It's always a good idea for Lowcountry drivers to brush up on golf cart safety

Take a trip out to the islands, whether it's Dataw, Fripp, Cat, Calawassie or Lands End on St. Helena, and you're likely to see local residents driving golf carts -- not on golf courses but on streets. Many cart drivers use them to play golf, while a few others are using them to run routine errands. But how safe are these vehicles?

A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health that appeared in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that from 1990 to 2006, the injury rates from golf cart use jumped more than 130 percent.

Silvia Lalinde has been the director of marketing and membership for the Dataw Island Club for nearly three years. She said golf carts have been a constant presence on the island for as long as she could remember.

"They're used for virtually everything on the island," said Lalinde. "You know how cars have those rod holders in the front for fishing rods? We have a member who has outfitted his golf cart with fishing rod holders on the front, because he takes all his fishing gear out to the ponds and fishes. It's pretty neat."

Lalinde said golf carts are popular on Dataw because the island is small, so it's easy for residents to get around town with them.

"Plus, I think gas prices cause them to stay on the island more and utilize golf carts," said Lalinde.

"I can only imagine it's kind of fun, too. I like getting on one. I ride them to get around the island if I need to drop something off. It's quicker than jumping in my car, because my car's far out in employee parking. They're convenient, because they're right next to the pro shop."

According to www.discovergolf.info, every golf course has its own rules for golf carts, but most follow the 90-degree rule, which means you can take the cart onto the fairway but only at 90-degree angles.

Despite golf cart injuries rising from an estimated 5,772 cases in 1990 to an estimated 13,411 cases in 2006, Lalinde said they don't have too many safety problems with the vehicles, which according to South Carolina law must be operated by someone with a valid driver's license.

"Our security's constantly keeping an eye out, because cars versus golf carts is always a scary situation," said Lalinde.

Emmett Decker, 70, has served as director of security for the Dataw Island Club for 25 years. He said golf carts were present on the island's streets even when he started his post.

"Golf is a big thing," said Decker. "We have two golf courses, but we also have a community center and a clubhouse which are quite a ways apart -- maybe three or four miles -- so a lot of people use both of those places; and I'd say 80 percent of them use a golf cart to travel."

Decker added there are two kinds of golf carts on Dataw Island. While both carts function the same, one cart is used for golfing and has a logo on the side to indicate as such, while the other is used for errands and has no logo. Decker also mentioned one ongoing problem with golf cart use that Lalinde also has observed on Dataw Island:

"Some (residents) let the grandkids use them," said Decker. "We tell the grandparents to come and get them when that happens."

Michael Binkowski, chief of security at Fripp Island Patrol, saidFripp has the same problem that Dataw Island has with unlicensed golf cart drivers.

"I think anybody that has golf carts has that problem," said Binkowski. "For some reason, adults don't consider golf carts as motor vehicles, and in fact they are. What we've done to cut down on it is increase the fines and made them substantial."

There is a $200 fine for anyone caught driving a golf cart on Fripp Island without a valid driver's license. Binkowski said that the 25 miles per hour speed limit on the island, parking and the expensive cost of gas are factors that make the carts so popular with residents, who must register their carts with the security office.

Fripp Island Patrol even has its own golf cart that Binkowski said has the same markings as one of their patrol vehicles.

"It's a four-wheel-drive golf cart, so we do beach patrol with it and regular patrol to save on gas," said Binkowski. "It's a more friendly, community-oriented type of vehicle (with) higher visibility for us. It's a little bit of PR. It has blue lights on it."

Sutcliffe's Golf Cars in Port Royal sells carts to some Port Royal residents, who mainly use them to ride to the Sands, but most of their carts go to the islands. The store has carts such as Yamaha, Starr and Club Car.

"We sell quite a few of them, but 99 percent of the people we sell to live in private communities," said Bobby Greene, the store's manager. "You've got cars (that operate on) gas and electricity, and most people like the electric. I'm the opposite. I like gas. The Yamaha holds five gallons of gas and goes 250 miles. A set of batteries is almost $1,000, so every three to five years you're buying batteries."

Greene said the average price for a golf cart is around $3,000, but the new ones can sell for as high as $6,200, while prices for used carts vary.

In terms of teaching new customers golf cart safety, Greene said there is a proper way to operate carts, which is described in the vehicle's instructions.

"Most of the golf carts even have seat belts on them," said Greene.

Lalinde said that on Dataw Island, people driving cars have learned to share the road with residents operating golf carts. In many ways, it has become a way of life.

"When I'm driving on the island, and there's a golf cart in front of me, they will stay to the right, and they allow passing," said Lalinde. "It's one of those things that's such a norm around here. It's just what we see everyday."