10/13/2026
Please note, as the days become shorter this time of year, rentals STOP 2 hours prior to sunset. This time changes almost bi-weekly this time of year by at least a tee time, as we quickly lose sunlight. also, this policy is always in effect throughout the entire year, regardless if you have a season cart pass, or not.
While this angers some golfers as a significant inconveneince, this is a common policy throughout the golf industry at most public, municipal, and resort courses.
Golf courses implement this strict policy for several vital operational, logistical, and safety reasons:
1. Inventory Management and Recovery
Golf carts cannot simply be parked and left overnight. At the end of the day, staff must corral the entire fleet, wash down the frames, clear out garbage, and hook each unit up to a charging station (or park them in a secure storage barn). If a cart goes out two hours before sunset, it is practically guaranteed to return in pitch darkness, delaying the entire staff and pushing operations past scheduled shifts.
2. Employee Labor and Cost Control
Most courses budget their guest services and cart-barn staff hours to conclude shortly after dark. Allowing a rental out close to sunset forces the facility to pay overtime or keep staff clocked in just to wait on a single group that is trying to squeeze in a few twilight holes.
3. On-Course Liability and Safety
As twilight fades, visibility drops dramatically. Driving a golf cart in the dim minutes right before or after sunset is a significant liability risk. Golfers are far more likely to clip standard hazards, drive into hidden drainage ditches, or hit unseen lips on bunkers. Furthermore, local ordinances in some regions legally restrict golf cart operations strictly to daylight hours.
4. Maintenance and Accountability
Checking carts back into the barn during daylight allows staff to inspect the vehicles for fresh damage or flat tires—something that is incredibly difficult to document accurately in the dark.
This policy also applies to any rental clubs, as well. We apologize if this is an inconvenience.
