Man dies in golf cart accident

[wombat_vortex]

Here is a story about a guy who appears to have been drinking, takes his cart down a steep hill and crashes. Looks like he came to a bridge a hit the posts at a high speed. I've played this course a few times and I know exactly where this happened. It's a steep and winding down hill path, not surprised this happened at this spot. Makes me think of courses where you come to a sharp turn on the cart path and no railing, you think well I can imagine a few people have put their carts down there after a few pops.

 

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/transportation/article235906247.html

[sprcoop]

> @wombat_vortex said:

> Here is a story about a guy who appears to have been drinking, takes his cart down a steep hill and crashes. Looks like he came to a bridge a hit the posts at a high speed. I've played this course a few times and I know exactly where this happened. It's a steep and winding down hill path, not surprised this happened at this spot. Makes me think of courses where you come to a sharp turn on the cart path and no railing, you think well I can imagine a few people have put their carts down there after a few pops.

>

> https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/transportation/article235906247.html

 

I don't think people realize how bad the traction is on golf carts. Hard tires, large contact patch, no friction. A little dirt or sand on a cart path and might as well be ice.

 

Paired with random threesome after a few holes so I had my own cart. Young guys drinking (not too much). Good guys but a little rambunctious. Following them from an elevated tee with switch backs down to the fairway. They got going a little too fast and spun out, did a 180 on one of the switchbacks. They stayed on the path (miracle) but scared the c**p out of me.

 

Never want to see that again.

[BeerPerHole]

We recently had a lady pass away in a cart accident here. My buddy was in her foursome that day. Not good... I've spent a little time comforting my friend through this - and getting him back out on the course. Don't want to get into the details on it. But, it was sobering to me. Things can turn ugly quickly if we're not careful and a pleasant round can be life-ending with a lapse of attention or a few too many drinks.

[Krt22]

> @sprcoop said:

> > @wombat_vortex said:

> > Here is a story about a guy who appears to have been drinking, takes his cart down a steep hill and crashes. Looks like he came to a bridge a hit the posts at a high speed. I've played this course a few times and I know exactly where this happened. It's a steep and winding down hill path, not surprised this happened at this spot. Makes me think of courses where you come to a sharp turn on the cart path and no railing, you think well I can imagine a few people have put their carts down there after a few pops.

> >

> > https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/transportation/article235906247.html

>

> I don't think people realize how bad the traction is on golf carts. Hard tires, large contact patch, no friction. A little dirt or sand on a cart path and might as well be ice.

>

> Paired with random threesome after a few holes so I had my own cart. Young guys drinking (not too much). Good guys but a little rambunctious. Following them from an elevated tee with switch backs down to the fairway. They got going a little too fast and spun out, did a 180 on one of the switchbacks. They stayed on the path (miracle) but scared the c**p out of me.

>

> Never want to see that again.

 

High CG and no real suspension either. I unfortunately was a passenger in one of these types of wrecks, sharp turn down hill from a very elevated tee box,, cart went wide/onto 2 wheels, eventually flipped and we ended up with the cart on top of us at the bottom of a ditch some 40-50 feet down a ravine. Very happy to walk away with just minor cuts and quite sore.

[aenemated]

People - just because it's not a car on a public road doesn't mean driving drunk is OK.

[RSinSG]

When I play courses like Wolf Creek and Coral Canyon I am always ready to bail out of the cart if somehow the brakes fail. They have some serious drop offs and unless you drive at a crawl it is real dicey.

 

 

 

 

[ssf301]

> @RSinSG said:

> When I play courses like Wolf Creek and Coral Canyon I am always ready to bail out of the cart if somehow the brakes fail. They have some serious drop offs and unless you drive at a crawl it is real dicey.

>

>

>

>

 

Exactly......Wolf Creek in particular.... some spectacular views from those tee boxes, but geez.....

[swancer]

I see kids in these junior tournaments hitching rides in spectator carts headed out to play or when allowed to do so with long walks between tee boxes. It scare the crap out of me to see them hanging out the side or riding on the bag area with their bags on their backs. I have told my kids, I better never catch them doing that or participating in any way.

 

Like others have said, it happens a lot more than we think. May not always be death, but major injuries can happen. Look on youtube and see some of these idiots running people over when they are at address and doing other very stupid stuff on the golf course.

 

 

[golfgirlrobin]

This is actually the second cart related death at Apple Mountain. There was another one several years ago that was the talk of the town for awhile. It’s a stunning course that we play every once in awhile because it’s up above the valley heat, but it’s got a million spots where you could flip a cart even if you’re not drunk, stupid or both. I can’t remember if the carts have governors on them, but they should. I hate governors, but I think that lots of people assume that paths are designed so that you can drive safely at full speed and that’s certainly not true at Apple Mountain.

[BeerPerHole]

> @golfgirlrobin said:

> This is actually the second cart related death at Apple Mountain. There was another one several years ago that was the talk of the town for awhile. It’s a stunning course that we play every once in awhile because it’s up above the valley heat, but it’s got a million spots where you could flip a cart even if you’re not drunk, stupid or both. I can’t remember if the carts have governors on them, but they should. I hate governors, but I think that lots of people assume that paths are designed so that you can drive safely at full speed and that’s certainly not true at Apple Mountain.

 

Yeah, my family loves that course so we play it about once per year. Beautiful course, but serious for cart navigation. I almost got struck by lightening there too about 17 years ago on the 18th fairway.

 

I just played Sunridge golf course just south of Carson City. That one has some insane cart path navigation...

[MojoEd]

Local course; no drinking. Cart path with steep decline on right side if path. Guy caught the edge; cart went over and flipped pinning him underneath. Nearly drowned; ended up a quadriplegic. Wife dumped him. Be safe out there; golf carts are no joke. https://abilityfitnesscenter.org/about-fred-hetzel/

[NonCompetitive1]

Rest in peace. Drinking poison shouldn't be allowed in society never mind on the golf course. Shame what happened to him when he just wanted to play golf and enjoy himself. I do think carts aren't particularly safe, it would be better if they were more like mini cars with big safety for the driver and passenger. If I had a course I wouldn't want anyone to run a cart around the course, it would be walking only. That would be better for the golfers anyway.

[jobin]

If i recall correctly, some novice golfer, and possibly non-car driver died on the public course in Hong Kong while navigating the steep and wet cart path. Few car owners in HK.

Since that time any person seeking to drive a golf cart on one of those 2 courses must show auto Drivers License, from any country or State. And one of the 2 courses is mandatory, but free, golf carts.

 

[BeerPerHole]

> @NonCompetitive1 said:

> Rest in peace. Drinking poison shouldn't be allowed in society never mind on the golf course. Shame what happened to him when he just wanted to play golf and enjoy himself. I do think carts aren't particularly safe, it would be better if they were more like mini cars with big safety for the driver and passenger. If I had a course I wouldn't want anyone to run a cart around the course, it would be walking only. That would be better for the golfers anyway.

 

Golf carts offer a Darwinian opportunity. Many of the courses out here would have to close if they didn't have carts. The older I get the less bolder I get...

[BeerPerHole]

> @ShankLife said:

> That's a **** shame. ...

> I wouldn't be surprised if in the next few years, golf carts will be a bit more regulated or maybe even swapped out for another form of bag carrying.

 

That's an interesting point. You know...I wouldn't be surprised either. To keep some perspective on this - I'd be willing to bet that honey bees or peanuts kill more people every year than golf carts do. But, the injuries are racking up and children are represented at a much higher rate than I'd have guessed - about 1/3 of injuries.

 

Where I live, driving my Tundra on our roads to the course stone sober is substantially more dangerous than driving the cart with a beer in my hand. But, that's another discussion.

[scboost]

I know drinking has been synonymous with golfing for years, but I think its personally kinda of trashy. Save it for the clubhouse after the round. Prayers go to the family impacted by this.

[Birdyjuice]

Just like any other hazard, there is a risk to everything and sometimes unfortunate events take place. We’ve seen a few rollovers and broken bones at our course, mostly involving drinking and going down steep non cart path hills. Lesson learned, if it’s steep it’s better to leave the cart at the top of the hill and hike it up and down. Way better to break a sweat than break your neck.

[Brunchz0r]

Terrible tragedy. But cant help thinking, is drinking while playing an inherently American thing? I cant score for shit if I drink while playing.

[Hellstorm]

There are dangerous things all around us. I work in what could be considered a very dangerous industry.....everybody knows it is dangerous.....things are done to make it safer......some people still get hurt and disfigured. While it is a tragic turn of events, sometimes you just can't engineer stupidity out of the risk. I wonder how many people will be speeding down that hill now?

[NonCompetitive1]

> @Hellstorm said:

> There are dangerous things all around us. I work in what could be considered a very dangerous industry.....everybody knows it is dangerous.....things are done to make it safer......some people still get hurt and disfigured. While it is a tragic turn of events, sometimes you just can't engineer stupidity out of the risk. I wonder how many people will be speeding down that hill now?

 

I agree. Good post.

[playar32]

Dennis Walter become paralyzed in a golf cart accident. Sometimes it doesn't take people drinking, just people not paying attention.

[larrybud]

Full body armor, clearly, with seat belts and airbags in the golf cart.

 

Oh my the way, the cost of each round is going up $100 as well.

 

[justasgood]

> @scboost said:

> I know drinking has been synonymous with golfing for years, but I think its personally kinda of trashy. Save it for the clubhouse after the round. Prayers go to the family impacted by this.

 

How about drinking and responding to this comment?

[Warrior42111]

Whoever wants to ban carts has to play a round down here (central FL) in late July around 3:00pm walking for all their rounds.

[BunkerSnot]

Downhill, touchy brakes and little dew on the grass, my bud and I broke loose for a few 360's... most golf cart tires have very little tread or traction.

[LeoLeo99]

I was almost involved in a serious golf cart crash. The hole is a very nice par 3 with an elevated tee box. I was driving the car towards the green. You have to cross the driveway that cars use to go between the public road and the golf course parking lot. Pretty typical at a lot of courses that the driveway cuts through the course. Cart path was a little wet and I wasn't going very fast and hit the brakes to look for cars and the cart didn't stop. It just slid right into the driveway and there was a car coming down the driveway. Luckily for me, the driver of the car was going slow, paying attention, and anticipated my dilemma.