Club Management - May/June 2008 - (Page 36)

External & Government Influences Judge Rules Modified Golf Carts Must Be Made Available to Disabled Ruling could impact golf courses across the nation By Nick Fortuna M any golfers truly love the game, but some are so passionate about it that they sue for a chance to play. A federal judge in San Francisco on Jan. 28 sided with three disabled golfers who sued Marriott International Inc., ruling that the company must make accessible carts available to handicapped golfers at its 26 U.S. golf courses. Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, ruled that Marriott violated the Americans With Disabilities Act by not providing accessible golf carts “as a reasonable accommodation for plaintiffs’ mobility impairments.” The suit, brought by Californians Laurence Celano and Richard Thesing and Floridian Bill Herreron, didn’t seek monetary damages, and Hamilton delayed issuing an injunction against the company, instead ordering both sides to try to reach a settlement that would provide accessible, single-rider golf carts at Marriott’s courses. Roger Pretekin, president of Centennial, Colorado-based SoloRider Management, LLC, which manufacturers single-rider carts, lauded the ruling and said he hopes it encourages other golf course owners and operators to purchase his product. He estimated that of the 21 million Americans with disabilities that impact their mobility, about 2 million would be interested in golﬁng if reasonable accommodations were made. “SoloRider has made the point for years that single-rider golf cars are an investment in the growth of the game of golf,” Pretekin said in a statement. “The golf industry is pursuing women, juniors and others in efforts to increase participation. The senior and disabled communities represent a signiﬁcant market opportunity that should not be ignored.” The SoloRider features hand controls for steering, accelerating and braking and has turf-friendly tires that allow it to be used on all types of terrain, including greens and rough. But the cart’s most important feature might be its “standup” swivel chair, which, in addition to making it easier to enter and exit the cart, can put the golfer in the best position for his shot. The seat, which features a seatbelt, can be locked in any position and can be angled to allow golfers to swing from either a seated or standing position. When golfers stand up in the seat, it supports their legs, making an 18-hole round more manageable. The cart, which meets or exceeds all American National Standards Institute safety standards, has a top speed of 14 mph, the same as many traditional golf carts. Its base is seven inches off the ground, allowing golfers to ride through sections of thick rough, and the cart was designed to climb hills easily so that all courses would be accessible. Though the SoloRider has an MSRP of $8,750 plus $500 shipping, Pretekin said his product can pay for itself. “Our surveys show that the typical SoloRider user plays as many as 30 to 50 rounds of golf annually and brings companions to the golf course 80 percent of the time,” he said. “Only a fraction of this potential user group needs to be recruited to create millions of rounds of golf and hundreds of millions of dollars in incremental revenues.” ❚❘ About the author Nick Fortuna is a former sports reporter and editor for Bloomberg News, a former editor at the Ocala, Florida, Star-Banner and a freelance writer. 36 • CLUB MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Club Management - May/June 2008

Club Management - May/June 2008 Contents President’s Message Accounting & Financial Management Board Governance Wine Society Quenches Thirst for Knowledge, Camaraderie Building & Facilities Management Tennis Pro Education Increases Your Bottom Line Cover Story: BMI Golf Management Golf/Sports & Recreation Management Human & Professional Resources Relationship Building in the Internet Era The Ultimate Cellar Raid Products and Services Marketplace External & Government Influences HFTP Insight: HITEC 2008 Features Latest in Club Technology New Directions Global Outreach Advertiser Index/Advertisers.com Club Wrap

Club Management - May/June 2008

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