Hitchhikers

[profsmitty]

Being a newby to using a riding cart, there are issues that I am not completely sure how to handle. One of these involves the guy I will call a hitchhiker. He is the guy who either carries his bag or uses a push cart but who sees the empty seat next to you as free for the taking. I'm not talking about ferrying a foursome mate between holes separated green to tee by a long distance. That is of course another question entirely. I'm talking about the guy who hops on after you tee off and expects to be treated like a full-fledged cart buddy.

 

My issue is this. I paid for the cart. My club only charges me for half of a cart fee when I am the only rider (which happens very often because most people at my club either own their own cart or are walkers). If my hitchhiker friend uses the cart, I think he owes the course for the use of the cart.

 

Am I over thinking this? If not, how would you handle this without risking alienation for being a pedantic jerk?

[MK7Golf21]

just tell him to pay so you dont get stopped by the marshal or something

[Vindog]

say. "Sorry to be like this, but I had to pay for this cart. So either give me money, or pay the shop after the round."

[Desert Golf]

There are always guys that will try to beat the system to save a few bucks. I'd probably light up a cigar if someone jumped in my cart without an invitation.

I've never heard of anything like you describe since none of our courses charge extra for carts...and many don't even let you walk unfortunately.

[4Wedges]

Be generous. When he gets in the cart drive back to the pro shop and pay the other half of the cart fee for him.

[Huntster]

You should tell him next time he can get the cart for the two of you.

[teejaywhy]

After a couple of times, I would watch for him to make his move and jam on the gas and leave him behind. A couple of those should give the message.

[blink3665]

GREAT QUESTION! I would like to hear more people's answers. I have had this issue in the past and would like to hear people's advice!

[againstthegrain]

Have the ranger, starter or pro ask him for $$ the next time, it's not up to you to do their job.

[Noles]

Spill grape juice on the passenger seat.

[SatelliteGuy]

Unbearable gas.

That's the only cure.

[sui generis]

[quote name='profsmitty' timestamp='1370641191' post='7191884']
Being a newby to using a riding cart, there are issues that I am not completely sure how to handle. One of these involves the guy I will call a hitchhiker. He is the guy who either carries his bag or uses a push cart but who sees the empty seat next to you as free for the taking. I'm not talking about ferrying a foursome mate between holes separated green to tee by a long distance. That is of course another question entirely. I'm talking about the guy who hops on after you tee off and expects to be treated like a full-fledged cart buddy.

My issue is this. I paid for the cart. My club only charges me for half of a cart fee when I am the only rider (which happens very often because most people at my club either own their own cart or are walkers). If my hitchhiker friend uses the cart, I think he owes the course for the use of the cart.

Am I over thinking this? If not, how would you handle this without risking alienation for being a pedantic jerk?
[/quote]

A quiet word in the pro's shell-like lughole should do the trick.

[jnradioactive]

Make sure you always have honors, and drive off the 2nd he tees off. "see ya at the green!!!"

[MattTheTaff]

Pat the seat in a beckoning kind of way and put your hand on his knee as you drive up the fairway. Whisper in his ear "I'm gonna show you how we made love in prison"

When he protests and says that he does not like to get screwed by men, tell him:

"Neither do I, so pony up half the cart fee"

[Desert Golf]

[quote name='MattTheTaff' timestamp='1370669362' post='7194192']
Pat the seat in a beckoning kind of way and put your hand on his knee as you drive up the fairway. Whisper in his ear "I'm gonna show you how we made love in prison"

When he protests and says that he does not like to get screwed by men, tell him:

"Neither do I, so pony up half the cart fee"
[/quote]

LOL...this will probably do the trick. However, it might backfire on me if I tried it since I live in Palm Springs

[Sawgrass]

As a point of interest, a muni I play at is very serious about not letting non-paying people in your cart. They are generous enough to charge you only half of the cart fee if you're alone, and don't want to be taken advantage of.

They have two different colored key fobs, one for a two-person charge, one for a one-person charge. And some threatening language about what they'll do to you if you let someone ride with you if you only pay for one.

I guess it's fair, but particularly when there's a long up-hill or a long walk between green and tee, it doesn't help pace of play any. And creates a bit of tension between strangers as well on occasion.

[Bogie_Nights]

I've not had this happen, but I'd let it go until I was charged for it. Then, I'd ask him to cough up the cart fee.

Otherwise, no worries. It doesn't affect me.

[Truman]

Cart fees are a major revenue source. So riding without paying is theft.

[Vindog]

[quote name='againstthegrain' timestamp='1370648996' post='7192604']
Have the ranger, starter or pro ask him for $$ the next time, it's not up to you to do their job.
[/quote]

While you are correct in that, I view it as an entitlement thing. Why should someone else get to use the cart for free, when I had to pay?

So, either give me half of what I paid, pay the clubhouse or walk.

[TigerStrong]

"Hey "hitchhiker" did you pay for the seat or are you just hopping on for the free ride...yeah you should probably pay at the turn...If that sounds like something you don't want to do at this moment please walk because I'm not comfortable in this situation"...

[jaytee617]

I'd probably politely confirm if he paid the cart fee or not, and if not that he'd plan to at the end because I didn't want to get in trouble with the course managers.

And incidentially, I was in the opposite position last weekend. I paid as a walker and was paired with two other singles, both of whom had their own cart. One of the guys kept inviting me to jump in with him, and each time I politely declined and finally said I preferred walking for the exercise. I couldn't tell if he was being overly nice or if he was tacitly implying that I was slowing up the group by walking.

[profsmitty]

In the way of a follow-up. I had a chance to visit with one of the club management about another (more pleasant) issue. He said that they knew exactly who the guy was and what the problem was. He told me that they add a cart fee to his bill about every third round. I don't know whether he was just trying to make me feel better about the situation or not but, I do.

[4Wedges]

It's interesting that even the course management doesn't appear to want to confront the issue directly. But, at least for you the issue is resolved and you can allow this hitchhiker without having to worry.

[Noles]

[quote name='profsmitty' timestamp='1370867435' post='7204168']
In the way of a follow-up. I had a chance to visit with one of the club management about another (more pleasant) issue. He said that they knew exactly who the guy was and what the problem was. He told me that they add a cart fee to his bill about every third round. I don't know whether he was just trying to make me feel better about the situation or not but, I do.
[/quote]Sounds like management has the right idea in that they do not try to make it your problem. It is between the other guy and the club.

[profsmitty]

Managing a private golf club is an art. You have to be born with the ability to be genuinely nice but able to enforce the rules in a way that is not obtrusive - not unlike being a GolfWRX mod, I guess.

[Vindog]

[quote name='profsmitty' timestamp='1370910846' post='7209878']
Managing a private golf club is an art. You have to be born with the ability to be genuinely nice but able to enforce the rules in a way that is not obtrusive - not unlike being a GolfWRX mod, I guess.
[/quote]

sweet humble brag.








(I keed I keed)

[jd8102]

I had a situation like this happen over the weekend. However I was the one walking as a single and the guy I was paired up with had a cart. It was my first round of the year due to tearing my mcl in april. I was just cleared to golf last week.

I bought a clicgear to use this summer to help strengthen my knee, and by hole 5 I was really struggling as the course was very hilly. The guy I was paired with kept telling me to just hop in the cart with him as it's what him and his other buddy do all the time. I told him I would wait for the turn and go pay for half a cart and finish the back 9 riding with him.

I went to pay at the turn and explained the situation and the clubhouse wouldnt let me pay for half the cart as they saw me struggling to make it up the hill to pay. I wouldnt have felt right without paying no matter the situation. Even though in the end I didnt have to.

[Hattori Hanzo]

I walk 99% of the time, and whenever I'm paired with someone in a cart by himself, he almost always says something on the first tee along the lines of: "Hey, if you want to give your legs a rest, feel free to hop in any time you want." I'll usually hitch a ride once during the round - usually on a hole where our tee balls end up close to one another - just to show I acknowledge and appreciate the gesture. In this case, however, it seems like your hitchhiker is clearly either taking advantage of your generosity, if you offered, or he is just completely unabashed conniver. Either way, a well-placed Whoopee Cushion could work wonders!

[profsmitty]

[quote name='Hattori Hanzo' timestamp='1370969687' post='7214548']
I walk 99% of the time, and whenever I'm paired with someone in a cart by himself, he almost always says something on the first tee along the lines of: "Hey, if you want to give your legs a rest, feel free to hop in any time you want." I'll usually hitch a ride once during the round - usually on a hole where our tee balls end up close to one another - just to show I acknowledge and appreciate the gesture. In this case, however, it seems like your hitchhiker is clearly either taking advantage of your generosity, if you offered, or he is just completely unabashed conniver. Either way, a well-placed Whoopee Cushion could work wonders!
[/quote]Where are those things when you need one. That would beat my thought, placing a really we towel on the seat.

[OneBallShort]

At the course I work at, if we see a member in the cart in a fairway we charge the member the cart fee.