Over the last couple of years many golfers have encountered a course that was allowing only one person to cart. During those rounds, it was discovered that it significantly speeds up the pace of play because everybody goes to their own golf ball rather than sitting around waiting for someone to hit before moving on.
As the calendar moved forward, rules became more lax and we are back to two in each cart when riding, despite courses being busier, slower and more expensive. This draws back the unique precedent set during the pandemic of faster golf being obtainable even with courses as busy as ever.
Enter the single rider carts. Have you used any of the models out there? Did you notice the impact on pace of play? What have you tried and most importantly, did you enjoy it?
I often end up the only walker with a cart group. I am slower than a cart moving from point A to B, but that is never the cause of slow play in my experience.
I’ve also used the Finn Cycle and it’s amazing. Speeds play in two ways: 1) as described above. 2) At our course the only place Finn Cycles cannot go is on the greens and in bunkers. Otherwise, anywhere is good… green fringe, tee boxes, etc.
But they did help pace of play.
It has been shown in nearly every test done that going directly to ball rather than sitting in a cart while someone hits before going to the next ball is a huge detriment.
I can say that a course we were just at (Hammock Beach) did this test and rounds on average were 18 minutes faster using single riders.
Correct they dont. Yet in a single cart, they would be going to their ball and would have their clubs directly next to them.
I rode this at True Blue. I was a single and can’t attest to pace of play as I went off early. Wish I would have gotten the Finn scooter instead this felt like I was on a riding lawnmower ?
There is no way that they "can’t" help pace.. Unless you get a bunch of fools just riding around drunk joyriding and not really playing golf.
The old lady at Walmart called.. She wants her rascal back.. lol.
Sure it can help in theory but overall behavior easily negates it. It’s like driving a race car for in town stop and go traffic. Ain’t gonna help.
It looks like something an old lady would ride into a bathtub that has the door on it because she can’t stand. lol
Totally agree. Its the old adage that walking is as fast as riding for this very reason…Now make the walking Usain Bolt pace.
That’s exactly how I felt?
At Caledonia. We had 3 Finns and one cart in our group So basically this idea of solo riders. I think it for sure added to the efficiency of the round but took nothing away from the conversation or comradery of it.
I think there’s a spectrum of physical activity that riders expect and/or need. The golf boards/bikes are probably intimidating for a lot of folks expecting to ride around sitting on a cart with a roof. Solo carts might be a more appealing option to those folks, but a solo cart and a double cart probably aren’t that different in costs for a course to fully commit to a fleet of solo carts.
I am to the point that I will play less golf if faced with going to a course and playing as a single and being forced into a cart with a random. I am also not going to pay $30 to ride by myself. It isn’t the money; it makes me look like an anti-social dbag. I did it once when there was a threesome and the starter told me if I wanted my cart I had to pay extra. I did and the guys didn’t seem to care for me doing it.
none of the courses i regularly play have a single rider piece of equipment. I would love I they did.
It can also be undoubtedly more harsh on a golf course depending on the type.
The Finn looks like it could be fun. I have no doubt single carts should speed up play. Im also guessing there are some people no matter what will be slow. I play with a regular group on weekends carts included in our membership so everybody rides . Our group when possible one person goes to their ball with the cart and the other jumps out, grabs a couple clubs and goes to their ball. We play at a pretty good pace , enjoy the round and have fun. Unfortunately people don’t have the common sense all the time to do this and its tough to see 2 carts parked together waiting for one person to hit. I enjoy the company of the people I play with and enjoy riding together while at the same time moving along. A question I would have is cost wise shifting from a fleet of two rider carts to single carts would that greatly increase the cost of operating the carts for the Course ?
I get that but I think those people will still be slow. They may not go directly to their ball, won’t have thought about distance, club etc. Slow golfers are slow it doesn’t matter how they get to their ball.
Initial layout might be more if they already have two person, but assuming buying both new, cost would be very similar, perhaps even cheaper
One muni I played that had Segway golf vehicles showed no improvement in overall round time, even if your foursome all used Segways. You just got to wait longer on the next tee because the groups in front of you were all slow.
They lease and its up after this season. Definitely will look into this
I can’t help myself, it just happens. ?
Its an interesting proposition for courses, because golfers have repeatedly shown they do not deal all that well with change. But pace of play continues to plague us all.
I have never seen results of a study, but I have to think a foursome walking plays faster than a foursome riding; with the caveat that it is not a quarter mile from green to next tee.
Studies have actually shown the opposite with extremes in either side slowing things down considerably.
A single rider foursome would be significantly faster than walkers on nearly any golf course.
If my course let me use one, I’d buy.