Push/Pull cart rules and/or etiquette...

[Alohaed]

Just read the thread "I am calling you out as a non-golfer IF........................." about parking your golf cart(motorized) on or too close to the fringe of the green. Got me thinking of my push cart. When playing, my buddies and I many times leave our carts right on fringe around the edge of the green, where we would leave for the next tee box. Not ON the green mind you. Is this a no no?

[boogielicious]

I don't believe there are any rules on this.  But, you should make sure you don't damage the green or fringe.

[scorpion12]

I don't know if it's a no-no or not... when I'm using my pull cart, I bring it up to the green... but most definitely keep it off the green itself and several feet off of the collar of the fringe.

I see several others do the same when I play also.

[caniac6]

I have heard that in the Sandbelt region of Australia, players go right across the greens with their walking carts.

[bkuehn1952]

I have been told in the past to keep pull/push carts off greens, fringes/collars, tees, bunkers and GUR.

[Fourputt]

Just read the thread "I am calling you out as a non-golfer IF........................." about parking your golf cart(motorized) on or too close to the fringe of the green. Got me thinking of my push cart. When playing, my buddies and I many times leave our carts right on fringe around the edge of the green, where we would leave for the next tee box. Not ON the green mind you. Is this a no no?

It's more of a course policy situation than a rule.  Most courses I've played ask you to keep trolleys off the green and fringe.

Etiquette does state that you do nothing to harm or damage the course.  Personally, when I used to use a trolley, I parked it outside of the fringe.  Let's face it, that's just one or two yards farther away than parking on the fringe, and it ensures that you do nothing to the course that just might influence another player's putt from the fringe.

I realize that that might be a bit overcautious, but that's how I look at it.  I really don't want to be the guy who leaves a mark or scrape on the fringe just because I was too lazy to walk another yard.

Qualifier:  I no longer walk the course so as a rider I'm careful everywhere I drive, not only as I approach the green complex.  I avoid visibly soft or wet areas anywhere in the fairway and rough for the same reason as above - I don't want to be "that guy".  I generally try to stay outside of the short game area with the cart.  Basically, I just try to pay attention whether driving or walking to minimize the impact I have on the course.

[Patch]

I usually park my trolley down range, on the way to the next hole. Never ever on/near the green area. Actually I never really thought about it till now.

[dkolo]

I keep push carts to the rough around greens. Even if that's two feet off the outing surface, I think the rough is the rough. Wouldn't let it roll over the green or the fringe / collar. Unless the course has specific rules, I assume push carts can go anywhere besides those two areas.

[No Mulligans]

I keep my pull carts off the greens and tee boxes.  Mostly off the fringe too unless I need to get by a green-side bunker, sometimes I'll walk it through the fringe (speeds up play).

Correct me if I'm wrong.  I think it's just a matter of etiquette and being polite not a matter of protecting the course.  I can't imagine how the wide wheels (4"?) of my pull cart can do more damage than a footprint from a golf shoe.  That 230 pounder putting all his weight down on one foot vs. maybe 30 lbs. of cart, clubs and bag distributed between two wheels, certainly the heavy foot does more damage.

[Keith White]

Many courses have lines painted or markers to keep all trollies and carts back from the edge of greens.  Most clubs are grateful if you keep your distance especially in wet weather when the delicate greensides are soft and wet.  It's good etiquette.  I tend to take my trolley wide around the green ready for the next tee the walk back with the putter, and a wedge if I have on of those maybe a put - maybe not ones.  This also speeds up play as when the putting is done you all head straight off in the direction of the next tee in quick time.

[Keith White]

I keep my pull carts off the greens and tee boxes.  Mostly off the fringe too unless I need to get by a green-side bunker, sometimes I'll walk it through the fringe (speeds up play).

Correct me if I'm wrong.  I think it's just a matter of etiquette and being polite not a matter of protecting the course.  I can't imagine how the wide wheels (4"?) of my pull cart can do more damage than a footprint from a golf shoe.  That 230 pounder putting all his weight down on one foot vs. maybe 30 lbs. of cart, clubs and bag distributed between two wheels, certainly the heavy foot does more damage.

It's the amount of wheels that causes the damage when the weather is bad.  Feet don't hit the same spots although they still cause some damage which is unavoidable.  If everyone moves their cart close to the edge of the green then the sheer number of roll overs by the delicate edge wrecks the grass and you end up with bare sludgy edges.

[Rulesman]

I can't imagine how the wide wheels (4"?) of my pull cart can do more damage than a footprint from a golf shoe.

They may not but they do additional damage if you are walking behind it.

Additionally, footprints are intermittent spots not a continuous line.

[Zeph]

I have been told in the past to keep pull/push carts off greens, fringes/collars, tees, bunkers and GUR.

Someone pulling a cart into a bunker would've been a sight.

[lumpuckeroo]

I never push my cart onto a green and stay off the collar as well.  I've heard, can't confirm, that the "footprint" of a push/pull cart is much less than a person, so I would consider it bad form to have a cart on a green, having it on a tee box is another story.  The course I usually play has a couple of holes where the tee box is the only place you can leave your push cart without having a long walk to leave/retrieve it, so we pull our carts onto the tee box.

[No Mulligans]

I never push my cart onto a green and stay off the collar as well.  I've heard, can't confirm, that the "footprint" of a push/pull cart is much less than a person, so I would consider it bad form to have a cart on a green, having it on a tee box is another story.  The course I usually play has a couple of holes where the tee box is the only place you can leave your push cart without having a long walk to leave/retrieve it, so we pull our carts onto the tee box.

Makes sense to me.  I've recently been looking for indentations on the courses.  I've seen cart damage, I've seen footprint indentations (and I've seen damage from the lawn mowers).  I haven't seen any damage from pull carts.  Sure seems to me that push/pull carts have the most gentle 'footprint' of anything on the course.

[rogolf]

Makes sense to me.  I've recently been looking for indentations on the courses.  I've seen cart damage, I've seen footprint indentations (and I've seen damage from the lawn mowers).  I haven't seen any damage from pull carts.  Sure seems to me that push/pull carts have the most gentle 'footprint' of anything on the course.

Yes, they probably do, but they need to be pulled or pushed by somebody, and the cumulative impact of that somebody plus the cart is greater than just the somebody.

[colin007]

if i roll over the fringe, im like "oh well"  - i mean, i try not to, but sometimes it happens and no damage is ever done.

however, i did have a starter tell me to get my push cart off the tee box.  i looked down at the plethora of divots that were on the tee and was like "really?"  lol....

[dkolo]

if i roll over the fringe, im like "oh well"  - i mean, i try not to, but sometimes it happens and no damage is ever done. however, i did have a starter tell me to get my push cart off the tee box.  i looked down at the plethora of divots that were on the tee and was like "really?"  lol....

Yeah, I have no problem putting my cart on the tee box. It's basically fairway.