Used at a high efficiency, carts can be faster than walking especially on long courses or courses with difficult terrain. The problem is, from a time perspective, few people use a cart efficiently.

1. Share the cart with your playing partner if possible. You will be more diligent watching your partner’s shots knowing a lost ball could cost you money.
2. Except after the tee shots, if both players are riding together in the cart, somebody’s probably being a little lazy. It’s seldom most efficient for both players to be riding in the cart together. (Unless there’s a disability.)
3. If you can limit yourself to one trip to your golf bag per shot you will be amazed at how much faster you will move along. You don’t always have to stuff your club in your bag immediately. After your shot, you can get back in the cart and hold your club in your hand. Then you can put your club back in the bag when you get out for your next shot.
4. Don’t park your cart on a narrow part of the path where another cart couldn’t get by if it needed to. Try to find a little wider spot to park.
5. If your ball is in the fairway, find and indicate the location of the 150 yard marker to the other members of your foursome. Most courses have 150 yard markers. Know what club you hit 150 yards. Then adjust your club selection for other shots from this distance.
6. It’s probably most efficient to let the player who normally hits the longer tee shot be the driver of the cart. Then no seat changing will be necessary when dropping the player with the closer ball off.
7. Don’t park the cart where you’ll have to move it again shortly. Get the cart to the back of the green near the next tee as soon as possible. Walking across the green can actually save time if you use the time to study your chip or putt.
8. Don’t follow the beaten path. If other carts are wearing a path in the rough or fairway try to take another route. If possible keep the carts in the rough, rather than on the fairway, even if it’s not a rule. Cross the fairway at a ninety degree angle.
9. On a blind shot, have someone go up ahead with the cart to watch the shot. This can save time in finding the ball.
10. Don’t use a cellular phone in the cart. If there are situations where you do have to keep in touch, get an alphanumeric beeper with a vibrating alarm. The vibrating alarm makes sure no one else in your foursome is disturbed. If you do this discreetly you can receive short messages and the other members of your foursomes won’t even be aware of it. If you do have a cellular phone, it should always stay in your golf bag unless it’s needed for an outgoing call of extreme importance. Make the call only when it won’t interfere with the other’s game and limit the call to one minute.
11. Dress comfortably in layers. This way you can easily add or remove layers without delaying the game. If you remove a garment don’t make everyone wait while you fastidiously fold it and place it in your bag. Put it in your cart basket and fold it when there’s a break in the action and you’re waiting for the group in front of you.
12. When your cart partner is on the other side of the fairway grab the irons you’ll need for your approach shot plus your favorite wedge and your putter. You’ll then be covered for most any situation. You’ll also save your cart partner from zigzagging all over the fairway.
13. Keep an eye on whomever is hitting and don’t drive anywhere you might interfere with their shot. Drive straight to your ball as soon as you can.
14. Be quiet when others are hitting. Whenever a golfer is addressing a ball assume he can hear you no matter how far away you might be. Take your feet off of the pedals in the cart when someone is addressing the ball. Many shots have been ruined by an untimely released parking brake. The safest thing to do is to climb out of the cart and stand quietly.
15. No matter who is the driver, the person with the closer ball should get out and take a couple clubs while their partner continues on to his ball. Just because one player starts out as the cart’s driver doesn’t mean they should be the only one to drive the cart that day.
16. Don’t be a creeper. Don’t creep the cart slowly forward during someone’s address or swing. This will only slow things down and get the disapproval of the others.
17. Always park the cart at least 4-5 paces away from anyone hitting. Parking too close will make the player uncomfortable and they will generally take longer in setting up and hitting. Most players will prefer you “park” to their front when they are addressing the ball (right side for right handed players). Many players get nervous when someone is behind them where they can’t see them.
18. Having an extra ball on the cart or in your bag doesn’t do any good if you need to hit a provisional ball and you’re 50 yards away from your cart. Have 2 balls, a ball mark repair tool, a couple of ball markers and some tees in your pocket.
19. If you find yourself too far in front of someone about to hit, drive toward the side as far as necessary or take cover behind an object.
20. As you’re riding in your cart keep focused on your ball. A lot of time can be wasted by not paying attention and driving past your ball.