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Should
Private Golf Clubs Embrace Single
Rider Golf Cars? --Mitchell
L. Stump Single
rider golf cars will be in the news in upcoming months as the Department
of Justice attempts to finalize regulations regarding ADA accessibility
and its application to recreational facilities and programs.
Private Golf Clubs may or may not be affected by the regulations
but there is one topic that I believe Private Golf Clubs should embrace.
Thus my question: Should Private Golf Clubs endorse single rider
golf cars for their Members What
Is A Single Rider Golf Car? In
simple terms, a single rider golf car is a specially designed golf car for
an individual with a disability that allows him/her the opportunity to
participate in the game of golf. Why
Private Clubs? Generally,
individuals belonging to Private Golf Clubs have already demonstrated a
passion for the game of golf. Those
individuals obsessed with the game would do just about anything for an
opportunity to play one more round. Because
full golf Members generally pay the highest amount of dues, Private Clubs
benefit when a Member remains in full golf status.
Downgrading to a social Member, due to a disability, reduces the
amount of income a Club receives in dues and other golf related fees.
Would a single rider golf car assist Members in resuming their
golfing activities, adding value to their Club Membership? What
Is A Disability? Disabilities
come in various forms and fashions. Clearly,
a person who requires the use of a wheelchair outwardly demonstrates they
have some form of disability. Private
Golf Club Members may experience any number of temporary or permanent
disabilities during their Membership tenure at a Club.
From a cast on a broken ankle to knee and hip replacements, from
bi-pass surgery to having a stroke, and from recovering from an automobile
accident to simply aging, Members occasionally find it difficult to
continue their golfing experience with their comrades.
How
Are Disabled Individuals Helped? Some
individuals with disabilities are unable to walk great distances or need
some support when swinging a golf club.
Others may have use of their upper body but not their lower body. Single rider golf cars are designed and equipped to be
operated by individuals with disabilities and to be driven to the ball, no
matter where the ball is located, some even onto the putting green.
(Yes, onto the putting green.)
Manufacturers state that the pounds per square inch of some single
rider golf car tires are less than that of a human’s foot print.
Thus, with proper usage, driving up to and on the teeing ground and
putting green should be acceptable for the disabled using a specially
manufactured single rider golf car. Introduction
Of Single Rider Golf Cars To The Club As
with anything revolutionary and new, there needs to be a process of
introduction of single rider golf cars to the superintendent, golf staff
and Members of a Private Golf Club. After
the superintendent, I would suggest that the bag staff may be one of the
most important groups to learn the benefits of a single rider golf car.
Most often, they have the pulse of the golfing membership, knowing
and observing who is coming and going and discussing ailments with
Members. If the bag staff
understands who a single rider golf car would benefit, they can suggest
and encourage the proper use to the appropriate Member or guest.
Experience
Single Rider Golf Cars The
only way to fully understand the potential benefits of a single rider golf
car is to actually use one on the golf course.
Golf staff employees, as well as Club Board Members should be
encouraged to take one of these golf cars out for a test drive, attempting
to use the car exactly as a person with a disability would.
Drive the car to the driving tee, up to the green and even onto the
green to learn first hand how the car handles and that it does not damage
the course. This would also
be useful in providing instruction to a new user before a Member embarks
on a new experience. Golfers
will undoubtedly be skeptical at first.
Clubs may want to plan a specially designed event to introduce
these cars and give Members the opportunity to try one, even though they
are not currently disabled. Whether
it is during a club demo day or designating a golf hole during a charity
scramble golf tournament for the longest drive while sitting on the single
rider golf car, the golf staff must be seen as extremely positive about
single rider golf cars. Eliminating
the stigma that can be associated with a person using an aid to play golf
will go a long way in making the game all inclusive.
Occasionally allowing single rider cars to be used by singles or in
threesomes will assist tremendously in reducing the stigma that they are
only for golfers with disabilities. Set
some ground rules for their use and then track the reactions by your
Members. See if single rider
cars are truly an added benefit to your Membership. Consider
The Possibilities
Dismissing
To Quick? Will
a Private Golf Club dismiss single rider golf cars to quick?
My initial observations tell me that they may because Clubs already
let their Members drive up to the greens if they have a medical need.
This assists the person that cannot easily walk from the cart path
to the green. Single rider
cars provide benefits far beyond the issue of not being able to walk a
long distance. Hand controls
can bring additional individuals to the game while a swivel seat makes for
easy entrance and exit. Additionally,
there is a whole segment of society that may consider Private Club
membership if they are now able to play the game with their disability. Should
A Club Own Single Rider Golf Cars? Should
Private Golf Clubs view the single rider golf car as an added value to an
already exceptional Club experience?
I believe that it can be. I
am not suggesting Clubs need to purchase a fleet of single rider cars.
Clubs should accommodate Members and their guests that need some
assistance due to their disabilities.
Even if a Private Club elects not to purchase a single rider golf
car, they may want to consider allowing Members to purchase their own
specially equipped car to be used on the course. Clubs may want to inform
Members and prospective Members of the new technology in golf equipment
that can make the game even more inclusive.
While selling longer distance golf balls and larger faced drivers,
golf pros could educate Members about golf car advancements to keep the
Member or prospective Member in the game. Concluding
Comments The
ADA laws may not require Private Golf Clubs to make their golf facilities
any more accessible than they now are.
Taking the lead in going the next step to provide a golf car
specifically manufactured with special features could assist a Private
Golf Club in obtaining and retaining Full Golf Members.
Visit
the NAAG Web site www.accessgolf.org/news
for additional information regarding single rider cars. Copyright © 2006 Private Club Advisor. All rights reserved. |
