Princeville equipped for special needs golfers
By The Garden Island, May 20, 2006

The Princeville Golf Courses have become the first golf courses on Kauai and among the first in the state of Hawaii to offer a golf cart specially designed for players with disabilities, a press release states.

The SoloRider golf cart, now available at Princeville's Prince and Makai courses, makes it easier for players with limited mobility to maneuver around the golf course, said Candy Aluli of Aluli Public Relations.

We re proud to be one of only a handful of courses in Hawaii to offer our guests the use of this specially-designed equipment, said Michael Castillo, Director of Golf at Princeville Golf Courses, in the release.

The SoloRider cart makes a round at Princeville accessible to those who enjoy the game of golf but have previously been unable to play due to a disability.

Castillo said there is no additional fee for use of the cart but advance reservations are highly recommended to ensure it is ready and available for the players tee time.

Though it looks like a conventional cart, SoloRider has several configurations for golfers with physical disabilities or who have difficulty walking. The weight of the golf cart is precisely balanced so it can go onto tees and greens without damaging the turf. The SoloRider also features hand controls and a seat that lifts and pivots electronically to allow golfers to play their shots without leaving the cart.

There are an estimated 1.2 million persons across the country with mobility impairments who are interested in playing golf, the press release states. Princeville is the latest in a line of high-end courses to cater to disadvantaged golfers. Other U.S. golf resorts equipped with SoloRider carts include the Pebble Beach Golf Links and the Half Moon Bay Golf Links in California, the Walt Disney Resort in Florida and the entire network of Tournament Players Club courses.

Monroe Berkman, an avid golfer, polio survivor and user of the SoloRider golf cart, has owned the Centennial, Colo.-based company since 2004. SoloRider was established in 1991.