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We'll take a look at what the 90-Degree Rule is and how it impacts golfers on the course.
The "90 Degree Rule" in golf has to do with when carts are permitted by certain courses, which requires them to be more selective about which fairways they allow for cart access. This rule was put in place to minimize the impact of carts on golf courses and preserve their fairways.
What is the 90-Degree Rule in Golf
The 90-Degree Rule is a common rule in golf courses and can be implemented when there are concerns about the quality of fairway grass. The idea behind it is to prevent carts from turning too sharply, which would loosen up soil or compact turf along the edge of that turn. This could lead to increased surface roughness and create a less-desirable golf course experience.
How does it work
The rule is fairly straightforward: carts must travel no more than 90 degrees from the previous line of play in order for that side to be considered "legal." In other words, if you're traveling north and your right tire crosses over into east territory (90°), then it's not legal.
The rule is typically implemented to limit the impact of carts on fairways. This is done by making it so that, if a cart travels too far from an established line of play, they're traveling into another area entirely -- such as rough (which would be considered "illegal"), or cross-country in certain cases for golf courses with multiple tee boxes.
This rule is also helpful to maintain a certain speed limit for golfers, so that carts don't get too far ahead of them on the course and create an unsafe environment.
The 90-Degree Rule can be implemented in different ways depending on what the concern is or how a particular golf course wants to implement it. It's important to check with the golf course beforehand for their specific implementation of this rule, so that you're not surprised when you get there and it doesn't match your expectations.
Who benefits from the rule and who doesn't
The rule also helps promote fair play, because it ensures that players are only in one area at any given time -- which means other areas don't have to be shared as frequently by multiple people (which would lead to faster wear on those areas).
Walking golfers and caddies who carry heavy bags may not benefit from the rule, as it can be difficult to navigate around or over a cart that's parked on an angle.
The pros and cons of implementing this rule on your golf course
The pros of this rule are that golfers will be encouraged to walk the course, which is a more healthy choice for them and good for the environment. Golf courses also benefit from not having to spend as much time mowing around carts or redesigning their fairways in order accommodate these vehicles.
On the other hand, golfers may not like the idea of walking. They might be more interested in playing a game that they can play from hole-to-hole with little or no movement at all, which is certainly an understandable preference to have when it comes to golfing.
This rule will also discourage golfers who are concerned about their score because they know that they can take a cart to any hole that is too far for them and then just walk the rest.
Furthermore, this rule may make it difficult for golfers who are specifically interested in playing 18 holes without ever using a cart because many courses will have no place on their fairways where you can play safely without being near a cart path.
Finally, this rule may make it difficult for golfers who are playing with others of varying abilities because they will not be able to allow those players who have difficulty walking the course to play from hole-to-hole without a cart.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the "90 Degree Rule" is a common rule in golf courses that can be changed to allow or disallow carts. While not every course has this regulation, it is still something you should look out for when booking a tee time at a new location. Golfers with disabilities are also welcome on some of these cart paths and many golf courses are in a position to accommodate these players. While the rule is not perfect, it does make the game easier for those who cannot walk 18 holes on their own!
