Buggies (rant alert)

[Deleted member 15344]

perfect example of a golfer who loves his sport so why anyone would deny him some help to play is wrong .
If people abuse the privilege of buggies sort them out .
just don't group them with people who need them to carry on playing.

So as per my example and what we do - he would provide a doctors note to be able to use a buggy

We have a conditions of competition that stipulates a player must walk unless they have been authorised by the committee to use a buggy

 

[Robster59]

We have buggies for rental at our course but the course isn't designed around them whereas more modern courses are.
I am not convinced they always speed the game that much as, if you stick to buggy paths, then you could be a long away from the ball, have to walk with clubs then walk back (I know from being on buggy compulsory courses).
Anyway, who wants to rush around a course?

 

[USER1999]

What would making them slower achieve? They would damage a soft, muddy course just as much (or even more, because they stay longer in one place), and they would make the game even slower. Gettiing in and out of the buggy and walking to the ball (especially if the buggy is restricted to the path) does cost more time than taking the direct route. Especially when two players share a buggy. Add the occasional to-and-fro trip to grab another club or a provisional ball. The only reason that buggies can compete in speed with a player walking is that they go faster than normal walking speed. If you take that away, a player using a buggy will be slower.

Because idiots in buggies charge around like lunatics, spinning the wheels, sliding under braking, and generally annoying the group in front by racing up too close behind all the time.

 

[Capella]

Because idiots in buggies charge around like lunatics, spinning the wheels, sliding under braking, and generally annoying the group in front by racing up too close behind all the time.

In that case it is not the buggies that need to change though, is it? I think if someone did that at our place, they would be kindly but sternly asked to stop. And if they did not heed to that, they would be asked even more kindly and sternly to leave and never come back.

 

[Fish]

So as per my example and what we do - he would provide a doctors note to be able to use a buggy

We have a conditions of competition that stipulates a player must walk unless they have been authorised by the committee to use a buggy

So if I turned up to play in an Open at your club and my gout was playing up the night before and I felt I needed a buggy that particular day, you'd refuse me a buggy because I don't have a doctors note?

 

[Pin-seeker]

I sometimes hire a buggy if playing after work in summer.

Maybe the idiots that fly around on them think it's acceptable after watching Golf juice tv 🤔

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So if I turned up to play in an Open at your club and my gout was playing up the night before and I felt I needed a buggy that particular day, you'd refuse me a buggy because I don't have a doctors note?

I'm afraid that would be the conditions of our competition- that's the rules our members follow.

 

[Marshy77]

I'm afraid that would be the conditions of our competition- that's the rules our members follow.

That seems seriously bonkers.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

If I owned a course, my rule would be buggies for medical issues only and if it was too wet/muddy, then no buggies at all and if that means that you cant play, then I'm sorry, but keeping the course in good condition is top priority in my book


The only course I have used a buggy on is Castle Coombe, because the holes are miles apart, you have to keep to the buggy path and take 4 or 5 clubs with you when your ball is on the far side of the fairway, ok Rough!.

Didnt enjoy the buggy, but was a necessity on that particular course

 

[Deleted member 15344]

That seems seriously bonkers.

Why ? It's there in the Rules of Golf as a conditions of competition you can use - you are required to walk whilst playing the competition unless permissions is given from the comp committee and for us that includes a medical certificate.

 

[chellie]

Why ? It's there in the Rules of Golf as a conditions of competition you can use - you are required to walk whilst playing the competition unless permissions is given from the comp committee and for us that includes a medical certificate.

Same at ours for buggy use in general as well.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Same at ours for buggy use in general as well.

Same at ours for Comps, but not general play.

 

[clubchamp98]

If you are a member some where you should know the rules of the comp.
So no buggies unless medical note is fine.
The onus is then on the member to make sure the committee are aware of your condition .
If you can walk do it , if you can't buggie.
Just don't abuse it or win , that will upset a few fellow competitors.

Think this all started from the Casey Martin case in the US when he was denied a buggy even though he qualified for a USPGA TOURNAMENT.
But I do remember seeing him play after the case went to court.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

That seems seriously bonkers.

Have to agree. We pay serious money to be members and therefore compete in club comps and if I was prevented from playing because something flared up I wouldn't be happy. How many doctors, if you can get to see one, will give you a certificate, and certainly charge you for it and how long is it valid for. If someone had a condition (gout is a good example and been there, its so painful but can flare without warning) and has there name down, then it affects other members as you aren't allowed to go out in pairs at my club. Does that mean you deprive two others of entering?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Have to agree. We pay serious money to be members and therefore compete in club comps and if I was prevented from playing because something flared up I wouldn't be happy. How many doctors, if you can get to see one, will give you a certificate, and certainly charge you for it and how long is it valid for. If someone had a condition (gout is a good example and been there, its so painful but can flare without warning) and has there name down, then it affects other members as you aren't allowed to go out in pairs at my club. Does that mean you deprive two others of entering?

I'd say it's common sense that you check your Club rules, it's not in place as a punishment to people who have genuine medical conditions.
We have a couple of guys recovering from illness's, they've made the club aware and they can use a buggy in comps if they wish to enter.
At our place the buggies would get booked by those suffering hangovers at weekends or the plain lazy.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'd say it's common sense that you check your Club rules, it's not in place as a punishment to people who have genuine medical conditions.
We have a couple of guys recovering from illness's, they've made the club aware and they can use a buggy in comps if they wish to enter.
At our place the buggies would get booked by those suffering hangovers at weekends or the plain lazy.

And therein I can see where issues start but as I say, if you have an illness or condition that can flare up, there's no way of getting a doctors note in time, and indeed you can argue that many doctors will not issue one every few weeks unless you are going to be off work with it (in which case you shouldn't be golfing anyway) and most will charge each time. I understand the clubs having rules in place but there also have to be a modicum of leeway. As I said having paid a hefty sum in fees, it wouldn't sit well to be denied playing if I was suffering on a Saturday (for arguments sake) and in a comp on Sunday. Unrealistic to get any form of medical proof or exemption

 

[Deleted member 16999]

And therein I can see where issues start but as I say, if you have an illness or condition that can flare up, there's no way of getting a doctors note in time, and indeed you can argue that many doctors will not issue one every few weeks unless you are going to be off work with it (in which case you shouldn't be golfing anyway) and most will charge each time. I understand the clubs having rules in place but there also have to be a modicum of leeway. As I said having paid a hefty sum in fees, it wouldn't sit well to be denied playing if I was suffering on a Saturday (for arguments sake) and in a comp on Sunday. Unrealistic to get any form of medical proof or exemption

A letter stating your condition with no end date, committee informed, only used when required, no one said you'd need a note everytime.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

A letter stating your condition with no end date, committee informed, only used when required, no one said you'd need a note everytime.

But you can see some clubs being difficult with this. Should be simple enough and I agree with what you're saying but also trying to play devils advocate a little

 

[Deleted member 16999]

But you can see some clubs being difficult with this. Should be simple enough and I agree with what you're saying but also trying to play devils advocate a little

Or possibly over complicating it

 

[upsidedown]

I'm afraid that would be the conditions of our competition- that's the rules our members follow.

At my place they are quite relaxed about it, just 6 buggies plus members own . No worries if you want to play in comp, cant say I agree with it but there we go.

Buggies are the clubs so all proceeds back into club coffers.