That golf cart sitting unattended with keys in the ignition? It’s not a convenience – it’s a liability waiting to happen. Every venue owner has a story about the groomsman who decided midnight joyriding was a good idea.
More Common Than You Think
Table of Contents
One Tennessee venue learned this lesson when a wedding party member took their cart for a spin. Final tally: one sunken golf cart, two broken bones, and an insurance claim that haunted them for years. The worst part? They thought they had a “no guest access” policy.
The Real Problem
It’s never the authorized users who cause problems. It’s:
- The helpful groomsman moving decorations
- The drunk guest taking a shortcut
- The teenager going for a joyride
- The “just this once” exception
- The quick five-minute borrow
Smart Key Control
Prevention is simple but requires commitment:
- Never leave keys in unattended vehicles
- Use hidden key boxes with codes
- Keep carts away from event spaces when not in use
- Assign specific staff to cart operation
- Document all authorized users
Beyond Basic Rules
Smart venues know that golf cart incidents hit hard:
- Your insurance takes the hit
- Your rates go up
- Your liability exposure grows
- Your reputation suffers
- Your profits shrink
Make It Work
Create clear protocols for:
- Staff training
- Key control
- Storage locations
- Usage documentation
- Incident reporting
Bottom Line
Those convenient keys in the ignition? They’re anything but convenient when you’re explaining to your insurance company why someone who shouldn’t have access crashed your cart.
Need help creating solid vehicle policies? Let’s talk protection that works
