Whether you consider the golf cart a bane or a blessing, it is certainly part of the golf environment at Forest Lake for the foreseeable future. The very wet early golf season, has highlighted what difficulties golf carts can cause on the upkeep of a golf course. Below are some reminders on cart etiquette for our members and guests that will assist in keeping our golf course looking pristine.
Golf Car Etiquette
· Check at the first tee to see if any special cart rules are in effect for the day. On wet days you may be asked to keep the cart on the paths when available. The golf course is "always" open for our members and guests to walk if the course conditions do not permit cart usage.
· Always stay on designated paths on par-3 holes and #2 where the low lying area is prone to soft conditions.
· Avoid rapid starts and stops, as well as sharp turns, which can seriously damage the turf and compact the soil.
· Follow posted signs, avoid roped-off areas, and keep the cart on the path when asked to do so.
· Avoid standing water or soft looking ground, as these areas are especially susceptible to damage.
· Return to the cart path or rough before the white posts on both sides of the fairway (25 to 100 yards out). These are moved on a regular basis to keep traffic from wearing a particular area.
· When on a cart path keep all four tires on the path to prevent worn area on the edge of a path.
Orange-Flagged Carts
As a courtesy to our members who may have lost some mobility over the years, we offer orange-flagged carts which carry more generous rules for cart travel. There are still rules however which means you don't have carte blanche to drive wherever you wish. Orange-flagged carts are still expected to:
· avoid wet and soft areas
· keep out of roped off areas
· keep a minimum of 15 feet away from traps, greens and tee boxes where there is no cart path
· use good common sense in caring for your course.
Closing Comments
You'll frequently see the area roped off between #14 green and #15 tee. Heavy cart traffic in that area has started to wear the turf to the right of the green. To preserve a playable area for all, please keep to the cart path when riding through this section of the course.
Lastly as a reminder toward speed of play, proper cart etiquette includes dropping one player off at his ball with a club or two, while the playing partner proceeds to his own ball. The only time this shouldn't happen is if one player is directly in front of the other and in the line of fire. Ready golf does not include sitting in the cart and admiring your partner's swing, then driving off to get ready for your own shot.
If you’d like to see a video link on golf cart etiquette, click on this…
Our beautiful summer weather is here. Enjoy the season and remember to "CARE FOR YOUR COURSE".
Your Greens Committee
