The etiquette of carts on the green

[chemclub]

I play with a guy who pushes his cart across the green whenever it may be convenient—in the name of fast play to the next tee.

 

I don't necessarily have a problem with it. Clicgear wheels are wide and smooth. A foot step from a 200 lb guy likely makes a deeper depression.  Plus there are always people with aggressive "soft spikes" who don't know how to walk and tear things up.

 

But it still always gives me pause. I guess I was just raised to push the cart around the green and I still push it in such a way as to be closest to the next tee. 

 

Anyone else cross the green?

 

(Please provide name of the course you play so I can call the marshall on you)

[The Dansome]

I consider it poor etiquette, no carts on greens.

[KCLeo12]

I think its bad practice. You may be right that its not causing damage to the green but still wouldnt do it myself

[McaseyM]

Yup, bad play in my book

 

 

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[TSauer]

What these guys said ^

 

I was behind a couple of kids a few weeks back who would prop their stand bags on the greens. Man, did it irk me.

[Rusty1885]

That's a no no for me. If I see it in person I'll be the first to let them know. I don't care how wide and evenly distributed the clicgear carts are even if it's the hover craft model you just don't roll it across the green. It's a serious lack of respect to the keeper, the course, the other players and most important the game.

 

I don't even carry my bag and walk across the green. I've never seen one like that but I'd turned into an instant a$$hole if I ever seen one.

 

Sorry for ranting, this is pretty shocking.

[Peaksy68]

My club, along with probably a majority in Victoria (including top level courses like Kingston Heath) actually direct players to wheel their carts across the green, rather than around the green on the fringe.

According to the green keepers, it has minimal impact on the greens, and greatly reduces the wear on fringes. The wear is attributed to feet, rather than cart wheels.

The pressure from a cart wheel is much less than through an average size mans foot.

 

I've seen our head greenkeeper go off at members for not going across the green, but around the fringe.

[Shankster]

Watched some people actually drive a motorized cart across a green once. I immediately called the clubhouse and they were off the course in record time.

 

Also stopped some HS kids from running on the greens. Got yelled at by some locals once for telling them they had their cart too close to the green.

 

Etiquette and manners in general has lost its hold. No one holds doors anymore, it's yup instead of yes sir/ma'am, people flip you the bird if you're not going 90 in a 55 zone.... get ran over at the grocery store, no one says excuse me any more. Generally, I avoid places with large amounts of people because I don't want to get trampled when something bad happens.

 

 

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[BIG STU]

Watched some people actually drive a motorized cart across a green once. I immediately called the clubhouse and they were off the course in record time.

 

Also stopped some HS kids from running on the greens. Got yelled at by some locals once for telling them they had their cart too close to the green.

 

Etiquette and manners in general has lost its hold. No one holds doors anymore, it's yup instead of yes sir/ma'am, people flip you the bird if you're not going 90 in a 55 zone.... get ran over at the grocery store, no one says excuse me any more. Generally, I avoid places with large amounts of people because I don't want to get trampled when something bad happens.

 

 

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The older I get the less tolorent I am of stupidity and asinine people.

Yesterday at my club was a big example and trust me we get our influx of a$$holes due to this being a tourist mecca. Carts in the parking lot are a no no due to some incidents over the years. Had some already half drunk young person jump the curb at the bag drop and take a cart into the parking lot. The bag drop guys were busy and did not have time to see. I told him carts were not allowed in the parking lot and the little jerk replied "SO?" and then had the balls to ask who I was. I told him I was a member now get the damn cart back out of the lot. He did comply. I went on home before I got real mad and hurt someone.  I did come back later in the evening around 4:00 or so when the tourons have went to supper or the bars to play a practice round. Found out that same group had a big incident and that jerk got arrested. Seems he tried to kiss one of the cart girls on the lips and was trying to grope her. He got belligerent with staff so the police were called and he went to jail. Guess what ? most of the time if you go to jail here on the weekend for something like that you will sit until Monday. They do have magistrates on call but on something like that and the person being from out of state they will sit and it is legal too! They had some other incidents too involving alcohol. Our course etiquite wise has went to hell in a hand basket since a big conglomerate group bought it 3 years ago. I am probably getting out at the end of the year after 14 years. 2 or 3 clubs on the beach have went back strictly private no tourists no motel packages. There are enough retirees here now playing golf that the courses have found out they can survive with out the tourism. There were a couple of the lower tier courses that closed in the last year or so and some of the local groups are trying to put things together and either lease or purchase those places and they will be strictly private local full time residents only.

 

It used to not be so bad but things have gotten overall worse all over the beach in the last couple of years and not only in the golf industry either. People come down here and think they can do as they damn well please as in well we are on vacation. In fact one of the TV stations did a news segment recently on how locals and full time residents are getting tired of all the tourist BS. Like I said it has gotten worse

[tommc23]

I'm fairly new to the game only playing in my second full season, but I play with my friend and his retired father often and they taught me more about etiquette on the course than anyone else. I've seen some people take the motorized carts almost on the green and that bugs me. It also bugs me when there are people who don't repair ball marks on the greens and I feel like I fix a full rounds worth on each green.

 

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[cnosil]

I was taught no carts across the green;  I even avoid walking across the green if I am carrying.

[PlaidJacket]

Without quoting Stu I think his post speaks to our degraded society as a whole. I just don't understand. And it's not just on a golf course. Not by any means. It's widespread and will only get worse. And just to be "inclusive" it's not just younger people. There's plenty of oldsters doing the same thing.

But we have to be tolerant of everyone you see. Hmmm? Maybe that's the problem. We've been too tolerant.

[Rickp]

Sorry but no carts on green or fringe. Some courses I played in New England would not let pull/push carts go between green and bunkers.

I'm also not crazy about carts on tee boxes either. Probably just me but I think it's just being lazy.

Living in FL last 5 years I think I've seen just about everything, including driving motorized golf cart right onto the green.

We have some very "entitled " seniors in FL.

 

 

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[jaskanski]

Carts on the green? Is this even a serious question?

Not being funny, but the secretary of my previous club would probably have you shot before you got anywhere near it. 

[chemclub]

My club, along with probably a majority in Victoria (including top level courses like Kingston Heath) actually direct players to wheel their carts across the green, rather than around the green on the fringe.

According to the green keepers, it has minimal impact on the greens, and greatly reduces the wear on fringes. The wear is attributed to feet, rather than cart wheels.

The pressure from a cart wheel is much less than through an average size mans foot.

 

I've seen our head greenkeeper go off at members for not going across the green, but around the fringe.

 

I'll agree with everyone here that pushing a cart across the green feels almost unnatural. Bad etiquette.

 

But I will come clean with you guys here... Last round... I pushed my cart across a small sliver of the green just for the sick thrill of it.

 

I also have to agree with Peaksy. I think that a modern 3-wheeled cart is potentially one of the least damaging things on the green when you consider footsteps with spikes.

 

As for the general loss of etiquette, when you want to grow the game it means you let more people on even if they aren't ready or schooled in the game.

[Rickp]

Carts on the green? Is this even a serious question?

Not being funny, but the secretary of my previous club would probably have you shot before you got anywhere near it.

Yup seen it happen, old fart drove right onto edge of green. We were a couple holes ahead but had made a turn so we were parallel to them. Being a hot headed Irish I start yelling for them to get off the green response was "the bird"! Got hold of the ranger and he went and talked to the old fart" . Don't know outcome of the conversation.

It's shocking what u see in FL during Bird Season. Obviously not all are that way. Getting worse every winter.

Pretty calm and laid back right now.

 

 

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[silver & black]

Without quoting Stu I think his post speaks to our degraded society as a whole. I just don't understand. And it's not just on a golf course. Not by any means. It's widespread and will only get worse. And just to be "inclusive" it's not just younger people. There's plenty of oldsters doing the same thing.

But we have to be tolerant of everyone you see. Hmmm? Maybe that's the problem. We've been too tolerant.

I'm just going to say ditto on your post. Biting my tongue not to go ahead and add to it.

[josmi15]

Pet Peeve of mine, the green is sacred. I'm guilty of parking my push cart on the fringe occasionally

 

 

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[Rusty1885]

I consider myself to be one of the nicest guy on the course. I respect the game and proudly display proper golf etiquettes. I do my things and move on, I don't get upset with my occasional poor shots, just accept and move on. I play with lots of strangers some good some bad, but always have a good time.

 

The few things that irk me are things that people do without any respect or regards to other golfers. Taking 2-3 full swing practice ripping up Lexi Thompson size divots each shot and not replace or refill them would get a polite talk from me. Same goes with not raking the bunker, I'd drive up and ask them to do so.

 

If they don't respect the rest of us enough to properly display proper etiquettes, there's no reason I should care about their feeling. I rarely lets my inner A$$hole out to play but when I do I let it rip.

[djahubes]

This would get you kicked off our courses. Complete disregard for the greens keeper and maintenance folks who work their butts off. Poor form.

 

 

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[chemclub]

This would get you kicked off our courses. Complete disregard for the greens keeper and maintenance folks who work their butts off. Poor form.

 

 

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But that is just it - I don't think it is damaging to the green. In that sense, I don't think it is a disregard for the keeper/maintenance staff. 

 

 

The cart and bag weigh less than 50 lbs distributed over 3 wheels. The average player probably disturbs the green more (especially the oafs at my course who don't know how to walk and sometimes tear up the green).

 

I still don't push it across, but I can understand someone simply asking WHY it is so terrible. If the only response is that it is just not done - I can see how that isn't a satisfying answer.

 

If we forget the tradition of etiquette for a moment, I think the strongest argument is that we simply want to limit how many things touch the green to lower the probability of damage.

[djahubes]

But that is just it - I don't think it is damaging to the green. In that sense, I don't think it is a disregard for the keeper/maintenance staff.

 

 

The cart and bag weigh less than 50 lbs distributed over 3 wheels. The average player probably disturbs the green more (especially the oafs at my course who don't know how to walk and sometimes tear up the green).

 

I still don't push it across, but I can understand someone simply asking WHY it is so terrible. If the only response is that it is just not done - I can see how that isn't a satisfying answer.

 

If we forget the tradition of etiquette for a moment, I think the strongest argument is that we simply want to limit how many things touch the green to lower the probability of damage.

I respectfully disagree, it does affect the green and it is completely off limits on every course I've ever played. You shouldn't even bring them up on the tee box. The green complex is the most difficult thing on the course to maintain, and they should be treated as such. Repair ball marks, and please don't roll your push cart over them.

 

 

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[chisag]

My club, along with probably a majority in Victoria (including top level courses like Kingston Heath) actually direct players to wheel their carts across the green, rather than around the green on the fringe.

According to the green keepers, it has minimal impact on the greens, and greatly reduces the wear on fringes. The wear is attributed to feet, rather than cart wheels.

The pressure from a cart wheel is much less than through an average size mans foot.

 

I've seen our head greenkeeper go off at members for not going across the green, but around the fringe.

 

 

... Amen! I played with a greenskeeper from Down Under last year and he insisted flat wide cart wheels should be rolled over the green and like your greenskeeper, said any damage comes from feet and not carts. He did an experiment with me and had all 3 of us roll our carts over a putting line and my putt still rolled true. Then he had just his friend, about 200lbs, walk where we rolled the carts and my putt moved off it's line. I am a believer. 

 

... So I will roll my cart over the green when playing alone or if everyone has moved on to the next hole, but out of respect for those that don't know carts cause no damage, I avoid the green. 

 

 

[chemclub]

I respectfully disagree, it does affect the green...

 

I respect your opinion, but there is no evidence to support your claim. 

 

I will admit that I always roll my cart up onto the tee box if it is convenient to do so. In my opinion, tee box turf approximates fairway grass. You can't hurt it with a light weight cart. Played a round with my course's owner and he did the same. Do you object to people putting their stand bags down on the tee?

 

 

... So I will roll my cart over the green when playing alone or if everyone has moved on to the next hole, but out of respect for those that don't know carts cause no damage, I avoid the green. 

 

 

 

I think this is a good policy. If I am on the far side of the green from the next tee then walk across. Otherwise, try to stay off the green. (Although, my upbringing causes me to leave the bag closest to the next tee by any means necessary)

[BIG STU]

Sorry but no carts on green or fringe. Some courses I played in New England would not let pull/push carts go between green and bunkers.

I'm also not crazy about carts on tee boxes either. Probably just me but I think it's just being lazy.

Living in FL last 5 years I think I've seen just about everything, including driving motorized golf cart right onto the green.

We have some very "entitled " seniors in FL.

 

 

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Yep sometimes I forget that you Florida guys see the same crap we do from tourists and "entitled" seniors too

[djahubes]

I respect your opinion, but there is no evidence to support your claim.

 

I will admit that I always roll my cart up onto the tee box if it is convenient to do so. In my opinion, tee box turf approximates fairway grass. You can't hurt it with a light weight cart. Played a round with my course's owner and he did the same. Do you object to people putting their stand bags down on the tee?

 

 

 

I think this is a good policy. If I am on the far side of the green from the next tee then walk across. Otherwise, try to stay off the green. (Although, my upbringing causes me to leave the bag closest to the next tee by any means necessary)

Hey each courses policy is different. Both my clubs policy's are clear and I assume most supers would agree.

 

 

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[The Dansome]

Regardless if it's good or bad for the greens it's just sh@tty etiquette. Guess we're all just gonna start dropping our stand bags down next to our putts too.

 

 

SMH...

[downlowkey]

There is an uber private mens club in DFW called Preston Trail. They have 2 rules. 1. Underwear are required in the grill. (Mickey Mantle enjoyed touring the property in the buff) 2. No parking of carts in the leather (Meaning you are welcome to park your 1K pound cart on the green...just not within 2 feet of the hole). Initiation is 250K, and the course is always pristine. Do you suppose they'd let members park on the greens if it did serious damage?

 

Push carts do zero damage to putting surfaces. Study up on your basic physics before you go all froggy on someone pushing their 50 pound 3-wheel push cart around the collar. Modern etiquette has morphed into the "If I don't, then neither should you" nonsensical false logic. Give it a rest.

 

 

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[Rusty1885]

Regardless if it's good or bad for the greens it's just sh@tty etiquette. Guess we're all just gonna start dropping our stand bags down next to our putts too.

SMH...

There are other place on the course to make up time. Rolling the cart across the green to save time sounds like a lazy cop out response.

 

You can tell a lot about the type of golfer by how close they step up to the cup to retrieve the ball.

[The Dansome]

There are other place on the course to make up time. Rolling the cart across the green to save time sounds like a lazy cop out response.

 

You can tell a lot about the type of golfer by how close they step up to the cup to retrieve the ball.

It's easy. More and more people just DGAF about the game anymore.