For many student staff members, receiving golf cart access feels like a milestone. One day you’re carrying supplies across campus by hand, and the next you’re behind the wheel of a university vehicle, headed to a program setup or responding to a lockout. While golf carts may not seem like a big deal at first, anyone who has spent time driving one knows there is a unique culture that comes with the keys.
Of course, there are official policies and safety guidelines that every driver should follow. However, there are also plenty of unwritten rules that experienced RAs learn along the way. Consider this your introduction to the unofficial side of golf cart etiquette.
Remember: You’re Still on Campus
It can be easy to forget that just because you’re driving a golf cart, you’re still sharing space with pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles. A golf cart might make it easier to get from one side of campus to the other, but it doesn’t give you priority over everyone else.
Students walking to class, families visiting campus, and community members enjoying a stroll are not expecting a university student staff member to come flying around a corner. Taking your time and staying aware of your surroundings goes a long way in keeping everyone safe and preventing yourself from becoming the subject of the next staff meeting story.
The Golf Cart is NOT a Race Car
This may seem obvious, but something about sitting behind the wheel of a golf cart creates an illusion of speed. Suddenly, a trip across campus feels like a high stakes mission, even when you’re just delivering a stack of flyers.
The reality is that a golf cart’s purpose is convenience, not competition. No one is timing your route, and nobody wins an award for reaching the residence hall thirty seconds faster than everyone else.
Respect the Cart and Others
One of the quickest ways to become unpopular among fellow staff members is returning a golf cart low on gas (or recharged if electric!). Few things are more frustrating than hopping into a cart for a task and realizing it wasn’t refilled after the previous driver finished using it.
Treat the golf cart the same way you would want someone else to treat it. Park it properly, remove any trash, and refill the gas tank (or recharge it) when you’re done. Future you and future staff members will appreciate it.
Be Mindful of Parking
Finding the perfect parking spot for a golf cart can sometimes feel like an art form. While it may be tempting to leave it wherever is most convenient, remember that other people still need to navigate the space around you.
Blocking entrances, sidewalks, ramps, or pathways creates unnecessary obstacles for everyone else. A little extra thought when parking can save a lot of inconvenience later.
Every Golf Cart Has a Personality
If you’ve driven more than one golf cart, you’ve probably noticed they all seem slightly different.
Some accelerate surprisingly well. Others struggle on hills. Some have brakes that feel incredibly responsive, while others encourage a more cautious approach. Learning the quirks of a particular golf cart becomes part of the experience.
Before long, you’ll find yourself saying things like, “Take Cart Three, it handles better,” as if you’re discussing a prized vehicle instead of a golf cart.
The Golf Cart Wave
Nobody formally teaches this, but it happens anyway.
At some point, you’ll pass another student staff member, facilities staff member, or housing employee driving a golf cart and instinctively give a small wave. They’ll wave back, and suddenly you’ve become part of an unofficial community of campus drivers.
It’s a small gesture, but it’s one of those traditions that makes campus feel a little more connected.
Use the Golf Cart Wisely
One of the greatest temptations after getting golf cart access is using it for every possible task.
Need to go across campus? Golf cart.
Need to move supplies? Golf cart.
Need to travel fifty feet to the next building? Somehow… still golf cart.
While the convenience is hard to resist, it’s worth remembering that sometimes walking is the simpler option. Not every trip requires a vehicle, and occasionally you’ll spend more time locating the cart than you would have spent walking.
Before You Drive Off
Golf carts may seem like a small part of the student staff experience, but they often become a memorable one. They help us move supplies, assist residents, and navigate the many responsibilities that come with campus life. Along the way, they also create stories, inside jokes, and a few lessons in responsibility.
So if you’ve recently been handed the keys to a golf cart, congratulations. Enjoy the convenience, follow the safety guidelines, and remember the unofficial rules that make campus golf cart culture what it is.
Most importantly, drive safely. No matter how official you feel behind the wheel, you’re still driving a golf cart.
