Safety Tips Every Golfer Should Practice from guest author, Tyler King

The Escalade GolfCart from Catalina Golf Karz

The best way to summarize golf cart safety would be to use this very simple tip: Use common sense. Basically, the same rules of the road when driving real cars also applies when maneuvering golf carts.

Most accidents on the course that involve golf carts tend to stem from golfers doing stupid things. More of these accidents take place than you could imagine. Reckless golf cart driving is essentially the same thing as “golf-cart joyriding” which is very dangerous to everyone around.

Safety Guidelines for Golf Cart Safety


Staying safe on the golf course is a priority for all golfers. This is especially true for those involved in family-oriented or kid-friendly golf events. Here are a few safety guidelines to help you stay safe on the course and avoid causing damage to the green itself:

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Both passengers and drivers need to stay seated any time golf carts are moving.

• Every person in the cart should be sitting in her own seat.
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The cart’s maximum capacity should never be exceeded.

• When you come to an “intersection”, slow down. Then, honk the horn to warn pedestrians and other drivers that you’re coming through.

• Just like with driving a regular motor vehicle on the road, passengers always have the right-of-way.

• If you begin approaching pedestrians, reduce the cart’s speed immediately.

• Always reduce the speed of the golf cart when passing and turning.

• As you approach intersections, utilize the cart’s safety mirrors to ensure that the coast is clear. Only then should you proceed.

• Keep your feet, legs, arms and hands inside moving carts at all times. Sound familiar?

• When you reach your destination, put the control level in “neutral.” Then, make sure you remove the cart’s key.

• You know how dangerous it could be to drive in reverse without checking for potential hazards behind you. Well, the same tip is key when driving a golf cart in reverse.

• Shifting the gears of any motor vehicle could damage the transmission. Follow the same golf cart safety tip to avoid damaging golf carts as well.

• Maintain a safe distance between you and the cart in front of you. This gives you adequate time to react and brake in case of an emergency, just like on the road.

• Never, ever drive your golf cart faster than the maximum speed limit.

• Adjust your speed to safely maneuver through various weather conditions and course terrain.
• 
Drive at a speed that allows you to safely carry the total weight (equipment combined with people) in the cart.

• The safest speed possible when driving a golf cart is that of a well-paced walk. In other words, keep your speed below 15-miles per hour at all times.


The TSport Model from Catalina Golf Karz

Having a hard time remembering every rule of driving golf carts? Never fear. All it takes is a bit of common sense to safely maneuver a golf cart to help avoid costly, maybe even life-threatening accidents. If you have the common sense it takes to drive a motor vehicle in traffic, you can safely drive a golf cart around the course. These are golf cart safety tips women golfers can count on.

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Tyler King is the Online Outreach Coordinator for Catalina Golf Karz. When Tyler isn’t helping find their dream golf carts he enjoys hiking and enjoying the Southern Utah weather with his friends and family.