Bob Lobel, former Boston sportscaster who is disabled, is accusing Woodland Golf Club in Newton of discrimination, claiming that the course won’t let him use a specialized golf cart on the premises.
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Woodland, however, indicated that it disallowed the carts for Lobel’s protection.
Lobel, a longtime sports personality at WBZ-TV, wants the golf course to change its policy regarding the carts, award him $250,000 in compensatory damages, and take care of his lawyer fees, the Globe reports.
“There is no problem with having them [adaptive carts] on the course”.
The club issued a statement saying, “The golf cart caused significant impressions and tears on the greens….” For Lobel, this is all about access for somebody with a disability.
Woodland General Manager David Garfinkel says the club permits the use of adaptive carts everywhere on its course except the putting greens.
“It’s just that with certain surfaces we witnessed mechanical damage to the golf course, ” he said. Garfinkle said the damage would put an “unreasonable burden” on the club’s members.
A lawsuit in Boston has a few people talking about the rights of the disabled on golf courses.
The specialized golf carts have a seat that swivels to support the golfer as he or she swings. The suit says the carts also allow the golfer to be driven onto any spot on the course without damaging it.
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“Mr Lobel requested access to Woodland’s golf course with a special golf cart”.
