Little-known rules about golf cart usage at the pavillion

As you drive into Sun City, one of the first things you see is a sign that says, “This is a golf cart-permissible community.”

It is designed to remind residents that they will see golf carts frequently throughout the community, especially in the warm weather months. The signs also warn visiting drivers of the presence of golf carts.

Community documents contain numerous rules and regulations about the care and maintenance of golf carts, and how they are to be driven on Sun City streets. The R&Rs also state that the only place golf carts are allowed other than on the streets is on the paved trail around Wildflower Lake. There is an added restriction that prohibits golf carts on the banks at the water’s edge along the lake, for obvious safety reasons.

Golf carts have not caused, or been involved in, serious accidents or incidents in the community’s 18-plus year history, with one exception. A couple of years ago, a Sun City man was injured, not seriously, in a golf cart accident of his own making at the medical office building parking lot at Regency Parkway and Farm Hill Road just outside Sun City.

The regulations governing the parking of golf carts in Sun City has evolved over the years. In recent weeks, confusion has emerged among some residents and association managers over the driving and parking of golf carts into and out of the pavilion, where residents gather frequently for neighborhood and charter club events. For new residents, the pavilion is located next to the bocce courts and Prairie Lodge.

On the left side of the sidewalk leading to the pavilion deck, there is a sign that reads, “No motorized vehicles permitted beyond this point.” The sign is located about 30 feet in front of (west of) the bridge that spans a dry creek bed just outside the pavilion site. Community officials say that golf carts are considered motorized vehicles. They add that the sign was erected several years ago and that the rules regarding golf carts have existed for several years.

Starting in early June, emails started going back and forth between the Anglers Club and association management after an incident at an Anglers lunch at the pavilion in May. A member of the Anglers emailed Deanna Loughran, executive director, as follows: “One of our members wanted to know if golf carts are allowed by the pavilion picnic area as we have our shore lunches there after fishing (in warm weather months). He said someone told him he had to park his cart on the other side of the little bridge as he could not go over the bridge. I know that applies to cars or trucks, but I did not think it applied to golf carts as they are not that heavy. A good number of our members have mobility issues and parking on the side of the picnic area would be a great help.”

The Sun Day contacted the club member referred to in the above email.

“I’ve been driving my golf cart on to the pavilion deck for many years and parking it there for events,” he said. “So have other club members. We were never told parking was prohibited on the deck until this May event this year. That suggests uneven enforcement.”

In a telephone conversation last week, the same member said, “There are golf cart parking areas near the entrances to Prairie Lodge, why can’t there be parking area for carts at the pavilion?”

Responding to the Anglers email, Loughran and Ursula Stevenson, staff director of modifications and compliance, said, “Golf carts are not to be on the deck of the pavilion, and golf carts are not permitted to be parked at the pavilion.”

Loughran agreed with the Sun Day’s suggested wording of the pavilion policy, as follows: “Golf carts may be driven to the pavilion to drop off materials for an event or transport people, but then they must be driven back to the parking lot and parked in an authorized space.”

The member who emailed Deanna also said, in a conversation with the Sun Day: “This isn’t just an issue for the Anglers Club, it’s an issue for all residents. Events are held frequently at the pavilion. Why can’t golf cart rules be consistent?”

In recent conversations with residents about pavilion golf cart parking versus lodge parking with residents, some said there is more space at lodge entrances than at the pavilion.

Loughran said golf cart regulations are published in the community’s Operating Rules and Regulations, chapter 9. These rules, however, do not specifically mention the pavilion area. In the Room Reservation Guidelines, in the section titled, “Parking and Other courtesies,” there is the following language: “At Fountain View Picnic Pavilion, golf carts and cars must stay in the circle drive to unload supplies. A cart or flatbed may be reserved with your reservation to assist with loading and unloading. Vehicles are not permitted to drive over the bridge to the pavilion. In the instance of a resident needing assistance to reach the pavilion, a golf cart may be driven to the pavilion to deliver that resident, but then must be parked in the parking lot during the event.”

The circle drive refers to the area between the Fountain View vehicle parking lot and the sidewalk leading to the pavilion.

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