If you are like most people, you purchased a golf cart to aid in mobility on the golf course. In a cart, you have space to carry a passenger, pack your golfing gear, and other belongings you might want to bring to the course. After all, it’s more convenient to move around the acres-long golf course with all your things using a cart. But is this allowed? The short answer is it depends. Let us explore the caveats, workarounds, and limitations of bringing your own golf carts to a golf course.
Do I Need a Golf Cart?
Again, it depends. Golf carts are fun, easy to maintain, and convenient vehicles for golfers. These small vehicles are maneuverable due to their small size; plus, they are affordable and versatile, among other many beneficial features. Also, these vehicles are classified as cars by the American National Standards Institute because they are self-propelled. That’s why sometimes they are referred to as golf cars. However, this definition excludes the push and pull carts that require manual effort to move them around.
If your state allows for it, golf carts are also a vehicle alternative for traveling around the city. Did we mention electric golf carts are good for the environment? By using an electric golf cart, you are contributing to the use of sustainable energy. This means fewer carbon emissions, thereby reducing global warming. So yes, a golf cart is a worthwhile investment.
Limitations and Workarounds to Using Private Golf Carts
Most private and public golf courses allow the use of private golf carts on the trails. So yes, you can bring your own golf cart. However, there are policies that control this privilege. In most cases, golf course management offers two options. One, they allow you to use your own golf cart and charge a fee or rent out theirs.
Rarely do golf course owners strictly reject the use of private golf carts. To ensure you are compliant, ask the management for clarification. But mostly, golf courses publish statements like this one that clarify golf cart usage on the trails.
Why Golf Courses Charge Trail Fees
Trail fees vary depending on various factors like the type of golf course. If you don’t wish to pay the trail fee or rent a golf cart, you could consider using a golf pushcart. The majority of golf courses do not charge trail fees on pushcarts. That means there must be a good reason for charging these trail fees on golf carts, right?
For many years, golf has been considered a luxury sport. Luxurious in the sense that club membership fees are high, golfing attire and gear are expensive, and most people play the game recreationally. When you factor in all these, you’d expect that the golf course needs to have regular maintenance to justify these high fees. This is especially the case for private golf clubs.
Additionally, golf course owners are running a business like any other. Therefore, funds collected in various forms, such as trail and rent fees, are used to fund business operations. Specifically, trail fees are used to cover damage costs that golf carts leave behind. Furthermore, golf course management uses these fees as insurance against accidents that might occur from using a private golf cart.
Renting vs. Paying Trail Fees — Which One Should I Choose?
Since you can rent a club-owned cart or pay a trail fee to use a personal cart, you could be contemplating which option to pick. Of course, if you don’t own a golf cart but want to use one, the only option is to rent the public carts. As is the case with trail fees, rental fees also depend on factors like the club’s policies.
Renting a golf cart is generally cheaper than paying trail fees. On the other hand, trail fees are paid periodically, say annually, and are much higher.
Price isn’t the only thing to consider when making this decision. Other things like how often you frequent the golf course also come into play. If you only play once a week, renting a cart would make more sense than paying an annual trail fee.
Then again, how about just walking on the golf course? If you need to get those steps in for the day, walking around the golf course could be a great alternative as you play. Not only is it free, but walking is tremendously good for your health. Either way, at the end of the day, you have to weigh the options and choose what works for you.
LUXE Electric Car
LUXE Electric Car is the only Luxury, Custom, Electric Golf Car manufacturer in the Coachella Valley.
Not only does LUXE Electric Car Custom Build them right here in the desert, but their showroom, located at 74-125 Hwy 111, Palm Desert, is open and ready to help you decide what style, and extras you want for your next new golf cart.
As one of the leading electric golf cart companies in the United States, they are also the trailblazers for innovation, including the power plants. Seeing the future in power shifting from Lead Acid Batteries to Lithium, LUXE Electric Car can not only fit your new car with batteries that need no maintenance, a warranty of five years and change life of up to 100 miles between charging, but they can retro-fit existing carts with Lithium Batteries.
To contact us – LUXEElectricCar.com
760-408-0139
