Golf Car Vandalism Proving Extremely Costly

The driver of the golf car does not require a license and for 3 ½ to 5 hours is allowed to drink and drive while cruising around the course. With the wrong driver at the controls it can be a formula for disaster.

According to a recent report by golf car manufacturer Club Car, vandalism conducted at golf courses and to their car fleets is costing course operators between $8 million and $10 million a year.

A report titled "Golf Car Vandalism: No Joyride," published following a recent survey identifies concerns among course owners and operators as a result of the following findings:

· 72 percent of courses surveyed reported vandalism or golfers playing extra holes without paying a green fee.
· 27 percent said they had retrieved a vandalized golf car from a lake or creek.
· 48 percent reported unauthorized use of golf cars.
· 42 percent reported golf cars being driven in restricted areas.
· 21 percent reported theft of golf cars.

Insurance executive Joel Willis, interviewed for the white paper, said golf course vandalism is a growing problem across Canada and the United States.

"Vehicle and equipment replacement costs, plus lost revenues, if the course has to shut down for repairs or prepare temporary greens, make these kinds of incidents an owner's worst nightmare," said Willis, the program director of Clubsurance, a division of The Commonwealth Insurance Group which provides property and casualty coverage to golf courses.

Earlier this year, Club Car introduced its GPS-based Guardian SVC system, which enables courses to define restricted areas and limit vehicle access. The GPS-based system, in part, was created to deter vandals.

According to Mike Read, the director of marketing for Club Car's golf category, "If you can stop the source of their fun, odds are you'll come close to eliminating the damage."

Unfortunately for some golfers playing the game does not seem to satisfy all of their desire for entertainment, but as more courses employ GPS systems and begin installing on-course video security systems, vandalism may be reduced in time.