Golf Cart Keys - Need Help!

[NGstaff]

We are having issues at the golf course with our golf cart keys turning up missing. We have purchased an additional 60 keys this year, which brings out total to 84 keys. We started the year with around 70 keys. So you can see where our dilemma is. Any ideas on how to put a stop to this? We are a family owned golf course and do not have a ton of employees and do not have cart personnel (aka - "cart boys/girls"). Is there a way to lock them/attach them in the cart? Pull them out and leave the carts turned on? Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

[hojomoriah]

just a drop of super glue on each key before putting it in will solve the problem, but they will be stuck in till you get rid of cart.

[prestiege]

couple courses by me have cables around them attaching them to the steering wheel. to cable each one is probably more than replacing a key but you'd only have to do it once. if your loosing keys every year it may be worth it. home depot sells all the stuff you need, the crimper and all

[gwlee7]

Have people leave their driver's license as a deposit for the key that you give them when they pay.

[KYMAR]

Just curious, what do those cart keys cost? Seems like that is somewhat of an expected cost associated with running a golf course. The alternatives of chaining the thing to the cart, charging a small deposit,......[i].super glue, [/i]all just seem a little, what's the word, low class? I am no golf snob, but it's just poor to have some chain hanging between the key and steering wheel.

[NGstaff]

Cart key cost us $4.00 each. When you have to buy 100 or more a year due to people taking them home...it gets a bit expensive after awhile. Super glue....won't happen.

[KYMAR]

Certainly it's not something you want to have to pay for and i understand that. I guess im confused by the "buying 100 or more" thing. I thought your OP meant that you bought 60 more keys, bringing you to a total of 84 to start the year and are now down to 70 so a loss of 14 keys total to date. Which again sucks and feels like you're just throwing money away but still just a part of doing business. Do you guys use those big round keychains? Those have reminded me i had a key in my pocket a time or 2. Is there a cart return area? A specific place folks park when they are done? Maybe a courteous sign as a reminder? I know that there is a course around here that all the carts are turned on so there is no key needed. But someone would have to turn them off eventually

[Solutions Etcetera]

Why not just hot wire the switch so a key is not necessary? Maybe even a small toggle switch under the dash, if you have reason to turn the cart off.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

yes, most of the courses around here (MD) turn them on and remove the key. Most are club car EZ-Go model. Or Club Car Presidental Model (or something like that).

There was a course that asked for a license and passed out keys, like someone suggested. I thought it was a bit odd, but had no problem with it. They quit doing that after about 3 months. They must have had too many complaints or possibly lost a license or two in the process.

The other thing is just build the cost slighty into the green fee or cart rental. if you added $1 a round say during peak time, not the off days. I would think you'd more than make up the $400 a year and most people wouldn't notice the price difference or say anything about it.

[br61]

When you take the carts outside, take the keys (with tags and cart number on it) inside with you to pro shop. Pass them out when they check in, put down the cart number next to their names on teetime sheet. If a key is missing from a certain cart, you'll know who took it.

[Imp]

$20 for cart. $5 back when you return the key.

No key? No refund.

--kC

[outwardnine]

Put a huge piece of metal on each key. Like a giant key ring. It'll then be far too big to put in your pocket and accidentally take home. Hotels do this all the time with their keys.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

[quote name='outwardnine' timestamp='1345128387' post='5482388']
Put a huge piece of metal on each key. Like a giant key ring. It'll then be far too big to put in your pocket and accidentally take home. Hotels do this all the time with their keys.
[/quote]
I don't know what type of hotels you stay in, but that's not true at all. Maybe a restroom at a gas station

[Air Jordan]

One of the coures I frequent drills a hole through a golf ball then runs a zip tie through the ball and around the key ring. Most places I go just use the toggle switch on the dash and do not leave a key in the cart.

[sabram]

I have seen courses use very large round plastic key rings with the course logo on them (about 5 " diameter). They are awfully hard to fit in a pocket. I can't imaging anyone could accidentally take one. If they did they'd know where it is from and hopefully return it. Most people just leave them in the ignition. I think that is a classy inexpensive solution.

[alfie]

Every course I've rented a power golf cart have made me fill out a "waiver/dis-claimer" form and made me leave my driver's license with the original form with me holding on to the copy of the form. So, to get back my driver's license, gotta bring back the key, along with the copy of the form. I'm surprised that this is not done everywhere, a/p the replies posted here.

[Solutions Etcetera]

I have a question…

Why would a golfer have any reason to even touch the key during his round?

[Imp]

I believe it to be a trust vs. available staff problem.

Courses that don't have a staff (starter, cart person) to track if a cart was paid for before taking one will have keys.
Those that have a way to be sure the cart was paid for, don't.

--kC

[ukalum]

The best suggestion was to take names when you check out the keys. Problem solved. These keys are definitely being stolen on purpose. Put them on a big key ring to help prevent people walking away with them. Perhaps write on the key chain that you are tracking who they have been checked out to.