BANGOR – Brian Enman, the head pro at Bangor Municipal Golf Course, feels like he’s in the vanguard of a movement designed to accommodate golfers with disabilities.

“I think we’re the only club in the state that owns a wheelchair golf cart,” said Enman.

J.W. Parks Golf Course in Pittsfield has one that could be used, said Enman, because pro Mike Dugas also owns Central Maine Golf Carts and there is a demo available, but the club doesn’t own it.

Enman started checking into the one-person carts last year because he said he had received requests to use one.

“I did a little research through the [Americans with Disabilities Act] Web site, and I found if we accept green fees from the public, then we will need to purchase one,” he said.

He put it out to bid last year but didn’t receive any.

Enman checked into it further and found SoloRider in Colorado was the only company that made such a cart. He planned on dealing with the company directly until he found Dugas had become the local distributor for SoloRider.

The request for bids went out again, and Dugas had the low bid of about $8,000.

“They’re twice what a regular cart costs,” said Enman.

While Dugas had the demo model available near the start of the golf season, Enman received Bangor’s the second or third week of May. That was fine with him, though. While the carts are able to go through bunkers and across greens, there could still be a problem if the carts are allowed out while the greens are still wet in the spring.

“They obviously can’t go out the first thing in the spring,” he said. “Even when [regular] carts can go out, we might not be able to let [the SoloRider] out.”

That’s to keep cart tracks off the greens, a concern Enman has with any piece of equipment in the spring.

“It has the same footprint has a greens mower and we have to be careful with that in the spring as well,” said Enman.

This spring has been perfect for it, though, and the cart has been used a few times already.

“It’s been used three or four times on the range and twice on the course,” Enman said. “As word gets around, I’m sure it’ll be used more.”

Enman recommends calling ahead to make sure the cart is available. Also, first-time users should arrive early enough to become familiar with the cart’s features.

“I’ve heard nothing but positive reviews, so far,” said Enman.

Of the golfers who have used it already, one is disabled from the waist down, said Enman, and hadn’t played in 18 years.

“He was tickled pink he could play again,” he said.

Another user, according to Enman, is about 80. He can walk some, but not far, without becoming out of breath.

“He’s been playing for 45 years, and he hated to give it up,” said Enman. “This affords him the chance to play still.”

Turning pro

Ross McGee of Fairfield is planning on turning pro next month, just in time for the Hollywood Slots at Bangor Greater Bangor Open Golf Tournament July 26-28 at Bangor Municipal Golf Course.

McGee, who just finished tied for second Sunday in the Whited Ford Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Tournament, plans on playing in the Maine Amateur July 10-12 at Waterville Country Club in Oakland and the State of Maine Championship July 24-25 at Sugarloaf Golf Club in Carrabassett Valley.

“I’ll see how it goes the next month and a half, then make the jump,” said McGee, 24. “I’ll be shooting for the GBO.”

Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’

Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono has a new piece of equipment – a greens roller – and participants in the Bunyan were among the first to experience its handiwork.

The greens have always run fast, but now the speed has gone up a notch. Putts were going farther with less effort. Chips were sometimes difficult to get close to the hole.

“In all the years I’ve been here [eight],” said Joe Alvarez of Hampden, “this is the fastest I’ve seen them.”

Bunyan champ Ricky Jones of Thomaston thought he had seen them as fast or faster when he played for the University of Maine golf team in the early ’90s, but there is another effect due to the rolling.

“They roll faster but also smoother. They roll true,” said Alvarez, who finished tied for second in the Bunyan.

Dave Barber can be reached at 990-8170, 1-800-310-8600, or by e-mail at dbarber@bangordailynews.net.