News

New carts accomodate disabled golfers

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Pine Oaks Golf Course is now handicapped accessible.

People in wheelchairs or with other mobility problems can play golf at the base course now, thanks to two specially designed golf carts.

The SoloRider golf carts, which list for $9,300 each, arrived at the course in December. The carts were paid for by the Air Force because it requires all golf courses on Air Force installations to have them, said Clay Murray, the manager of Pine Oaks.

So far no one has used the carts, but he figures many disabled people might not even know there's a way for them to play the game. That's why he wants to get the word out to anyone who might have a need.

"You never know if there's someone out there who has no use of their legs and would actually want to play," Mr. Murray said.

The carts differ from regular carts in several ways. One is that the carts are for only one person. Another is that rather than placing the club bag in the rear of the cart, the bag is placed in the front, so that the clubs can be easily reached by the operator.

But the most important is the way the seat works. It swivels to either side - so that it would work for both right and left handed people - and the user can swing at the ball while sitting in the seat.

Another key difference is the cart can be driven onto greens. Ordinarily if a golf cart is driven onto a green, that would likely have the golfer promptly thrown off the course.

But the SoloRider is designed with its weight balanced so it can be driven onto greens without so much as making a track on the green. When Mr. Murray drove the cart onto the practice green, there was no indication of a track.

The cart is fast-moving, smooth riding and fun to drive, Mr. Murray said. Where a regular cart operates with a steering wheel, the SoloRider uses handlebars, steering more like an all-terrain vehicle.

Mr. Murray said rangers sometimes use the carts on the weekend so that golfers can see them and possibly get the word out that the course can accommodate disabled golfers.

"We would just like for somebody to use it," Mr. Murray said as he gave a demonstration on the practice green, adding that anyone with access to the base can use the course.