Every summer, when the heat and humidity intensify, we begin fielding requests to use a golf cart on the fairways. Before we discuss the dynamics of that conversation, let's revisit the current KGC policy regarding cart usage:
In the fall of 2019, the decision was made, at the board level, to restrict all golf cart usage to the cart paths, unless the member registered for a medical exemption and was approved by the club. And even with a medical exemption, the club always reserves the right to declare cart path only with no exceptions. Periods of no exceptions will normally involve saturated turf, excessive heat or special projects.
Going back to the opening paragraph and fielding requests for cart access on the turf... we never want to disappoint a member or a guest and we fully understand the annoyance that CPO can bring to the player. I am an avid player in the fall and spring and would rather walk and carry than go back and forth to a cart that is restricted to the paths. However, our policy and/or decision to declare no exceptions is never arbitrary or capricious. Those decisions are always made with the utmost respect and empathy for our members and guests, but will always yield to the condition of the turf.
This photo captures cart tracks across the 10th fairway. These tracks were made in the early afternoon of a warm day. Although faint in this photo, these tracks digressed and turned orange as the grass thinned down. I will not bore you with all of the details, but the fact is this... if you drive a cart over bent grass that is over-heated and stressed, the grass will collapse, plant cells will rupture and discolored, thin turf will be the result.
So back to our original thoughts...
1. We never want to disappoint our members or their guests.
2. We empathize with the annoyance of CPO.
3. Kinloch is a CPO facility and that is a board level policy.
4. Driving across stressed turf in the summer will result in damage to the turf.
We hope that you can understand and support our position on cart access at KGC. As I stated earlier, these policies are not arbitrary or excessive but thoughtful and deliberate. Providing the Kinloch Experience is something we take very seriously, but protecting the quality of our turf must take precedent over certain conveniences.
If anyone would appreciate more detail on how and why this policy is so important to the health of our turf, feel free to reach out via email, text or phone.
Thanks and enjoy the last few weeks of August - we are very excited to finish our herbicide applications and install the new sod so that you can enjoy a spectacular, fall, golf season.
