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The Village Voice — November 2012
commentary Golf Cart on Green Areas
By Daryll Brose I am in the habit of playing a round of golf nearly every day as part of my exercise regimen. I have always been delighted by the care taken with our course. Of course there are those few who forget to fix ball marks on the greens, but that is minor and easily repaired. I was playing the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 10, and found tire tracks on every green. My immediate reaction was disappointment that the course maintenance crew were not taking more care. My next reaction was frustration since the tire tracks just added to my normal putting challenge. Imagine my surprise when I saw several holes ahead a fellow in a large green golf cart driving on the tee and green areas. Then I recalled that I had seen a message in a recent monthly newsletter that the HOA had approved an individual to drive a specialized cart anywhere he desires on the course. I can appreciate that our community, similar to the USGA, have made accommodations for disabled persons, and this individ-
ual in particular. However, I must admit that I was aggravated to find the tire tracks on every green. I was disappointed that the individual did not appear to be taking his responsibilities to the care of our course and his fellow golfers seriously. Common courtesy and golfing etiquette dictate that every player has responsibility in care of our course. It is easy to become aggravated when we encounter situations where a small minority of citizens impose dictates that appear contrary to the will of the majority. Those intentions do sometimes lead to outstanding results such as the Special Olympics, Paralympics, and expanding many sporting events to include disabled races. However, I would argue that wheelchairs on a basketball or tennis court do not have the same impact as a large specialized golf cart on a putting green. The putting greens of golf courses, and ours in particular, are difficult and expensive to maintain under normal circumstances. The added pressure of a large specialized golf cart on the surface of our putting greens will either add significantly to the maintenance of the greens, or if not cared for, result in less enjoyment (and increased putting challenge) for golfers. I would request that our HOA that approved this individual’s atypical cart use will remind him of his responsibilities to respect the care of the course and to also respect the enjoyment of the game by his fellow golfers.