"Golf is a good walk spoiled" - Mark Twain
Golf Course traffic created by carts can have a big impact on the overall health of the turf. One superintendent commented, "Cart paths are a necessary evil. Carts create dirt, wear, compaction, and damage all over the course." According to my data, golf carts are most commonly used at private courses (84%) then semi-private (67%) and carts were used the least at public courses, where they were only used 40% of the time. The summary of comments from superintendents is that golf carts create extra wear on the course, however the economic incentives outweigh the environmental damages that are caused. Carts are often required at courses, and six out seventeen superintendents specifically mentioned the sources of revenue carts provide to the course. Strategies superintendents employed to reduce wear from cart use are as follows:
1. 90 degree rule. Maintain sharp, clear cut paths that carts must stay
on to reduce excess wear.
2. Asphalt, paved, or gravel paths, or ropes to maintain boundaries.
Comments from RI superintendents regarding cart use:
1. Carts don't always stay on paths. They create a big impact if consistent;
Wears out grass and kills it.
2. Most golfers walk because it is cheaper. Sometimes they follow paths.
I try to change walking paths because they create more wear.
3. This is a tough course to walk. People don't stay on paths as much
as they should, not much of an impact except where the paths end.
4. Drivers don't stick to paths but doesn't cause much impact. Club encouraged
driving for money.
5. "Beats the hell out of the place." Members complain about
ropes, and carts make the course hard to maintain.
6. Carts carve own paths, create compaction, and lot of extra wear. Carts
are going electric in future.
7. Worst thing that ever happened to golf was golf carts. Golf wasn't
designed to be viewed from a cart, it had to do with the walk. All carts
create extra wear.
8. No more hard core golfers walking the course. Carts now come with windshields,
air conditioners, televisions…
9. Carts create lot of extra wear. Killer on course but there's no getting
rid of them.
10. They provide job security. The more they tear the place up the more
they need me.
