Golf carts

Started by StanM1 • 9 replies • 2414 views

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StanM1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1

Posted:

I am on the HOA Board at a condominium property in North Myrtle Beach. It is approximately 20 years old. Some of the owners are now (for the second time) trying to permit golf carts on the property. The majority of the HOA is against it and I would like your assistance in a list of problems caused by gasoline golf carts. Liability, maintenance, children, parking, etc.
Thank you

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Treat it like any other vehicle.

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

Tim's reply makes a lot of sense, We visit friends a few times a year in a desert HOA golf club HOA of about 650 homes. When we borrow our friend's cart, he just tells us to follow the same rules as we would in our car and to look for spacial parking spaces at the clubhouse.

What are the reasons for so many members being opposed, Stan? Or, by "HOA," do you mean the other board members?

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

SC has laws about golf carts but not many. I cannot say I am that sure of all the laws but I do know some. The driver must be at least 16 years of age. Thye do not even have to have an SC drivers license. One can drive on any road except State Highways (such as say SC17) but they can cross State Highways (such as SC17) to get the the other side. Kind of like the why did the chicken cross the road joke

In SC, they are pretty much considered a standard utility vehicle and any attempt at controlloing them could be costly. Remember this is the state taht allows most anyone to drive a less the 50cc motorbike without a drivers license and even while drunk.

Hope this hlps.

FredS7 (Arizona)
Posts: 927

Posted:

> I would like your assistance in a list of problems caused by gasoline golf carts.

You say the majority is against it, why do you need more reasons?

BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820

Posted:

Gasoline golf carts rarely, if ever, cause problems. typically, they sit around 16 hours a day doing nothing.

Drivers, on the other hand...whew! Why do you want to control the tool, and not the carpenter?

If you do control gasoline carts, can I do something stupid with an electric one, and be accepted by your HOA? What about a diesel cart? hybrid? What is it about gasoline that bugs the HOA so much?

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

Say, Stan, other replies to your question suggest a question to you: Are golf carts (gasoline or otherwise) forbidden in your governing documents? If so, which one(s)?

PeterD3 (Florida)
Posts: 708

Posted:

If you are against thier use on your property as it sounds, and, as you say " The majority of the HOA is against it...", then you have nothing to worry about do you?

If your docs (CC&Rs) specifically forbid them then a member vote is typically required and would fail based on your statement.

If the requirement is for the BOD to reverse a current 'rule' and now allow them, then " The majority of the HOA..." should replace the BOD and restore the rule against carts.
You may have to wait until the next election unless your state allows a recall.

Trying to scare or sway those who support the introduction of carts into your community by the use of "...a list of problems caused by gasoline golf carts...." is a waste of time since thier mind is made up and not necessary since "The majority of the HOA is against it..." already.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

One way to be sure golf carts do not become an eyesore is to control their parking. Mandate that they must be parked as per automobile parking regulations and they cannot be parked outside overnight. Meaning they must be stored overnight in a garage. Also in the case of electric carts, this is when most charge them up.

Some do ban gasoline carts while allowing electric carts.

CrystalK1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 30

Posted:

As your HOA's insurance agent what their underwriters' guidelines are. In our HOA in Michigan, our insurance company doesn't have a problem with golf carts as long as they're driven by licensed drivers (no kids), follow the rules of the road, and carry liability insurance.

Golf carts have become a huge problem and source of trouble in our HOA in recent years. Five years ago there were only a couple. Now there are over 20.

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