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ParScooter™ : Please
follow your Golf Course Cart Path Rules
Adapted
from the Golf
Course Superintendents Association of America.
Golf cars are a
convenience enjoyed by millions of players and a necessity for
many golfers with disabilities. The ParScooter is not a medically
approved transporter for people with severe disabilities. When
these devices are driven improperly, they can cause serious
damage to the course. More important, unsafe operation can lead
to accidents and injuries. Here is some information about the
use of golf cars and how to use your ParScooter responsibly.
Interesting facts
The first golf car
was invented in the late 1940s strictly for people with disabilities.
About two-thirds of all regulation 18-hole rounds are played
with golf cars (NGF, 1994).
Several states now allow golf cars to be registered for "street"
usage.
Please check with your local state regulations or development
association regarding the use of your ParScooter on streets
and development roads.
Since the introduction of golf cars, caddie usage has dropped
to only 1 percent of regulation rounds (NGF, 1994).
Safety first
Golf cars should
only be operated from the driver's side.
Never drive with more than two occupants or allow riders on
the back of the car. No passengers are allowed on your ParScooter
as it is only designed to hold one person.
Be sure your passenger is fully seated and check for obstructions
before moving.
Keep your entire body -- particularly your feet -- inside the
car when moving.
Drive slowly through turns and drive straight and slow up and
down slopes.
Be certain to set the brake when coming to a complete stop.
Use extra care when operating a golf car or ParScooter on hills,
wet turf, loose surfaces or rough terrain.
Remove the key when the golf car is not in use. Shut off the
ParScooter when not in use.
Do not operate either a golf car or the ParScooter when impaired
by alcohol or drugs.
Golf cars and ParScooters do not provide protection from lightning
-- seek appropriate shelter if lightning is present. If it rains
during play, cover your ParScooter with a water resistant cover.
Follow the rules
The wear-and-tear
of golf car traffic can cause unsightly and expensive damage
to the golf course. Tire ruts in soft, wet areas can take weeks
to heal. Compaction caused by heavy traffic can also ruin the
playing surface. You can help prevent damage by following the
course's standard golf car policy and obeying temporary restrictions
caused by weather, construction or other factors.
Drive friendly
If you "drive friendly," your use of a golf car or
ParScooter won't impede the play of others and may actually
improve course management.:
Park your golf car
or ParScooter behind or beside the green -- never in front --
to allow players behind you to hit sooner after you've finished
the hole. (You should generally always avoid driving a golf
car or ParScooter into the "approach" area 20 to 30
yards in front of the green.)
Stop your vehicle to avoid distracting a nearby player who is
preparing to hit a shot.
Never drive into yards or neighboring properties.
General tips
Never drive a golf
car or ParScooter through standing water in fairways or any
turf areas that are obviously wet.
Never drive onto a green, collar or tee or any marked hazard.
Never drive into any area that has been recently seeded or sodded.
Avoid abrupt stops and sharp turns that cause skidding.
Spread out wear-and-tear by avoiding compacted areas.
If golf cars or ParScooters are allowed in the fairway, follow
the 90-degree rule: Stay on the path until you come even with
your ball, then make a 90-degree turn into the fairway and drive
directly to your ball. After your shot, drive directly back
to the path.
Watch for special signage or other markers that direct traffic.
Avoid driving over sprinkler heads and yardage markers.
Don't drive into out-of-play areas that may be environmentally
sensitive (such as wildflower patches, native grass plantings
and marshes).
Avoid pulling off the path near tees and greens.
Keep all four tires on the path whenever possible. Do not park
with tires off the path.
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