts are dangling out of the cart. Same goes for the other passengers in the car, as most injuries are in the form of broken or twisted ankles.
• Watch out for other golfers, trees, branches and other obstacles in your way.
• Never drive through water, unless it is on the designated cart path.
• Golf carts are noisy, so make sure your cart does not distract a golfer, who is about to take a shot.
• Follow general safe-driving practices like, not driving under the influence of alcohol, being vigilant at intersections, not overloading the cart with passengers, etc.

Adhering to golf cart rules and etiquette would mean a safe golfing experience for you and the other golfers around you. It is only by following golf cart safety that you can derive the real pleasures of the game.