When the golfer receives the golf cart he may be told to stay on the cart path, use the 90 degree rule or scatter.  To scatter means that once you leave the teeing area you may continue on the course toward your ball.  When you are asked to follow the 90 degree rule that means you may leave the cart path at 90 degrees toward your ball and after making the stroke return back to the cart at 90 degrees.  Of course if you did not hit the ball too far you may drive to it and then return back to the cart path.

When you first receive the cart make sure the golf bag is securely strapped, as it may otherwise fall off. How embarrassing!

Tuck all paraphernalia well in the back basket so they don’t slip out when driving on the course or in the rough. Avoid putting your wallet, cell phone, keys, or valuables in cubby hole area.

On cold mornings use the choke to help start the cart if there is one available. 

Ride with both feet inside the cart.  If you come to an uneven area in the cart path and your leg is hanging out you may break your ankle.  Please do not attempt to stop the cart with your feet.

Place your club back into your bag before you return to the cart and take off. Riding the cart with a club in your hand is very dangerous.  A quick stop, sudden jerk, or going over a bump may cause the club to hit your face or body or even cause and eye injury. 

Many carts have a brake pedal that has two parts or sections.  If you press the lower part before you accelerate, the brake pedal will disengage and allow you to press the accelerator pedal easier and not experience a loud and jerky start.

Report any noticeable problems you may see or have encountered with the golf cart to the pro shop.  Examples of problems are:  soft brakes, jerky movements, an unfamiliar noise, low tire, flat tire, a branch stuck underneath the golf cart, a broken windshield, the cover for clubs not working properly, the steering wheel seems too tight, or the cart seems to be lacking power or running out of gas.

When playing on the course keep a lid on your beverage.  This is especially needed on sugared drinks in order to keep the bees away.  Spillage on the floor may not be noticeable by another person that later uses that cart. Let the cart person know if you spill a drink so that the cart may be washed.  There are many people allergic to bees.

Birds love to fly around the course.  What are they waiting or looking for?  They wait till you leave the cart and steal your snacks.  Protect your snack by keeping them securely closed and out of their sight and reach.

When you are asked to use the cart path only, try to avoid going off it, even the slightest bit.  The tires may erode areas adjacent to the cart paths making the course look bad.

If your golf ball is on a mound please do not drive the cart on the mound. The golf cart could tip over.

Golf carts have no place in a sand trap.

Drive slowly over a bridge.

Avoid soft areas of the course and thick grassy areas where the cart may get stuck.

Do not drive the carts behind the green.

If a cart gets stuck in a soft area, please ask for assistance.

Keep the golf cart at a reasonable distance from the edge of a lake or pond.

As you approach the green, when you are about thirty feet away, go to the cart path and drive the cart to the end of the green or past the green.  There are a number of good reasons why you would do this.

1.    You will maintain that area in front of the green in excellent shape for golfers to make their critical chip shots.

2.    You will be out of the way of the group behind you approaching the green.  The group behind you will not have to wait until you put the clubs in your bag and then move the cart. The pace of play on the course will be enhanced.

3.    The most important reason, to me, for taking your cart to the end of the green or past the green is that you can get a lot of information that will help you decide how to execute your next shot.  You are able to see the surface of the green easier, determine if there are any swales (low lying areas or depressions on the green), see the various levels or tilts on the putting surface (tiers), visualize the breaks and finally see what trouble there may be behind the green. This information that your brain gathers and assimilates as you approach the green will aid you in choosing the correct line for your putt.

 A golf cart can do a lot of damage to a golf course.  Even a small damage can affect your shot making.  Golf is a wonderful game.  The game of golf is not easy.  Why make it more difficult? Take care of the golf course when driving the golf cart.

Some courses do not permit the cart on the parking lot.  If the golfer is allowed to go to his car with the cart take precaution and drive slowly.  Coming around corners be aware of other carts and cars that may be coming along the wrong side.  As I was returning my golf cart, another cart came around the corner on the wrong side and hit my cart head on. I was thrown out of the cart. I landed on my shoulder and tore my rotator cuff and injured my thumb.  My thumb was in a brace for eight weeks. A good day of golf was spoiled.

The golf cart is not a shelter.  When there is lightning nearby seek shelter. The golf cart is not a shelter.