TROLLEYFOLLIES

Guidelines for using pull-carts.

BY PATRICK J. GROSS

The popularity of pull-carts is on the rise asmore people choose to walk the course without

the strain of having to carry their clubs.

Call them what you like - pull-carts,push-carts, or trolleys - the use of thesebag-carrying devices is on the rise

throughout the United States. Many peoplechoose to use pull-carts to reduce fatigue on theshoulders, back, and legs associated with carryingtheir clubs. In many respects, pull-carts can beviewed as a positive trend, as more people chooseto walk while playing golf. In 1995, Golf Digestand the USGA published A Call to Feet, a bookletthat encouraged golfers to park their motorizedriding carts and walk the course. The brochureemphasized the many benefits of walking,including:• The health benefits of burning more caloriesand the reduction of cholesterol levels.• More enjoyment of the quality and beauty ofthe golf course.• Getting back to the tradition of the game inwhich walking the course plays a significant role.• More time for interaction and conversationwith opponents or fellow competitors.

With more golfers walking and using pull-carts, superintendents and course officials arequestioning whether pull-carts are damaging thecourse and if specific rules should be establishedfor the use of pull-carts.

A COMPARISON OF PULL-CARTSAND MOTORIZED GOLF CARTSPull-carts come in a variety of shapes, sizes, andstyles. Most hand-drawn carts generally weigh7lbs. to 17 lbs., with the weight of the cart andgolf bag distributed over two or three wheels. The

18 GREEN SECTION RECORD

older style two-wheel carts with narrow 2" tiresare gradually being replaced by newer, lightweightmodels that have a tire width of 3" to 4" forbetter weight displacement. Another developmentis the three-wheel push-cart with air-filled tiresthat are easier to push and provide better stabilityon uneven surfaces. There is an increase in popu-larity of motorized bag carriers that are propelledby a chain or drive train and powered by a smallbattery. These models are slightly heavier than thenon-motorized pull-cart. There is even experi-mentation with remote-control bag carriers thatfollow the golfer throughout the course with theuse of a small transmitter worn by the golfer andthe use of GPS technology. In general, pull-cartsare easy to maneuver and allow the golfer to walkdirectly to the ball in preparation to hit the nextshot.

In contrast, most electric and gas-powered golfcarts are relatively standard in design, with seats fortwo golfers and space at the rear of the vehicle tosecure two sets of clubs. Most motorized golf cartsweigh between 800 and 900 lbs., not countingthe added weight of two riders and golf bags. Theweight is displaced over four air-filled tires with arelatively wide contact patch over the turf.

DO PULL-CARTS CAUSE DAMAGE?Superintendents spend a significant amount oftime preventing or correcting damage caused bymotorized golf carts with programs including coreaeration, sodding ends of cart paths, and managinga network of ropes and stakes to distribute wear.Turf damage by golf carts is mostly a function of

the greater weight of the vehicle combined withthe abrasive action of the wheels during turns,starts, and stops, as well as repeated traffic over aconfined area.

Intuitively, we know that pull-carts are farlighter than motorized golf carts, but this doesnot mean that pull-carts do not damage turf.Reported damage is not so much a function ofthe physical characteristics of the pull-carts, butrather where they are taken. Concentrated foottraffic and pull-cart use in a confined area is likelyto cause thin turf conditions comparable to thedamage caused by motorized golf carts. Becausepull-carts are more maneuverable, golfers aremore inclined to take these devices in areas theywould not normally drive golf carts. Areas that aremost vulnerable include:eTees.e Green fronts (aprons).

Wide tires help,but keep themoff the collars.

Golfers with pull-carts are inclined totake the most directpath to their nextshot, even if thatmeans pulling theircart across thenarrow gap betweenthe green andsurrounding bunkers.To avoid damage,pull-carts shouldalways be taken out-side the greens andbunker surrounds.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2002 19

• Narrow areas between greens andsurrounding bunkers.• Edges of greens.• Poorly drained areas of the course.

Other concerns include the use ofpull-carts during the winter when thereis less potential for turf recovery andunrestricted pull-cart use when thecourse is excessively wet, whichcontributes to rutting and soilcompaction.

Some courses have banned the use of pull-carts,citing the smaller tires that may cause greater soilcompaction and turf damage. There is littleevidence to support this claim, which is usually anattempt to force golfers to rent motorized golfcarts. It is important to point out that any vehicle(pull-cart, motorized golf cart, or turf maintenanceequipment) will cause damage to wet, saturatedturf. Restrictions on pull-carts should be con-sidered on days when conditions are excessivelywet and there is potential for the carts to causeruts in the turf. Under relatively dry conditions,there is very little damage observed from pull-carts except in confined areas. Some of the moreexclusive clubs or high-end daily-fee courses donot like the look of pull-carts, in which case thebanning of pull-carts is a personal choice and noreflection on the perceived damage cause by pull-carts. There may be legitimate concerns regardingthe use of pull-carts due to unusually hilly terrainthat may pose a safety risk or where there is anextended distance between greens and tees thatwould slow the pace of play.

ETIQUETTE AND GUIDELINESFOR USING PULL-CARTSGolfers who choose to use pull-carts during around of golf should do so in a way that does notcause damage to the course or negatively influ-ence playing conditions. This is often a matter ofgood common sense and proper golf etiquette.Tees and greens are the most heavily traffickedsections of the golf course and appear to be theareas most prone to damage by pull-carts. Golfersare especially sensitive to turf conditions on theaprons and green banks, which are importantareas for the short game. Unnecessary traffic frompull-carts contributes to matted turf and undesir-able playing conditions around greens.

To simplify policy, many courses enforce thesame rules for pull-carts as for motorized golfcarts, i.e., carts must be kept 30 feet away from alltees and greens. Alternative policies can be formu-lated based on the following guidelines to accom-modate special circumstances at each course:• Pull-carts should have wide wheels (approxi-mately 3" to 4") or air-filled tires to displace theweight of the cart and golf bag over a wider area.The heavier battery-operated carts should notpose a concern as long as they have relativelywide wheels .• Pull-carts should be kept a reasonable distancefrom tees and greens, and they should never beparked directly on tees or greens. A reasonableguideline is to park pull-carts 15 to 30 feet fromthe edge of tees and greens. Cart paths should beused for parking pull-carts wherever they areavailable, especially around tees.

Golf coursesuperintendents spenda significant amountof time correctingdamage caused bymotorized golf carts.

20 G R. E ENS E C T [ 0 N R E COR. D

iii

Guidelines for Using Pull-Carts• Pull-carts should have wide wheels (approximately 3" to 4") or air-filled tires.

• Pull-carts should be kept 15 to 30 feet from the edges of tees and greens.

'. Pull-carts should be directed around greenside bunkers and shouldnever be taken in the narrow gap between the green and surrounding bunkers.

• Pull-carts should never be taken across excessively wet areas .

• The use of pull-carts should be suspended or restricted following periods of heavy· rainfall or under persistently wet conditions .

• Pull-carts should be directed around greensidebunkers and should never be taken in the narrowgap between the green and surrounding bunkers .• Pull-carts should never be taken across exces-sively wet areas, which is likely to cause turfdamage and rutting .• Policies that temporarily suspend the use ofpull-carts should be considered following periodsof heavy rainfall or in sections of the country thatexperience persistently wet conditions for anextended period of time.

CONCLUSIONPull-carts have made the game more enjoyablefor many golfers by allowing them to walk thecourse without the added exertion of carryingtheir clubs. Golfers have known this for years inEngland, Ireland, and Scotland, where the use of"trolleys" is common. Superintendents, golf pro-fessionals, and course officials should not beoverly concerned about the use of pull-carts sincethey are lighter weight and far easier on the turfthan larger motorized vehicles. While manycourses have policies for the use of motorizedgolf carts, few have addressed rules for the use ofpull-carts. The points discussed in this article,along with proper golf etiquette and good com-mon sense, should guide the development of suchpolicies. Encouraging golfers to walk the coursemore often, along with the possible use of a pull-cart, is better for the golfer's health, better for thecourse, and better for the game.

Pull-carts should always be kept a reasonable distance from the green to avoidmatting down the turf in the sensitive playingareas around the greens. Golfersalso should take care to avoid taking pull-carts across excessively wet areas.

REFERENCESTucker,J.W 1991. Golf Trolleys: Boon or Bane! Sports TurfBulletin. 174:3-4.

Kind, M. The Pull-Cart Bandwagon. Golf Course Manage-ment. September 1999. p. 48.

Pull-Cart Damage. Golf Course Management. July 2001.p.80.

Squires, N. 1996.Trolley Bans - Are They Really Necessary?International Turfgrass Bulletin. 194:18-19.

Turf Twisters. USGA Green Section Record. May IJune1999. p. 30.

USGA. 1995.A Call to Feet.

PATRICK GROSS is directorof the Southwest Regionoffice)based in Santa Ana) California.

SEPTEMBER,-OCTOBER 2002 21