By Jonathan Bym
Staff Writer
A lesson that Pinehurst resident Rich Holada learned through a near-death experience is now a mission he’s carrying on about golf cart safety.
Holada was severely injured on the eve of the 2024 U.S. Open when he was holding onto the top of a golf cart with his feet on the back where golf bags go. He’s not aware of what happened when he fell off the cart, but months in the hospital and rehabilitation were the result.
“I’m a lucky man to be alive. I had very serious injuries. I broke my ribs. I punctured my lung. I hit my head on the pavement so hard that I have a traumatic brain injury,” Holada said. “Quite honestly, nobody has a thing to do with it other than me because I was being stupid. It’s a dumb, dangerous thing to do.”
It seems commonplace at golf tournaments and other events when the seats on a golf cart are full and an extra rider hops on the back and hangs onto the roof. Holada said there is a danger in that seemingly innocent mode of transportation.
Working with fellow Pinehurst Country Club member Keith Eldridge, Holada made a public service announcement video that was shared among the Pinehurst membership.
“If you look, it literally says, ‘No Step,’” Holada says in the video, pointing to where he fatefully took a foothold.
“The only reason I did it was to hopefully keep somebody else from doing something stupid like I did,” Holada said. “I don’t want to have anybody else go through it because it is really bad, and you shouldn’t do it.”
From his porch in the Pinehurst No. 7 community, Holada has stopped groups on the fairways doing the exact same thing he is looking to eradicate.
“I’ll see, it’s usually caddies that will be riding down the fairway on the back of the cart. I try to never be rude or mean,” Holada said. “I just try to get these guys to know that you should never ride on the back of a cart. It doesn’t seem dangerous, but it is because strange things happen.”
Holada’s work to get back to before the incident has included taking over as manager for the Tarheel Youth Golf Association Tots golf series. The Tin Whistles, which Holada is a member of, put on the six-round summer event for kids from 6 to 12 years old. He was slated to take over the 2024 season of the tour, and last summer he built up his strength and knowledge under former manager Mike Mckitrick.
“I had a great teacher, and I’m trying to make sure I’m doing it the way Mike did it because he did a great job of building it up to what it is now,” Holada said.
Much like his informational video, Holada said he is using his leadership role with the TYGA Tots to teach the real purpose and lessons that golf can teach to the next generation.
“Most people will use it as a way to be able to spend time with their friends and have a good life. That’s really what we are trying to do is just get kids to understand the real golf,” Holada said.
Contact Jonathan Bym at (910) 693-2484 or jonathan@thepilot.com.
