Is It OK to Give Someone a Ride?

[InTheHole]

Didn't pay for a cart...

I was playing this past weekend at my club. We had two people in one cart, I was alone in a second cart, and we had a 14 year old junior golfer who was walking that day.

Junior golfers are not allowed to drive a cart unless they have a driver's license, which he obviously didn't. So he was walking based on being a single golfer, and obviously didn't pay to ride.

I'm cool with that- big strong lad, the course isn't that long.... However, we have a long walk between the 11th green and 12th tee- probably about 600 yards across a small bridge and creek.

Do you think it would be acceptable to give him a ride between those two holes? If nothing else, it would speed up play as we needed to wait for him to get to the tee. We all tee'd off first, but it still took him awhile to get there.

I'll ask in the pro shop next time I play, but I was curious if I was totally out of line if I gave the kid a ride for one hole.

[jaskanski]

Absolutely not. Common sense came into play and you took the correct decision in allowing him a lift between holes to help with the pace of play. If the club had a problem with it (probably not) then I would see no reason to even bother them with the details. You did the right thing.

[mrb]

Seems perfectly okay to me. It's not like you're giving him a cart ride for the whole round.

[Dizz]

I doubt that the course would even care if you gave him a ride for the rest of the round if you happened to pair up with him mid round. Different if you pay to walk when you know you are gonna hop on someones cart after the first hole.

[InTheHole]

[quote name='jaskanski' date='26 April 2010 - 03:06 PM' timestamp='1272312396' post='2402084']
Absolutely not. Common sense came into play and you took the correct decision in allowing him a lift between holes to help with the pace of play. If the club had a problem with it (probably not) then I would see no reason to even bother them with the details. You did the right thing.
[/quote]

I should have probably worded it better- I didn't give him a ride in this case. In fact I didn't even think of it until I got to the tee. Then I felt kinda bad. Next time, definitely. I'll confirm with the starter and/or course ranger next time this comes up- I'm sure they'll be OK with it- considering the carts all have GPS which is tracked in the pro shop- they can actually tell if you're behind pace (it shows on the GPS display also, in big, red, giant numbers...).

[phil75070]

[quote name='mrb' date='26 April 2010 - 03:07 PM' timestamp='1272312462' post='2402085']
Seems perfectly okay to me. It's not like you're giving him a cart ride for the whole round.
[/quote]

I wish I could walk but my arthritic knees just can't take the punishment, so I ride and pay the appropriate fees. What gets to me are the guys who walk because they are too cheap to pay for a cart, then are constantly jumping on and off the cart under the guise of "it speeds up play". If I didn't have to pay the exorbitant cart fees I'd be able to play more golf, being on a fixed income now, while these freeloaders all have jobs and make decent money but are just flat out cheap. [/rant] I can certainly understand and accept the riding when there is a significant distance between one green and the next tee.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Nothing wrong with that at all. In fact at one of my local courses there is a very very long walk between holes 15 and 16, I'm not kidding it's close to half a mile. Many times the ranger will wait at 15 to give give walkers a ride for that stretch. I was walking it once and it started to rain. Didn't have an umbrella, and was completely soaked by the time I got to the tee. We played 16 and just walked in from there it was so bad.

On my current home course there are a couple stretches where it is about a 1/4 mile between holes, and I will offer a ride to a walker if I'm in the cart by myself.

As others have said, I think this is generally ok if it's for a hole or two hear and there. But I agree the guy who is too cheap to pay and then wants a ride between every hole is a different story.

[Sawgrass]

For the record, a muni I occasionally play allows you to buy a cart at half price if you're a single. They give you a color-coded key fob that indicates you paid for only one person. All that's nice, but it comes along with a rule that if they catch you giving someone a ride, even just up a hill or for one hole, they'll charge you for that second person, and the second time preclude you from playing or something like that. I've gone as far as asking if I can give someone a ride between a far-flung green and tee, and they said absolutely not.

Seems like a good idea to check with the staff.

[InTheHole]

Feeling bad for making a kid walk should not be misinterpreted as guilt. Believe me, I'm not losing any sleep over it. I would just hope someone would do the same for my son in a similar situation.

Your overreaction with religion is unneccessary- even if you're joking.

But on a message board where people ask if pleated or flat front pants are in style, which lip balm people use, and whether or not people like a female TV announcer based on the pitch of her voice, I thought the question was valid and actually more related to golf than some "golf" topics I've seen recently.

[Bonneville85308]

If I'm on a cart (rare) and playing with a single walker, especially a senior, I'll offer a ride if there is a long distance between holes. Whether they want to accept it or not, it's up to them, but it seems like a friendly gesture to ask. I don't feel like anyone's being cheated.

[grizzlyblades]

it's your money since you payed for the cart. if etiquette came into play, I'd see no reason for you to give him a lift. it's better to give him a ride instead of zooming right past him and having to way for him to take his shot, which could slow play.

[LSUwjk]

I do this all the time. I had an older fellow walking in our group and he just couldn't go anymore. I gave him a lift for a couple holes. I don't see any harm in doing this..

[stevestrike]

We have a hole like that at one course nearby. It's a good 500-600 yard walk from the green to the next tee box. If I were playing with a walker, and I had a cart with an empty seat you better believe I would offer them a ride. Better than waiting 10 minutes for them to to show up on the next tee box.

[ropin4fun03]

common sense goes a long way... always try to help whenever you can

[SlapShotGolfer]

Rides from hole to hole are perfectly acceptable. I'm sure they'd be out yelling if the pace of play slowed.

[bortass]

The funny one I see at times is a single has a cart w/ a walker that has a pull or push cart. The 'walker' is in the passenger seat holding on to his cart as he's driven around the course. I keep waiting for the dude to lose his grip and watch his clubs go for a ride of their own...

[jtmagic]

If I was in your situation at the courses I play, I would definitely offer a ride to the walker in that situation. Can't imagine the course having an issue with it given pace of play expectations.

[highergr0und]

Nothing wrong with it if the course doesn't care. Big difference between giving someone a ride in between tees when they're far apart and purposely only paying for one rider and throwing the second bag on at the number two tee.

[rankoutsider]

Nothing wrong with it at all.

I know this sounds a bit deceitful, but don't check it out with the pro. You aren't ripping the course off by letting him ride all day. If you do, and he says "no rides," then you've lost your one free "how was I supposed to know" pass. Keep that pass in case this happens again.

Let the kid jump into the buggy any time it will speed up play (long stretch between holes, he hits it two fairways over, he has to return to the tee, etc.). Keeping the pace of play smooth is more important than the 16 bucks or whatever that would go in the till. If his clubs aren't strapped to the back, he isn't really ridding along with you.

[FATC1TY]

Eh.. I was riding the other day, trying to squeeze 18 in after work with a buddy. He had his own cart, and I took my own to keep the pace up and blaze along.

We get to the 8th, and play through some women on the 7th, and as we tee off, this walker comes up. He asked to join, and we let him tee off.. He walked to his drive, and hit his approach, and I offered him a ride, as the weather was started to get dark and windy, and looking like a storm. He jumped on, and we played the 8th and the 9th. We decided to keep going, and I asked if he was playing or done at the turn.. It's around a 1/4 or more to the other 9 hole loop, and he joined us for the next 5 holes before he jumped off and went home.

I didn't see any harm in it, and no one said anything to us. My club lets me take my own cart and have a non-golfer ride/drive with me. I've been to some other places that charged for my girlfriend to be in the cart and not play. Thought it was pretty silly, but understood the logistics of it. My club probably doesn't say anything because I pay dues every month.

[seanhoff]

I don't see any harm in it if you were doing it for the speed of play... Not like he would have been riding with you the entire round.

[mills225]

I think it only makes sense to give him a lift between holes. I have seen it happen many times.

[chicken tycoon]

Pick him up on 2 fairway, and drop him off on 17 fairway. That's what we used to do, but if you understood how cheap the owner was, (leave the water buckets empty, but send the drink cart girl out with 2 dollar waters) it was fun to jilt her out of a few bucks.

[Skaffa77]

To answer the question. As others have said...common sense prevailed here and I think what was proposed is fine.

[quote name='Sawgrass' date='26 April 2010 - 08:23 PM' timestamp='1272331384' post='2402800']
For the record, a muni I occasionally play allows you to buy a cart at half price if you're a single. They give you a color-coded key fob that indicates you paid for only one person. All that's nice, but it comes along with a rule that if they catch you giving someone a ride, even just up a hill or for one hole, they'll charge you for that second person, and the second time preclude you from playing or something like that. I've gone as far as asking if I can give someone a ride between a far-flung green and tee, and they said absolutely not.

Seems like a good idea to check with the staff.
[/quote]


On this topic...I wish my courses would offer the cart at 1/2 price if you are single rider. Typically I've seen course charge the same price per golfer regardless if the cart has 1 or 2 riders. I realize that you are being charged for the privilege to ride, but I just don't see charging double for two people (same rate per person) using the same cart. In my mind, you are paying for the use of the asset. If two people are riding, then you should be able to split the total costs...

[bermuda]

Sort of related, how many of you play at courses that charge a cart fee even if someone is just riding along, not playing? My family owns a timeshare at a golf course, and I would like for my mom to ride along when I play as a single, but she won't do it because the resort charges $10 for all riders, whether they play or not (and the course requires carts). They say it's for insurance reasons. I think it grew out of a child who got hurt while driving a cart.

I agree with not allowing children to drive a cart, but every other course where I've inquired doesn't charge for a non-playing rider. Just wondering what other courses do.

[AP2 712]

[quote name='InTheHole' date='26 April 2010 - 08:27 PM' timestamp='1272331672' post='2402813']
Feeling bad for making a kid walk should not be misinterpreted as guilt. Believe me, I'm not losing any sleep over it. I would just hope someone would do the same for my son in a similar situation.

Your overreaction with religion is unneccessary- even if you're joking.

But on a message board where people ask if pleated or flat front pants are in style, which lip balm people use, and whether or not people like a female TV announcer based on the pitch of her voice, I thought the question was valid and actually more related to golf than some "golf" topics I've seen recently.

[/quote]

That's funny stuff and yet so true on this site!
Was it a Monmouth County course? I know Charleston Springs has some incredibly long walks between holes!

[InTheHole]

[quote name='adam62482' date='09 June 2010 - 02:56 PM' timestamp='1276109785' post='2498485']
That's funny stuff and yet so true on this site!
Was it a Monmouth County course? I know Charleston Springs has some incredibly long walks between holes!
[/quote]


Colts Neck between 11 and 12.

[InTheHole]

[quote name='bermuda' date='09 June 2010 - 02:52 PM' timestamp='1276109569' post='2498475']
Sort of related, how many of you play at courses that charge a cart fee even if someone is just riding along, not playing? My family owns a timeshare at a golf course, and I would like for my mom to ride along when I play as a single, but she won't do it because the resort charges $10 for all riders, whether they play or not (and the course requires carts). They say it's for insurance reasons. I think it grew out of a child who got hurt while driving a cart.

I agree with not allowing children to drive a cart, but every other course where I've inquired doesn't charge for a non-playing rider. Just wondering what other courses do.
[/quote]


I have no problem with them charging for the use of the golf cart, per person- the cart still needs to be cleaned and maintained regardless of whether the rider(s) are playing golf or not. And it also gets a little wear and tear from driving around. Those costs need to be recovered by the golf course.

In fact, that's what got me interested in golf. My son was playing for a few years and entered into a parent/child event with his grandfather. My wife and I had never seen him play so we asked if we could ride along in a cart, which they let us do. Once I saw what golf really was about I was hooked! (My wife, not so much.)

Unfortunately, most of the courses I play now have a requirement that anyone out on the course must be playing golf- no riders or observers. You can't even offer to pay a greens fee and rent a cart- if you're not playing, their policy is get off the course.

[AP2 712]

[quote name='InTheHole' date='09 June 2010 - 02:17 PM' timestamp='1276111038' post='2498541']

Colts Neck between 11 and 12.
[/quote]

Ah yes! That is a decent walk! I must say, the routing of that course is so odd!
I know they changed the 17th and 18th to now be 1st and 2nd which creates another decent walk early in the round. I'm not a fan of finishing on a par 3 and 2 of your last 3 holes are par 3's there.
I have played the course many times and it's always in top condition. I wouldn't let the strange layout prevent me from playing the course again and again.

[FATC1TY]

My club is pretty lax about the non golfing riders. They'll let me get my own cart if I want to ride, and my buddy get a cart and us use two carts. The guys in there said they didn't care. I'm paying for the cart one way or another, it's getting cleaned and paid for anyways.

My girl will ride with me sometimes, and watch, or get out there and putt and chip a few. Hell, I'll hit the greens and let her putt it out for me somedays when we are just out enjoying the evening. She's on my account at the club, but she doesn't play, and they don't say anything. I like it like that, and would pissed if they wanted to charge me $10 every blue moon that she does want to spend time out there with me. It eases the tension, that she can go out there instead of being alone at the house when I'm always playing.