Will we see the end of concrete/asphalt cart paths in the next few decades?

[Golferpaul]

On 5/25/2022 at 12:10 PM, PNWGuy said:

Why does almost every thread include a complaint about loud music? 

Maybe because loud music is one of the most irritating things on a golf course.

[Double Mocha Man]

1 minute ago, Golferpaul said:

I've played courses for decades with cart paths and my guess is that I hit a path less than one time out of 100 rounds of golf, or one out of 1800 tee shots.  So, I think this problem should go to the bottom of the list of golf course issues.

 

Hmmm... in a foursome, all pretty good golfers, I see a cart path strike at least once every or every other 18 hole round.  It's not that uncommon.  Besides, those things have golf ball magnets in them...

[Golferpaul]

25 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

Hmmm... in a foursome, all pretty good golfers, I see a cart path strike at least once every or every other 18 hole round.  It's not that uncommon.  Besides, those things have golf ball magnets in them...

Your course must have paths that run across the fairway.  Or maybe very close to the fairway.

[Nels55]

48 minutes ago, Golferpaul said:

I've played courses for decades with cart paths and my guess is that I hit a path less than one time out of 100 rounds of golf, or one out of 1800 tee shots.  So, I think this problem should go to the bottom of the list of golf course issues.

I average hitting more then one cart path per round.  Most every ball I find in the weeds or whatever at my course has cart burn or two on it.  It's a tight course with cart paths close to the fairways and greens.  I lose a lot of strokes on balls that hit cart paths and head off into the hinterlands.    

[Double Mocha Man]

1 minute ago, Nels55 said:

I average hitting more then one cart path per round.  Most every ball I find in the weeds or whatever at my course has cart burn or two on it.  It's a tight course with cart paths close to the fairways and greens.  I lose a lot of strokes on balls that hit cart paths and head off into the hinterlands.    

 

To make things even worse consider this:  From a geometry standpoint a parallel cart path is not the 5-6 feet wide they appear to be.  They're effectively 10-35 feet wide because of the angle your ball is coming in.

 

Not to mention, you don't need to hit the path on the fly.  Your multiple ball hops will find the path, too.

 

Though if your course has cart paths only along the sides of the hole and you're not hitting them then you are a very straight hitter of the golf ball... or a very short hitter.

[cristphoto]

I can't see cart paths ever going away.  Consider outings.  You can get carts out on rainy days or clear days after a couple days of rain.  Your typical outing golfer (IMO) always rides.  Thus no need to cancel or reschedule an outing. Add in that many new courses are built in tandem with housing so green - tee box distances become a problem and virtually mandating carts.  

[smashdn]

Shotgun start would be terrible without a cart or paths, even though sometimes the quickest way to get to your starting hole is not the path at all.

[ruascott]

On 5/24/2022 at 11:37 AM, eagle2838 said:

 

For public, no question that continuous paths are needed both for allowing play on CPO days as well as serving clientele that is going to be majority riding unless you're a destination resort. I am a fan neither of cart paths nor riding in general, but this is the reality and riding does have a place in golf for those who prefer it. 

 

I'm pretty torn on the concrete/asphalt vs. sand/gravel debate, sand/gravel looks nicer if maintained and it impacts play less, but it also definitely requires more frequent maintenance and the dust can also be a real issue. When not maintained, a potholed or washboarded gravel path is a nightmare to drive on and also really loud for surrounding players. 

 

At our private, majority walking club we replaced a lot of our crushed stone paths with sod a few years ago and also paved over some problematic high-traffic gravel ones to combat dust and frequent maintenance needs. This has worked well for us, but would not be viable for a public course or one where carts were used by more than 25% of golfers. I love the idea of the crushed stone + binder (presumably Klingstone or something similar) idea @ruascott noted above for courses like ours, but also not really an option for most public tracks. 

 

I checked and this is in the product we used...

 

https://www.kafkagranite.com/kafka-granites-cart-paths-hole-one

 

 

Only have paths around tees/ greens.  Agreed it's probably not a solution for public courses..... on wet days we are walking only.  

Edited June 1, 2022 by ruascott

[tiderider]

On 5/18/2022 at 4:05 PM, vallygolf said:

I have never personally missed the fairway....I have seen it happen before.... so I probably cant add to this discussion.

 

If however you are needing an opinion on the critical error of placing  hazards in the fairway at 400 yards from the tee.  I can oblidge.

[dfwgolfer92]

My club has sandy gravel paths and the maintenance required to them is immense, for your average muni that gets a ton of play there simply isnt a better option