It works, but the clubhouse will catch on. So at a private club, they’ll notice, and if it’s public, you might attract some attention.
Perry said:
It works, but the clubhouse will catch on. So at a private club, they’ll notice, and if it’s public, you might attract some attention.
Most of the time, we’ll just reset it back to normal from the shop computer. If you keep changing it, then we’ll have to have a serious talk.
Seriously, folks, please just keep the carts where we ask you to; it’s to protect the grass, not ruin your day.
@Alton
That slow reverse it does when you back out of a restricted area is really frustrating. The courses I’ve played have big areas around greens that you can’t park in. This also forces you to stay cart path only when it rains, which really slows things down. I’m not saying we should drive on the greens, but the constant surveillance is too much. Plus, they charge the same for the cart as the round and expect each person in the cart to pay. It’s annoying.
@Chen
I miss having the yardage on the screen, but the times I play at an older course with gas carts, I kind of enjoy it.
Ben said:
@Chen
I miss having the yardage on the screen, but the times I play at an older course with gas carts, I kind of enjoy it.
I prefer not having GPS. It’s helpful if it shows the cart in front of you, but I can measure myself if not.
@Chen
Exactly! Nothing ruins a round faster than rigid cart rules. There’s a course in SD (Rancho Bernardo Inn) that recently updated its cart screens, and I find myself reversing multiple times during the round in standard areas; it’s ridiculous, so I don’t play there anymore.
@True
I played that course recently and it’s got some odd patches where the grass looks fine, but you get restricted just for driving near those areas. The course itself is great, but the restrictions are over the top.
@Chen
These restrictions help prevent the grass from getting damaged, especially around the greens where people play. Not everyone here is hitting greens regularly, so we can’t trust every golfer to follow the rules.
If it slows down play on a restricted day, deal with it. Our main goal is to protect the course because that’s what makes money. If it adds 15 minutes over 18 holes, then that’s your issue. Play quicker.
As for those cart fees, whether we charge by head or per cart, it’ll be about the same so it doesn’t really matter.
@Alton
There are golf carts that are pretty terrible, with geofencing that doesn’t work right.
Last week, at one course, the issue kept happening, even on the cart paths. Once, we couldn’t reverse because of a curb, and another time the cart was too slow to get up a hill.
The idea is good, but the implementation needs improvement.
@Wei
What annoys me is the lack of signs or visual guides. I shouldn’t have to focus on the screen all the time to avoid restricted areas. I’ve been stopped for no reason at all and had to move the cart a bit even when I was paying attention.
A simple warning would solve most issues. If a group keeps entering restricted zones, they could send a marshal. Most people want to follow the rules, so making it easier for us would help.
Better signs and boundaries would be preferable. I like avoiding screens on the course, and the geofencing doesn’t have to be this annoying.
@Reign
Agreed. We ended up pushing too.
There are workable solutions. Carts with screens could easily show these restrictions. Some of the better models do warn you before you hit a restricted area.
I’m sure it’s about cost cutting; course management wants to make it happen but without spending much.
@Alton
Because I care about my golf experience. If the course isn’t packed, I wouldn’t mind, but the tees are usually crowded, and courses do little to encourage faster play. It’s usually the opposite. Run your business, but it isn’t a great experience for golfers.
@Chen
Sounds like you’ve got some misplaced expectations. Want a course that isn’t crowded in a post-COVID world? Get a membership at a private club. The game has shifted, and some things I don’t like either, but we must adapt and adjust our expectations a bit. Makes it much less frustrating.
@Alton
You know what? You’re right. I just want to play some golf and it annoys me. Except for the slow greens, I prefer to play municipal or less busy courses to skip the hassle.
@Alton
Having restrictions is fine, but the execution is often lacking, which seemed to be the point of the previous comment.
I played a course where I ended up in the middle of the fairway, no signs indicating I shouldn’t be there, and my cart locked up. I couldn’t return to the path until I called the clubhouse to unlock it. I later learned that this little spot was cart path only, but there were zero signs when the cart guided me there.
Another time, I played a course that said cart path only, but halfway through, the screen said the restriction was lifted. When I left the path, the cart suddenly slowed down dramatically, taking forever to get back on the path.
Other courses have alarms going off even when I’m on the path. Once, the alarm blared while I was on the green, making me rush back to the cart and slowly move it until it stopped so I could finish my putt.
They should simply inform you to return to the path or keep away from greens and stop with the stopping unless it’s for repeat offenders. I try to be respectful, but almost every time I use a restricted cart, I trigger it despite doing nothing wrong. Given the issues with these systems, having a strike system in place to let you correct matters at normal speeds after a first warning makes sense.
You’re right; these systems do help with course management. I’m a member at a course without GPS in carts, and many (especially members) don’t follow cart path rules or warnings about restricted areas.
@Alton
Your main priority should be customer experience, shouldn’t it?
Good courses bring in customers, and if your carts ruin that experience, it’s something to address.
@Alton
Who are you?
@Alton
“We don’t take care of the course, we lose revenue, and then we sell the land for housing.”
So it’s not about taking care of the course so it returns favors, but rather to avoid losing it entirely.