The AJGA adheres to the following policies and requirements with respect to the treatment of disabled and non-disabled spectators and the use of motorized golf carts.
The AJGA strives to minimize the likelihood of outside interference affecting play by limiting motorized golf carts on the golf course during AJGA competitions. However, the AJGA also recognizes its legal responsibility to make necessary accommodations in some instances for certain qualified spectators in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). An ADA-protected disability is defined as: “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual.” (42 U.S.C.S. §12102, 2001).
Additionally, the AJGA understands that there are spectators who attend AJGA competitions who do not qualify as having an ADA-recognized disability such as temporary injuries or impairments. The AJGA understands these conditions may not allow these spectators to walk a golf course. The AJGA will review requests for the use of Spectator Handicap Carts on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the ADA, for individuals with a permanent disability and those with temporary injuries or impairments.
To request the use of a Spectator Handicap Cart the following actions must be taken:
- Any spectator seeking special accommodation under the ADA must present a valid state-issued permanent handicap placard or identification card.
- Any spectator who does not qualify as having an ADA-recognized disability must present a doctor’s note on the doctor’s office stationery, written in English, listing the spectator’s temporary injuries or impairments, and dated within 30 days of the AJGA competition.
- The above documentation must be presented to the Tournament Director at the tournament facility prior to the first day of competition and before requesting a golf cart from the tournament facility staff.
All Tournament Director-approved Spectator Handicap Carts will be rented from the tournament facility based on availability.
- The daily cart fee will be determined by each tournament facility.
- There may be a limited number of carts available and they are first-come, first-served. There is a possibility no carts will be available.
- If the tournament facility has a stricter Spectator Handicap Cart policy than the AJGA, that policy will take precedent. For example, a tournament facility may require an ADA-protected disability only to rent a cart, or carts may not be available for rent at all.
- The Tournament Director will communicate the Spectator Handicap Cart availability with players and their families prior to the tournament via e-mail and the tournament webpage.
Spectators are required to follow the guidelines below.
- Spectator Handicap Carts must always stay on the cart path. If the host facility does not have cart paths, then the spectator must abide by the cart policy as directed by the tournament facility.
- Spectators shall abide by any rules the host facility has on the operation of its golf carts.
- Spectator Handicap Carts are to stay even or ahead of the group being followed and can only follow the group with their player.
- Spectator Handicap Carts can only have two people in the cart, one of which must be the spectator approved to have the cart. The approved spectator does not have to be the driver of the cart.
- No one can ride on the back of the golf cart at any time.
- Spectator agrees not to disturb the play of the competition with the operation of the golf cart.
- Spectator Handicap Carts will not be used for shuttling players at any time other than to transport a player that is proceeding under penalty of stroke and distance.
- Spectator Handicap Carts will be used to assist with evacuation.
- Spectator Handicap Carts may carry food and drink for players, but no golf equipment, and may also carry any other spectator items such as backpacks and umbrellas.
- Spectator will treat all tournament facility staff with respect and follow all course policies.
Failure to follow the guidelines listed above may result in the removal of the spectator’s Handicap Cart privileges for the current tournament and possibly future tournaments.
- Spectator agrees to hold harmless the AJGA and Host Facility from any damage or liability caused by or as a result of the use of the aforementioned golf car.
- Actions taken at the tournament facility or away from it that draw into question the need for the Spectator Handicap Cart may result in it being taken away.
Revised May 12, 2026
To view the AJGA Spectator Code of Conduct, please click here.