I snapped the photo above at Richter Park last weekend, as play resumed after a rain delay.
I was extremely impressed with this golfer's simple but stylish outfit, and the way it perfectly matched her bag... and even her pull cart. She had the whole thing going on, including her game which, I later observed, was stellar.
Of course I immediately donated my standard black pull cart to
Then yesterday, as I was researching my prospective purchase, I came upon an interesting post by Heather, whose new blog, Real Women Golf brings a fun new voice to golf blogosphere. In her post...and in an accompanying survey...Heather asks, "Should pull carts be allowed on course?" It seems there are courses that allow golfers to carry their bags, but don't allow pull carts...largely for aesthetic reasons! Then there are others that only allow aspiring pullers to use course provided wheels thus ensuring uniformity.
I've got to admit, I've never encountered this practice myself, but then again, any time I play at an ulraluxe course I'm usually playing with Nick. And if you play with Nick and his panoply of
So, have you experienced pull cart prejudice anywhere? ... or is this just an isolated case of rules overreach by condescending country club officials? And what do you think of the issue? Weigh in here ...and with Heather's survey at Real Women Golf.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a pink pull cart to pursue.
I haven't witnessed that first hand. To me, it's kind of insane. We should be ecstatic that players are willing to walk (though, courses probably don't like lost cart revenue, but the damage they do to the course is usually unwelcome too). I imagine keeping caddies employed is also part of the equation.
ReplyDeleteI certainly don't get the idea that pull carts are eyesores. That sounds more like a "those people are not welcome here" kind of complaint.
I agree, I find it awful that pull cart would be prohibited. But then I did play at a Trump course last year and if I remember correctly carts AND caddies were REQUIRED. So pull cart weren't even a possibility. Maybe that's the kind of course Heather was talking about ... and maybe that's why the Donald is so rich! ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't think the babe in your photo would like it much if someone told her her cart was an eyesore.
ReplyDeleteactually she has a "push" cart. the 3 wheeling, ergonomicly correct type from sun mountain - i think.
ReplyDeletethey are an amazing addition to golfing - as they just gobble up the hills.
i recently played a full week - at montauk downs, six days in a row!!!- my absolute favorite course- and they now rent these babies.
since the usga promotes walking (rather quietly so as to not be too controversial) it is hard for me to imagine a course banning push or pull arts but in the land of private clubs with executive committees dating from the 19th century -- anything is possible.
Leave it to Trump to outlaw pull carts.
ReplyDeleteGeez - now your hubby is going to have to get ANOTHER job to afford ANOTHER golf habit since you'll be needing a bunch of carts to match your outfits and bags !! lol
ReplyDeleteI've been to courses that restricted pull cart use to the ones owned by the course, and courses that don't allow pull carts because they don't allow walking, but I have never heard of a course outlawing pullcarts on the basis of "aesthetics" ??? There are a lot of courses with some crazy rules, but that's a new one on me. What does that even mean and how do you even come up with that excuse ???
How did these things get to be called PULL carts anyway. They are designed to be pushed.
You know sometimes you forget just how old school some of the courses still are until you try and do something as simple as getting different style cart and then find out you are banned. It's really silly if you ask me
ReplyDeletei think pull/push carts are ok as long as thet're not remote controlled..... now those are obnoxious!
ReplyDeleteI think it all depends on the marketing strategy of the particular club or course. Country Clubs have their traditions and as private clubs they're free to make what ever rules they want. A Trump-like golf course is positioning itself to offer a luxury experience and seeks customers who'll appreciate that and the rules that go with it. The vast majority of public courses though I think would allow any kind of cart, pull, push, remote controlled...as long as the fees were paid.
ReplyDeleteBeck - I played a 400 year old course in Scotland that rents remote controlled carts right alongside the manual push carts.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the club is trying to find a way to make some money. They should lose the snobbery and just charge a trail fee if you want to use your own cart.
ReplyDeleteHowever, my club is not too snobbish- we are just trying to find a way to get the shirts tucked in and the hats on straight. Then maybe we will start to work on cargos and such. And for me? I am about to start wearing a kilt to play in tournaments, that is going to come up in board meetings!
My club also just started allowing private carts, and so instead of the blah dull white carts of the club, now we have some red, blue, green and camo carts about- so push cart colors better not start being an issue!
I have heard from a fellow walking buddy, that he actually favors disallowing walking at least on one course (we have two) on Saturday and Sunday mornings- for speed purposes. I hope this doesn't catch on as an idea- until the 90 degree summer days I had walked almost exclusively this year. Plus, I maintain a foursome walking to each of their balls plays just as fast as two pairs of golfers in a foursome.
The push carts are great, and as one of the anonymous responders wrote, it's a Sun Mountain Speed Cart. They've taken over at our club. You can also get it with an umbrella holder. Essential for the Pacific NW!
ReplyDeleteAnon - tell your walking buddy that there is no statistical proof that riding is faster than walking. Unless you're playing behind the Havacamp's, of course. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is only an issue in the US. In europe it's usual to walk. Anytime I'm in the US (what I really enjoy) and play Golf I have to take a cart, which is very unusual to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for the stylish pull carts....As much as some golfers hate to admit it, style IS a part of golf. I treat my golf bags like sweetie treats purses - they have to complement the whole package.....or at the least not RUIN it.
ReplyDeleteI've not experienced any "Pull Cart Bigotry" in my travels...let's hope it is not a trend.
"sweetie treats purses" ? never heard that one. Sounds like a British phrase. Is it ? What's a "sweetie treats purse" ?
ReplyDeleteI do know of one course that did not allow push/pull carts because they wanted to keep their caddies employed. However, they have since relented and now allow push/pull carts.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe any club would dictate what color push cart you can use. After all, they don't dictate what color golf bag you use, right? It's the golfer's personal property. We certainly don't attempt to tell people what color cart to use at our course, and it's a private, member-owned club. By the way, the tricycle push-type of speed carts are all anyone uses anymore, except for the random guest who may have an old style two-wheel pull cart. Even our rental carts are 3 wheel pushers. They're SO much easier to move and so convenient.