FHGC Cart Usage Guidelines
Golf cart traffic can cause significant damage to grass and paths, which impacts on all players through bare lies, indentations and rough surfaces. This damage is worse when wet conditions soften the soil, or in hot or dry conditions where grass is more vulnerable, and slow to recover.
To help maintain the best playing conditions, we ask all cart users to think carefully about how and where they drive and park their carts, and to follow these guidelines which include satellite photos showing recommended paths and prohibited areas.
Only electric carts are permitted – petrol carts can only be used with management approval for specific events.
Electric Carts
Electric carts are available for hire by any player, and player owned carts are permitted. Cart hirers are responsible for the cost of repairs for any damage they cause.
Private cart breakdowns are the responsibility of the cart owner for recovery.
Electric carts may be used in all competitions with the exception of the Honour Board events involving 36 hole play in one day, where a suitable medical certificate will be required to be presented to the General Manager prior to the event. The following event requires a medical certificate:
- Men’s Club Championships (ie A Grade)
Forbidden actions:
- Do not drive on any tee bock or green, or in any penalty area.
- Do not drive closer than 3m from any green or bunker unless on a path.
- Where solid blue lines surround the approach to a green, do not drive inside the blue line unless absolutely necessary.
- Do not drive on an area that is roped off or separated by hoops.
Recommended actions
- Follow paths wherever possible, staying on the path and walking to your ball if practicable.
- Keep off fairways by driving in the rough as much as practicable, and walk to your ball.
- When crossing to the other side of a fairway, cross at right angles or diagonally.
- Avoid driving up or down steep slopes for safety reasons.
- Avoid driving over or parking on areas of grass that are damaged or worn, to allow the grass to recover.
- Avoid driving over areas that are visibly wet or soft.
- Drive at a moderate speed – there is no point in racing, only to wait for the group in front.
- Avoid sharp or fast turns, which can cause significant damage to grass.
- Accelerate and brake gently to avoid wheel-spin or skids, which severely damage grass.
- At the green, park towards the next tee to save time.
- As a passenger, hang on to your club after playing your shot and put it in your bag when the driver stops for their shot, to save time.
Guidance for each hole is included in the Course Tour, with graphical indications of the best places to drive and forbidden areas.