Cart
A cart is a motorised golf vehicle for the round.
The cart, also called golf cart or buggy, carries you and your bag through the round. It saves walking and energy, especially on hilly or sprawling facilities. You rent it at the club office, usually per round. Most carts are electric and designed for two people. Whether carts are allowed and which rules apply is decided by each facility itself. On wet ground they are often restricted to the paths or banned completely.
Clear rules of conduct apply on the course. You never drive onto the green, the apron or into bunker and rough edge zones with closure signs. An example: your ball lies to the right of the hole and the cart is on the path on the left. You take two clubs with you and walk the twenty metres instead of driving across the fairway. That protects the course and is etiquette. The 90-degree rule of many clubs allows you to leave the path only at a right angle to the ball.
Typical misconception: the cart does not automatically make you faster. Those who drive back and forth after every stroke lose time compared with the walker with good route planning. The pace of play of the group also matters, not just the vehicle. You can recognise facilities with cart hire in the golf course search by the corresponding feature.
FAQ
What exactly does the 90-degree rule mean when driving a cart?
You stay on the path with the cart until you are level with your ball, then drive at a right angle straight to it across the hole. After the stroke you drive straight back to the path. This distributes the tyre tracks evenly and protects the fairway.
When are carts banned on a course?
Above all after heavy rain or prolonged wetness, when the wheels would damage the ground. Then carts are either restricted to the paths or not allowed at all. When booking in bad weather, it is best to ask at the club office in advance — at some facilities this is also part of the green fee information.
Does a cart really make my round faster?
Not automatically. Those who drive all over the place after every stroke, or first drop off a playing partner and then go looking for their own ball, lose time compared with walkers with good route planning. The pace of play of the group remains decisive. The cart mainly saves energy — which on hilly courses also benefits your strokes at the end of the round.