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Operating Golf Carts

By September 7, 2022April 17th, 2023Auto/Transportation

Golf Carts in Your Ministry

Golf carts have a variety of uses among churches and schools from transporting people to and from parking areas and staff use for building and grounds maintenance tasks. 

Safety is important for any kind of vehicle, but all vehicles come with risk.  Golf carts are no exception.  To ensure safety, it’s a good idea to adhere to the following safety guidelines.

  • Set An Age Limit: We recommend that for the operation of any vehicle transporting people that the minimum age be 25.  To be consistent, you should extend this same minimum driving age to your golf carts.
  • Require a driver’s license:  While it may be legal to operate a golf cart without a driver’s license, driving privileges should be limited to licensed drivers.
  • Set a speed limit:  Most golf carts travel no faster than 15 miles an hour, but some carts can go up to 25-30 miles per hour.  If the maximum speed of the cart exceeds 15 miles an hour, it would be a good idea to set a speed limit.  At higher speeds, passengers could be tossed from the vehicle on sharp turns, if the cart hits an obstruction, or pedestrians could be hurt if the cart hits them.
  • Take Precautions With Children:Transporting children is dangerous since they may not be able to hold on effectively.  If childen are allowed on the golf cart, they should not be transported without the presence of an adult.  If a parent is helping a child hold on, he/she needs to have one hand free to hold onto the cart. 
  • Exercise Care: Reduce speed when turning and avoid sharp turns as golf carts tend to be top heavy and can easily topple over.  Require every person in the golf cart to remain seated. Keep arms and legs inside the cart while it’s in motion.  Lastly, wait until the golf cart comes to a complete stop before entering or exiting the cart.
  • Reduce Distractions:  This would include the use of cell phones or other communication devices, eating or drinking.
  • Be Careful In Parking Lots:  Cars and pedestrians make for a maze of potential accidents.  Drivers should exercise special care when moving through parking lots, always yielding to pedestrians and vehicles.  Following a routine path of travel would help in this.
  • Passenger Capacity:  Do not transport more passengers than the golf cart is designed to carry.

By following best practices for safe golf cart operation, your ministry can enjoy the use of these vehicles and maximize their usefulness.