Top Ten Things Not To Do on a Golf Cart

Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash

 

The golf cart has become a significant form of transportation here in Lakeway. Mainly because the town was built around several golf courses. This post originally ran on December 4, 2017. Since I see golf carts everywhere, I think it is still valid.

10 If you are on a golf cart, do not think the safety belts are there as a bit of humor. If you do, at best, you’ll get a $150.00 ticket. At worst, you will find yourself outside the cart at the first bump. (You didn’t think nineteen miles per hour could cause you to pitch out onto the street, right, Chadwick?)

9 If you are on a golf cart, do not expect Tiny, the WWF champ who has just left his weight training class, to yield to you. If you do, at best, you will miss each other in the middle of the street. At worst, Tiny will stop your cart and then show you how he can press the hardware with you on it. (Watch that trip down when Tiny drops the whole mess on the street, Chalmar.)

8 If you are on a golf cart, do not think you can ignore the traffic rules. If you do, at best, you’ll get a warning. At worst, you and the cart will be under arrest. (You gotta envy the fact that the cart gets to stay outside the jail, don’t you, Chas?)

7 If you are on a golf cart, do not try a turn at full speed. If you do, at best, you may blow a tire. At worst, as you take the curve on two wheels, all your belongings and half your family will be dumped on the street. (You will have a tough time explaining your maneuver to those in the emergency room, Chauncy.)

6 If you are on a golf cart, do not think you can go twenty miles an hour under the speed limit on the main road. If you do, at best, you’ll realize soon you need to get off. At worst, an irate driver will help you, along with little concern for your welfare. (You didn’t know a golf cart being pushed by an eighteen-wheeler could go that fast, did you, Chetwin? Also, you didn’t have that white hair before the lift, did you?)

5 If you are on a golf cart, do not think you can carry more people than the number of places to sit. If you do, at best, the golf cart won’t have enough power to move. At worst, you will lose a couple of the standing-room-only passengers on the first turn. (You say one of those thrown into a cactus patch was your boss, Clemens?)

4 If you are on a golf cart, do not think you have the right of way because you are smaller. If you do, at best, you’ll just get an air horn warning. At worst, you will be trying to return a flattened golf cart. (The cart store proprietor doesn’t have much of a sense of humor, does he, Clovis?)

3 If you are on a golf cart, do not think the police will ignore drinking and driving. If you do, at best, your friends won’t let you drive. At worst, you’ll try to explain to the officer why you think a golf cart is just a toy. (Looks like the punishment is the same as a car, Cowen. Hope you have a spare $15,000.)

2 If you are on a golf cart, do not think you have to wave to everyone you pass. If you do, at best, you’ll be taken as an idiot. At worst, people will think you are a politician and will chase you off the beach. (Oh, you are, in fact, running for office, Creighton. I would move off the beach fast.)

1 If you are on a golf cart, do not think you have to display several flags. If you do, at best, folks will think you work for the circus. At worst, all that flapping in the wind will slow you down and make you lose your hearing. (You think that the “It’s five o’clock somewhere” flag is unique, don’t you, Cydney?)

80 comments

  1. cazzycoop's avatar

    Hilarious as always thank you for putting a smile on my face on a dull wet Monday morning

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank for letting me know you liked it. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

      1. cazzycoop's avatar

        You are welcome

        Like

  2. coldhandboyack's avatar

    At least you stepped in before the pulling contest.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Liz Gauffreau's avatar

    #1 and #2 are hilarious! Any time the circus is invoked in an everyday situation, I have to laugh.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Even the wor causes me to smile. Thanks, Liz.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Liz Gauffreau's avatar

        You’re welcome, John. I like “clown” as an adjective, too, as in “clown car” and “clown college.”

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Jill Weatherholt's avatar

    Living on a golf course, I’ve seen many of these first hand. These are hilarious, John!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I’m sure you have, Jill. Thanks. 😊

      Like

  5. Charles Yallowitz's avatar

    Was looking for one that says not to take the golf cart onto the highway. Not a warning abided by in Florida.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      A lot of tickets written on that one. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  6. GP's avatar

    Good to see that Tiny is back in all his usual good humor!
    Now I have to figure out how to put this list on my neighbor’s cart as he shoots down the street, going top speed (and I think his cart is souped-up!)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      There are those everywhere. We have one as well. Too bad RPGs aren’t legal.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Kymber @booomcha's avatar

    This list is hilarious! I’m so glad I read it this morning. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I’m glad too.

      Like

  8. Teri Polen's avatar

    I frequently see teenagers driving golf carts in our neighborhood, and very few of them take safety precautions or follow traffic rules. There have been accidents with injuries – too scary.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      You have to be a licensed driver here. Still doesn’t stop parents from letting their kids drive carts.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Teri Polen's avatar

        Same here. Actually it’s illegal for anyone to drive them in the neighborhood, but they still do.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Dan Antion's avatar

    Fortunately, this is one problem we don’t have up here, John. Can you get snow tires for those things?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      That is so true. Lucky you guys.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Dale's avatar

    Sorry… I can’t do golf carts right now. We got slammed with 23 cm (10 inches) of snow and it’s still falling…
    Unless you’ve got some with snow tires?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I would take the snow over the carts any day. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale's avatar

        I’ve shovelled thrice since last night. I am quickly losing the love…

        Liked by 1 person

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          I think the effort has you in a medieval mood.Thrice?

          Liked by 1 person

        2. Dale's avatar

          Haha! I have added yet another… thrice no longer suffice!

          Liked by 1 person

  11. noelleg44's avatar

    VERY apropos for today since I spent three hours on a golf cart tour at the NC Zoo yesterday! And I must admit I wanted to push the accelerator since our guide seemed determined to keep to 1 mph (but he was good driver!)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Ha ha ha. I’ll bet the tour was great, though.

      Like

      1. noelleg44's avatar

        Yes, it was – we saw lots of rhinos, orexes, giraffes, a lion, arctic foxes, a huge grizzly bear, chimps, and gorillas. With time to savor seeing them all.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          Excellent, Noelle.

          Like

  12. D.L. Finn, Author's avatar
    D.L. Finn, Author · ·

    Great advice, John 🙂 I have not been in a golf cart since I was a girl, way back then there were no safety belts and I loved driving them.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Redwood country isn’t the best place for a golf cart for sure. Thanks, Denise.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. shoreacres's avatar

    I despise these things. Around here, they’re usually unlicensed, overloaded, unwilling to abide by traffic signals, and carry too many untrained dogs and unsecured children. If the people who write the laws about their use would enforce those laws, things would be better. (See: shoplifting and unprovoked assault.) Grumpgrumpgrump.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I’m i the same Grumpgrunpgrump place you are. When we were at the coast the tourists on carts drove us nuts.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Debbie's avatar

    I’m kind of with Linda (shoreacres) on this one. Golf carts really belong on a golf course, not on main roads. I’ve seen a few in my community (mostly driven by kids, who seem to think they’re just oversized toys). Now I’ll hop off my soapbox!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      You are entitled to be on the box. I certainly am.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Sue Coletta's avatar

    Hahaha. These lists are such fun, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I’m glad you like them Sue.

      Like

  16. walkingoffthechessboard's avatar

    I haven’t driven one in ages, but from my experience it is best to “test-drive” a golf cart before speeding through the course. I came close to becoming embedded in a sand trap once…not my ball…the cart.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I had to use one to escape an alligator that was hanging out at a water hazard.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. lois's avatar

    #5. I need Tiny to show those kids across the street that he can, indeed, benchpress those little punks and the golf cart! 💪

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Hell be right over after he finishes the Olympic golf cart toss.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. lois's avatar

        hahah!! I am such a fan of Tiny! 🤣

        Liked by 1 person

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          He is unique for sure.

          Liked by 1 person

  18. Gwen M. Plano's avatar
    Gwen M. Plano · ·

    The only time I’ve ridden in or driven these carts is at a large college, where I needed to get to various campus locations for meetings. It took a while to get used to the electrical brakes. Got a few stories on that one. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I’m sure you do. I had a cart but it had mechanical brakes. Can’t imagine electrical ones.

      Like

  19. Author Jan Sikes's avatar

    Lol! Too funny! I’ve never owned a golf cart, but have driven several at music festivals. The bumps can certainly jar you off your seat. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      So easy. Thanks, Jan

      Like

  20. T. W. Dittmer's avatar

    Good, John! It’s best not to drink while driving, even on a golf cart. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Marie A Bailey's avatar

    Some of the comments here are as funny as your list, John 😉 My former office is near a development that had a golf course and encouraged golf carts to be used as general transportation. I went to great pains to avoid them when I went on my lunchtime walks. Once I saw a teenager drive his golf cart into a mailbox. He was looking behind for some goodness-knows-what reason. I saw the whole thing, my mouth hanging open in shock. He took off, of course, although I’m pretty sure he saw me see him. I called the cops and let them know since I expected they would hear from the homeowners. I can hope that he damaged the golf cart enough to provoke the ire of his parents 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      One can only hope. Thanks, Marie.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Sorryless's avatar

    Always yield to Tiny, and no wheelies.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Yes, Tiny has the natural right of way. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

  23. petespringer's avatar
    petespringerauthor · ·

    Good list, John. I don’t golf much, but one of the funniest things I ever saw was watching a guy accidentally drive a cart into a water hole. Fortunately, he was fine. (Not sure about the cart>)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I have seen stuff lie that on Instagram. Can’t help but laugh. If the cart is electric it is most likely a goner. Thanks, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. karenringalls's avatar

    All good points, John. I live in a golf cart community so I see a lot of the “ten not things to do” occurring.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I’ll bet you do. Thanks, Karen.

      Like

  25. Jennie's avatar

    So funny, John!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Glad you liked it, Jennie. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

  26. cheryloreglia's avatar

    These are great. I don’t have much experience with golf carts but I totally agree with what you wrote here. Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you Cheryl. I have never met a golf cart I liked.

      Like

  27. Lauren Scott, Author's avatar

    More hilarity, John, and these evoke a memory of when I was 13 or so, driving a golf cart on a golf course, and then hitting a sprinkler. It was a bit messy. 😂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I would guess a sprinkler hit would be a bit messy. Thanks, Lauren

      Liked by 1 person

  28. markbierman's avatar

    Ah, the golf cart community sounds entertaining! Up here it’s 4wheelers and side by sides.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I can imagine. 😊 A little faster and a lot louder.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. markbierman's avatar

        You bet. But I like the golf cart list better.

        Liked by 1 person

  29. dgkaye's avatar

    These were fun John. And number 6, I didn’t know there were slow poke rules for golf carts too. 🙂

    Like

  30. Andrew Joyce's avatar

    Do golf carts really have safety belts and flags nowadays? Geeze … what have we become?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      And license plates. What have we become indeed.

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Ankur Mithal's avatar

    You are kidding me. These things are allowed to drive on roads, alongside regular cars? Someone could get hurt. And not the car occupants. BTW, the carts on courses in India do not have seat belts. At least I have never seen them used. But hang on, by that logic, I haven’t seen even occupants of regular cars on regular roads use seat belts.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Yeah, some folks view belts as a bother. Yes these things are on roads where the speed limit is 30 MPH. It is crazy I know.

      Like