There are lots of benefits to choosing to use a golf cart instead of walking between holes on the court. Of course, using one without irritating other golfers can be tricky. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of choosing to use a cart, and how to do it politely.

The greatest advantage of using a cart, of course, is that it eliminates the need to walk. Golf courses are often quite large. Even if you’re in good shape, it’s easy to become fatigued if you have to carry your clubs and bags all over the course. A golf cart will help you conserve your energy for your golf game, and you can carry more equipment if you use a cart.

You’ll also stay sheltered from poor weather. If you walk when it’s more than 80 degrees or so outside, you’ll find that you quickly become tired and overheated in the sweltering weather. But if you take a cart along with plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated, you’ll avoid sapping your energy from excessive heat. Driving a golf cart will help you avoid heat exhaustion on the summer, and will keep you dry in the pouring spring and fall rains.

However, if you don’t often use a cart, you may have trouble remembering when to move it, or realizing how to drive it effectively. That could send you running back and forth and cause you to get in other golfers’ way, making the cart more trouble than it’s worth.

Be extra careful when driving on wet grass or soggy ground. If the ground is overly saturated or muddy, avoid the area. Be aware that most courses will not allow you to drive on the rough; this minimizes the wear and tear on the course. If your partner is old enough to drive and is in the driver’s seat, you should assume he or she will drive.

Talk to your partner about who will move the cart. That keeps you from leaving it behind and having to walk back for it. Remember that you should return to the cart path when approaching the green, and bring all appropriate clubs with you when walking to it. Be willing to bring your partner a club if needed. Remember to ask him or her if a rest stop is needed when facilities are nearby.

Decide ahead of time where you are going to put the cart, and park it where it can provide shade if there is no other source available. If you are driving and your partner’s ball is next up, pull up along the right side of the ball. Make sure the ball is located midway down the length of the cart so that your partner will have less distance to walk.

Never drive your cart while other players are hitting, and make sure not to move in front of them. When parking near the green, park the cart on the side where you’ll walk off the green. When the ball is on the side or top of a hill, park nearby, but don’t drive on the hill, as this can be dangerous.

Know how far it is to the green by reading the distances or paying attention to the location of bushes, and know how far your clubs are likely to send the ball. If you’re not sure which club you’ll need, bring more than one to avoid having to walk far to the cart again and again.

Popularity: 28% [?]