Golf Cart Etiquette
Driving a golf cart means that you have to follow rules, the same as you would when driving your car down city streets. The rules for golf carts, however, are not really listed in a handy guide; they’re learned through experience. If you’re new to driving a golf cart, then you’ll want to be mindful of others and courteous when operating your vehicle so that you don’t ruin anyone else’s game or damage the course.
The Sports Center in Perry is your Georgia golf cart dealer. Here are some tips to help you practice good golf cart etiquette so that you and those around you can have a great day on the course!
1. Follow the 90-Degree Rule
There may be signs on the golf course that say something about a “90-degree rule” and that can be confusing if you’re new to the sport. If you see such a sign or an attendant informs you of such a rule, then it means that you’re permitted to drive your cart off the path and onto the grass at a 90° angle to your ball.
You have to follow the path up to a spot that lines up with your ball’s location and then make a turn to drive in a straight line to your ball’s location. This limits the amount of time that your ball is on the grass. Never drive on the actual green! You have to get out of your cart and walk to your ball on the green.
2. Cart Path Only
You might be warned by an attendant or see signs that alert you to stay on the “cart path only.” On these days, the grass is off-limits and you won’t be able to follow that 90-degree rule. Make sure you check in with an attendant before you start your game so that you know what you are permitted to do on a given day.
3. Pay Attention to Signage
Golf courses will have many signs posted on the path that give you rules to follow when driving your golf cart. Be cognizant of these signs so that you can follow that course’s rules and avoid upsetting anyone. For example, you might see a sign that says “No Carts Beyond This Point,” which simply means that you need to avoid driving on the turf past that sign.
4. Don’t Joyride
Golf carts are fun to operate and to ride in, but that doesn’t mean you get to neglect all convention and go on your own joyride, zipping around the course with wild abandon. This is an extremely disrespectful practice that can even lead to injuries if you hit someone or hit their cart. Use your cart to travel around the course at the recommended speed while you’re playing the game. If the cart is a rental from the course, you may be liable to pay for repairs if you damage the cart!
5. Use Your Common Sense
For anything we haven’t specifically covered here, you’ll need to use your common sense to make wise decisions. You don’t want to end up arguing with your fellow golfers when you fail to be sensible and interrupt their game or do some property damage.
Stay behind other golfers when you’re driving your cart. No matter how far away they might be from you, a ball that travels far could hit you or your passenger and injure you. This may seem highly unlikely, but it’s still a possibility so don’t drive in front of active golfers!
We’ve covered the basics of golf cart etiquette here, but you may want to ask your more experienced golfer friends if they have any more advice for you. Searching for a new golf cart of your own? Visit our website to see our full stock of new and used golf carts for sale at our dealership located in Perry, GA. We also provide financing options to help you get the golf cart you need. The Sports Center proudly serves the cities of Macon and Columbus, GA.