Cart Path

A cart path is a paved or surfaced route on a golf course that golf carts follow as they move between holes. Most cart paths are made from concrete or asphalt, and their main job is to protect the turf from the wear and damage that cart traffic causes.

What is a cart path?

A cart path is the designated route that golf carts travel on a golf course. These paths connect tees, fairways, and greens so that golfers using motorized carts can get around the course without driving over the playing surfaces.

Most cart paths are built from concrete or asphalt, though some courses use crushed gravel, decomposed granite, or even wood chips for a more natural look. According to the USGA, cart paths should be at least 8 feet wide, and wider near tees and greens where carts tend to park and need room to pass one another.

Cart paths exist because golf carts damage grass, especially during wet weather when tires create ruts and compact the soil. Saturated turf is slow to recover from that kind of pressure, and repeated cart traffic in the same areas can kill the grass entirely. By keeping carts on a hard surface, the paths prevent that damage from reaching the fairways and rough.

Paths also serve a secondary purpose that most golfers never think about. The USGA notes that cart paths can capture and redirect rainwater toward drainage basins, keeping water from pooling on playing surfaces. Maintenance crews rely on cart paths too, using them to move mowers, aerators, and other heavy equipment around the course without driving over the turf.

Motorized golf carts first became common on U.S. courses during the 1950s, after companies like Marketeer and E-Z-GO began producing electric and gas-powered models. Purpose-built concrete cart paths followed in the mid-1960s. Before that, any paths that existed were informal tracks worn by traffic or topped with loose materials.

Cart path only vs. the 90-degree rule

Golfers often hear the terms “cart path only” and “90-degree rule” without fully understanding the difference. Both are cart traffic policies that courses enforce to protect the turf, but they work in different ways.

“Cart path only” means exactly what it sounds like: carts must stay on the paved path for the entire round, and golfers walk from the path to their ball, hit their shot, and walk back. Courses typically enforce this rule after heavy rain, during frost, in extreme heat when grass stops growing, or while overseeding or aerating. Par-3 holes at many courses are cart path only at all times, regardless of conditions.

The 90-degree rule is less restrictive. Under this policy, golfers drive along the cart path until they are even with their ball, then turn at a right angle off the path, drive straight to the ball, hit, and drive straight back to the path. This keeps carts off the grass for most of the hole while still allowing golfers to drive to their ball rather than walking.

Policy	When used	Cart access to fairway
Cart path only	Wet conditions, frost, extreme heat, aeration, overseeding	None. Carts stay on the path at all times.
90-degree rule	Mild wet conditions, turf stress, general protection	Limited. Carts leave the path at a right angle to reach the ball, then return immediately.
Open fairway	Dry conditions, healthy turf	Full. Carts may drive on the fairway freely.

Cart path relief under the rules of golf

When a golf ball lands on a cart path, or when the path interferes with a golfer’s stance or swing, the Rules of Golf provide free relief. The specific rule and the relief procedure depend on what the path is made of.

A paved or concrete cart path is classified as an immovable obstruction under Rule 16.1 of the Rules of Golf. If the ball sits on the path, or if the path affects the golfer’s stance or swing, the golfer can take free relief. The procedure requires finding the nearest point of complete relief that is no closer to the hole, then dropping the ball within one club-length of that spot.

One common mistake is assuming the drop always goes to the fairway side of the path. That is not always the case. The nearest point of complete relief could be in the rough, behind a bush, or in another unfavorable spot, so golfers should check where it falls before lifting the ball. If the drop would leave the ball in a worse position than on the path itself, the golfer can choose to play the ball off the hard surface instead.

Natural or sandy cart paths, like those at Pinehurst No. 2, are treated differently. Because they are not artificially surfaced, they are considered part of the general area rather than an immovable obstruction. In that case, golfers are not entitled to free relief and must play the ball as it lies.

Related Golf Terms

Carry distance — The distance the ball travels through the air before landing.
Carpet — Slang for the putting green.
Calcutta — An auction-style golf betting event before a tournament.
Cart girl — A person who drives the beverage cart on the course, selling refreshments.
Carry — The distance a ball travels through the air before landing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all golf courses have cart paths?

No. Some courses, particularly traditional links courses and private clubs that require walking, do not have cart paths. Courses that allow carts almost always have paths, at least near tees and greens.

Can you play your ball off the cart path instead of taking relief?

Yes. Taking relief from a cart path is optional. Some golfers prefer to play from the path if the nearest point of relief would leave them in a worse position, though hitting off a hard surface risks damaging the club.

What is the 90-degree rule?

The 90-degree rule requires golfers to keep their carts on the path until they are even with their ball, then turn at a right angle to drive to it. After hitting, they return to the path the same way. It reduces turf wear while still letting golfers drive close to their ball.

Are push carts allowed on the fairway during cart path only?

It depends on the course. Some courses allow push carts on fairways even when motorized carts are restricted to paths. Others require all wheeled equipment to stay on the paths. Check with the pro shop before your round.

Sources

USGA. “Do We Need Those Cart Paths?” Green Section Record, Vol. 58, Issue 11. Accessed April 2026.
USGA. “Cart Path Talking Points.” Green Section Record, Vol. 62, Issue 2. Accessed April 2026.
USGA. “Why Is It Cart Path Only?” Green Section Record, Vol. 60, Issue 8. Accessed April 2026.
USGA. “The Ins and Outs of the 90-Degree Rule.” Green Section Record, Vol. 63, Issue 14. Accessed April 2026.
USGA. “Choosing Cart Path Materials.” Green Section Record, Vol. 63, Issue 18. Accessed April 2026.
R&A. “Taking Free Relief Under the Rules.” Rules Education. Accessed April 2026.
Golf.com. “Rules Corner: Are You Entitled to Free Relief on a Sandy Cart Path?” Accessed April 2026.