GOLFCARTS
Five Things Every Golfer Should Know
Golf carts play an important
role at many golf facilities.
They provide a revenue
source and increase acces-
sibility, allowing golfers who
might not otherwise be able
to walk the course to enjoy
playing. These benefits are
not without their costs, how-
ever. Golf carts can have
very negative impacts on
turf health and playing con-
ditions, especially in areas
where traffic is concentrat-
ed. Keeping these five things
in mind will help ensure that
you don’t put the cart before
the course during your next
round.
1.
The impact of cart
traffic varies.
Many factors influence how
cart traffic affects a golf
course. Certain grasses are
more vulnerable to traffic
injury and may require special
cart policies. Areas with heavy
soils and poor drainage face a
greater risk of compaction and
other traffic issues. Even the
time of year plays a role. When
grasses are growing slowly,
they are more vulnerable to
the cumulative effects of cart
traffic. For all these reasons,
cart policies vary from course
to course, hole to hole and
even day to day.
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2.
mix.
Wet conditions and
cart traffic do not
Carts can slide, skid and sink
when turf is wet, causing im-
mediate and lasting damage.
Wet soils are also more vul-
nerable to compaction, which
can have negative long-term
effects on playing conditions,
even if those impacts are not
immediately visible. Avoiding
wet areas and respecting cart
path restrictions is an import-
ant part of being a responsible
cart driver.
3.
Cart traffic during
hot, dry weather
can also cause prob-
lems.
It’s easy to understand that
driving a cart through a soak-
ing wet area is likely to cause
problems, but many golfers
are not aware that driving over
dry or heat-stressed turf can
also cause issues. During hot
and dry weather, cart traffic in-
creases stress on the grass and
can leave behind damaged turf
and straw-colored tire marks
that may take weeks to heal.
4.
Sometimes it’s bet-
ter to take the road
less traveled.
A single golf cart driving down
a fairway has little to no effect
on turf health or playing condi-
tions. It is the cumulative effect
of many carts that eventually
takes a toll on the grass. This
is why cart damage is most ob-
vious in areas where traffic is
concentrated, like the ends of
cart paths. Doing your best to
steer clear of high-traffic areas
can greatly reduce the impact
of your cart.
5.
Less cart traffic
means better playing
conditions.
Walking or sharing a cart goes
a long way toward reducing
cart traffic and improving turf
health. This helps courses con-
serve resources and provide
better playing conditions for
everyone.
Golf facilities use ropes, stakes,
signs and many other traffic
control measures to minimize
the negative impacts of cart
use; but ultimately, they de-
pend on golfers to be mindful
of where and how they drive.
Respecting course rules, being
understanding of cart restric-
tions and doing our best to
reduce cart traffic can have
a very positive impact on the
courses we play.