Single Rider Carts

[DonatelloNobodie]

I play in a senior league. Many courses (about half) do not provide single rider carts, instead insisting on 2 players to a cart. That seems risky, given COVID social distancing recommendations. Given that this is a senior league, members are in the high-risk age group, and walking in the heat is not an option for most. 

No rakes, no water, no touching the pin, clubhouse restrictions, modified holes - yet 2 crammed into a cart? Does that make sense?

Is cart revenue that important to courses? Perhaps the greatly reduced participation in outings at these courses will change their minds.

[caniac6]

Our course is encouraging doubles in a cart, but still allowing singles. I think the biggest problem is that they are running out of carts. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to what they are doing. They have put water coolers back, but no rakes, ball washers, or touching the stick. I am in the vulnerable age group, so I'll pay extra to get a single cart.

[krtgolfing]

I would be walking back into the pro shop to get a refund if they tried to make me share a cart with a stranger. Haven't had an issue yet though.

[Imp]

Ran into this Saturday at CT National. Rakes are out, no water though. Mandatory doubles in carts. Guy I had to share a cart with put up a stink that you could hear the arguing 100+ feet away (I was on the range, he on the porch of the clubhouse). He ponied up for a single cart. I, personally, don't care, because I know I don't have it since I'm pretty much sequestered at home anyways, and trying to escape it is a futile effort (I'm a pragmatic realist that while I may get it my chances of dying are slim to nil) but he wanted to be sure. He's a great guy and all, and he has family to worry about... I mean, I get it, but wow. (I was asked if I wanted to split walking on 9 holes to share the single cart due to their rules. "Nope, not in 91* heat, 100* heat index, and 2 stents recently inserted in my ticker.

[cristphoto]

Wouldn't this be on a state by state decision? Making people ride double in a cart in a state that has distancing rules seems like a violation. I sympathize with courses that don't have enough carts but they can always rent more. Just the cost of staying open.

On a side note. I was in a car dealership the other day and was told to wait outside while they checked there was no more than two other customers inside. I only had to wait a minute or two but when they let me inside the salesman wasn't wearing a mask. Where is the uniformity?

[Used2PlayALot]

One local club installed plastic curtains to keep the 2 riders separate.

[toddmanley]

My local course has gone to single carts and there have been some nice benefits (besides social distancing). I feel like the pace of play has picked up - instead of rounds nearing 5 hours my last couple of rounds have been right around the 4 hour mark.

[NCLancer]

I agree that pace of play is much better with single carts. As a twosome we played an unencumbered front nine last week in 1:25 which was almost too quick!

[DonatelloNobodie]

Seems to me to be simply a money issue. Many of the courses, especially private, provide single rider carts. Some public courses, mostly high end priced, insist on 2 riders per cart. Many of the same courses that mandate carts! Many of us skip the outings at these courses. If the courses see sufficient play, they'll make the extra money. If not, they may change their policy. The market will decide.

The future will be interesting. Perhaps cart makers will come out with smaller, more economical, single-rider carts. (Not boards or scooters).

[Warrior42111]

Here in FL, and yes we suck as a state with this virus, it is single carts unless it's members of the same household. I haven't seen extra charges for riding single, they seem the same as last year.

[GSDriver]

Our course provides players the option of single or double rider carts...if that concerned, walk or don't go outside.

[MaxBuck]

Clubs that remove rakes and ball washers but require two unrelated golfers to a cart are being hypocritical and also increasing risk.

No excuse IMO.

[CyFan]

Courses I play have instituted a $4 fee for a single cart. Because of all the single riders, they had to bring in additional carts to avoid running out. So the fee helps offset their additional costs. Seems fair to me.

[cristphoto]

So if you have a threesome do they charge the person extra that's in a cart alone? Or if you go off as a single?

[RainShadow]

Well, I work in an ER, asymtomatic and haven't been tested. ( My employer doesn't test us )

I insist on a single cart as I don't want to expose anyone else, since I'm probably exposed almost every time I work.

I took 4 months away from the group/club I play with so as not to expose others.

[CyFan]

No extra charge for the third player who rides alone is my understanding.

[moose557]

All the courses i have played around here (DC area) are double riders, but will provide single carts if the player asks and they have the carts. No extra fee that i have seen yet.

Still no rakes, ball washers, water or touching the flag stick.

i would not feel comfortable sharing a cart and would probably walk if i got there and told i had to share.

 

[slocagolfer]

Most of the courses in my county are single rider. I thought all of them until I played one on Tuesday. Double riders. No noodles or other hole modifications, guys removing flagsticks. I won't be returning there any time soon.

 

I don't want to sound anti-social but I really like single rider. There are a couple of courses I play with long green to tee distances that I ride. I just had three stents installed so I'm wary about walking now anyway.

[Carl Spackler3]

Single cart here if you pay for it. Helps pace of play, I only have to help buddy look for balls on every hole if I want. I’d pay for a single cart after virus goes away

[Carolina Golfer 2]

I work at a course in the DMV and that is our policy.

For those saying it's strictly a revenue thing. It's not in every case. We have a fleet of 150 carts and with 450 plus rounds consistently every day, there have been periods we run out of carts.

Also in a stretch of 20 straight days over 90 degrees the 8 extra tires on stressed grass for 6 groups an hour really takes a toll on the turf as well.

[1puttTUT]

A buddy of mine who owns a golf company in Arizona is currently investing in single rider carts. I want to one of the local courses down there has already purchased 45 of them.

[alphabits12]

We went to single carts for awhile but are back to two. You can ride single if you choose. As stated above, I also think the issue is them running out of carts due everyone playing golf right now. Our course has been encouraging walking

[pup142]

Best way to get your own cart is to make an afternoon tee time and don’t golf on weekends.I live in Florida and would not ride with a stranger. So far no trouble riding alone. Would pay extra or I would go home. I imagine soon they will push the issue. 

[DonatelloNobodie]

My group has been limiting our play to courses providing single rider carts.  That's eliminated some of our normal courses, but we stay safe.  We call a course and ask, and if they insist on 2 per cart, let them know why we'll be going elsewhere.  If courses feel the business loss, they'll change their policy.  If not, so be it.  That's market economics...

[Phireside]

I've always been a fan of single carts and not just for health reasons. I think it makes the round much quicker. But certainly I understand the economics of doubling up.

 

At home, I don't ride, but when I travel most of my rounds have cart included. I also play as a single most times while traveling, so it's nice when a course lets me have my own cart and I don't have to share with a stranger. I can talk to me playing partners on the tee box. We don't need to be thigh to thigh.

[DonatelloNobodie]

I think that there's a market for smaller, single-rider, carts.  Not the boards and scooters, which seem to be failing to catch on.  A small electric vehicle with a seat for the rider and a place for the bag.  Tires wide enough to prevent turf damage.  Perhaps 2/3 the size of a conventional cart.  Would speed up play and haul the old guys around.  I've seen web listings for a few, but nothing mainstream.

Edited August 24, 2020 by DonatelloNobodie