medical certificate for golf buggy

asimonov

hey,

This is my first ever boards post - so hopefully i'll do this right.

I've been a member of a parkland southeast club for over 20 years, and my dad has been a member for 20 years before that. He is 73 now, and in fairness is starting to slow down a little. He has been using a golf cart for about a year, as he struggles to complete 18 holes walking. In the last few weeks our course has brought in a rule stating that you need to produce a medical certificate to use a buggy for the club competitions (medals, hampers etc). My dad has gone apoplectic (as only 73 year olds can!), he feels that he has always played golf as a sport of good character, honour and intregrity and that he shouldn't be made prove he needs to have a buggy. I agree with him on this.

However being stubborn, he's refusing to get the certificate, so when we play fourball together our scores don't count!!!

is this common practice in other clubs around ireland, is it a mandatory GUI stipulation, any thoughts from anyone else (in dealing with the club or my dad)??

thanks

1916

To be honest medi cert is pretty common practice for carts.

I'm of the view that you should be able to use them if you want, competition or not. Afterall you could have a caddy with you and that is not penalised. The only thing you don't do v's have a caddy is walk the 4- 4 1/2 miles or so, so what?

I was out yesterday and came across a 94 yr old playing 9 holes, he was pushing a trolley and TBH didn't look like a 94 yr old and had a decent shot also, so hats off to him big time :cool:

1916

stockdam

I guess it depends on why clubs are doing this.

Maybe they feel that they want to limit the number of carts on the course to stop damage.

But it does seem that they feel that people with carts get an advantage. I think that's a very weak argument and somebody has lost sight of the bigger picture. All of us play for one reason.....enjoyment. We don't play to win prizes. I prefer to walk but I don't see much advantage in using a cart - my scoring is still pathetic. Ok if it's raining then a cart would be a slight advantage.

If anyone struggles to walk round then they shouldn't need a certificate. Anyone over say 65 should be entitled to use a cart.

asimonov

Thanks lads, my gut feeling is that the "committee" feel that using a buggy gives some players an advantage - but i def. think that over a certain age you should be exempt from having to produce one.

As with many contentious "golf club" decisions - its often the communications that's the problem...if they had a valid reason it should have been included in the weeky email or just anything more than an a4 notice in the pro-shop announcing the new rule.

1916

All of us play for one reason.....enjoyment. We don't play to win prizes. I prefer to walk but I don't see much advantage in using a cart QUOTE]

I totally agree, if I wanted a piece of cristal or sports bag, I'd go down to a shop and buy it, for me my scoring is little effected if I use a buggy (typically in an away course in non competition, v's not using one in my home course). I just don't care if somone uses one and win's a prize, so what. Its the fresh air and thoughts of having played well myself that motivates me. I've only won one prize in my life and that was a scramble with 3 others. For those that seek prizes each week, I've the luxury of buying them if I really want. If I can knock 1 shot off my previous best thats prize enough for me

1916