Imagine driving across the sun-drenched greens of a Las Vegas golf course, delivering drinks, telling jokes, and raking in tips that might equal a week’s salary. For cart girls such as Jennifer Friday and Cassie Holland, this is not a dream this is what they do. To work as a beverage cart girl at a Vegas golf course is not just a job, it’s a whirlwind hustle that combines hospitality, wit, and cold hard cash. Let’s get into the hot, wild life of these desert dynamos and discover what makes this job a Sin City hit.
A Day on the Greens
Working as a cart girl is anything but dull. Just imagine driving a souped-up golf cart, loaded with coolers of beverages, navigating the fairways of destinations such as Revere Golf Club or Chimera Golf Club. Jennifer, 25 and a Vegas native, fell into the job after bartending on The Strip and in Hawaii. She describes it as “bartending on wheels,” working with everyone from mellow retirees to rambunctious bachelor party groups. Cassie, 26, took the pandemic-fueled loss of her job and turned it into a TikTok empire that now has 2.2 million followers, chronicling the ups and downs of her time at Chimera. Both women do well outdoors, working their way through a social cross-section as diverse as the golfers they cater to.
The Hustle as a Work of Art
It takes personality to be successful as a cart girl. “It’s not all about looks,” Cassie maintains. “You have to smile, enjoy yourself, and brighten up their day.” Whether keeping up with an 90-year-old regular or joking with a 21-year-old party animal, being able to adjust is a must. Jennifer notes that public courses like Revere, a hotspot for bachelor parties and tournaments, demand quick thinking. A well-timed dad joke like Cassie’s “I’m serving drinks, not miracles” when asked for a better golf game can spark laughter and fatten the tip jar. It’s about creating a moment, not just pouring a drink.
Tip Jackpots and Tough Days
The tips are the real draw, and in Vegas, they’re legendary. Jennifer remembers a $1,000 tip by a group of people purchasing $450 worth of Casamino’s tequila, and Cassie once received $200 for a $3.50 Dr. Pepper. On a Saturday afternoon, she took home almost $2,000 in tips, in addition to her $10–$15 an hour. Even Kenny, a medical school student working as a cart girl on the side, earned $558 in one day higher than some resident physicians. But with a catch? It’s uncertain. A sluggish Tuesday may produce only $20, and new girls usually end up with a single shift per week. Budgeting is an art when income fluctuates between $20 and $1,000 in a day.
Showmanship and Strategy
To get maximum tips, cart girls add pizzazz. Cassie dresses up her cart like a “disco ball” on theme days such as Valentine’s or the Super Bowl with heart-shaped cups or special drink promotions. It’s a crowd-pleaser that raises tips to $500 on good days. She also leverages the business atmosphere of golf courses, where deals are closed and company cards go around like water. “Give them the good stuff,” she says, recommending top-shelf liquor to wow clients over cheap booze. This astute move raises the experience and the payoff, transforming a $4 drink into a $20 tip.
Working the Rough
Not every moment glitters. “Sometimes the flirting gets too much,” Cassie concedes. Tipsy golfers sometimes get flirtatious, making cringe-worthy comments such as comparing a cart girl to a “young Alicia Keys” or requesting “mouth-to-mouth” from a med student like Kenny. Kelli, a fellow cart girl, even once got hit in the chest with a golf ball without apology. Jennifer defuses bold players with a quick retort and a firm look: “They’re like, ‘Sorry,’ real quick.” For the most part, interactions are courteous, but the work requires a thick skin and a quick tongue to establish limits without sullying the atmosphere.
Sisterhood on the Course
Cart girls don’t have to navigate these obstacles on their own. “We look out for each other,” Cassie says. When one golfer attempted to hand another cart girl a drink for a “hug,” Cassie put the kibosh on it, deeming it “creepy” and taking the drink herself. It’s this friendship that is a lifeline, forming a network of support that makes the job more enjoyable and safer. Jennifer considers her co-workers best friends, laughing and sharing tips on how to handle the wild ride of the course’s energy.
Building a Brand
The work is seen beyond the greens, courtesy of social media. Cassie’s 2.2 million TikTok fans descend upon her tales of offbeat golfer interactions, generating tee-time reservations at Chimera. Jennifer’s Instagram, with almost 250,000 followers, presents an unfiltered glimpse of highs and lows of the work. Kenny and Lissa post their own vignettes, ranging from tip collections to banter, attracting audiences 70% of them women, according to Cassie appreciative of the humor and hustle. These sites make cart girls into influencers, multiplying their exposure and even driving course business.
From Gig to Gateway
For some, carting is not a career it’s a springboard. Cassie, guided by Chimera’s owner Tom Burke, developed a personal brand and an LLC, looking at business ventures such as a “hug repellant” body glitter based on challenges on-course. She has worked high-profile events such as NASCAR and EDC, endorsed by brands such as Cash App. Rejecting quick sponsorship cash, she focuses on authentic partnerships, showing the job’s potential for entrepreneurship. “You’d think it’s a dead-end job,” she says, “but it can turn into more.”
The Cost of the Hustle
The work isn’t all glamour. The sporadic pay $20 one day, $1,000 the next complicates budgeting. Slow shifts, restricted schedules for newcomers, and the occasional off-color remark or wayward golf ball make tough the tony. But the cart girls’ strength of character prevails. They rely on wit, poise, and one another to maintain the atmosphere light and the tips plentiful, converting adversity into opportunity.
Why It Works
What makes this gig a phenomenon in Vegas? It’s the combination of autonomy, enjoyment, and financial gain. “I’m playing with 200 sexy golfers and taking home a lot of cash,” Cassie chuckles. Jennifer enjoys the great outdoors and tight-knit team. For around $35, you can purchase a golf rangefinder on Amazon to play the course like a pro, or a $42 cooler bag to store drinks cold. The work pays for personality, hustle, and heart, with a unique route to large tips and larger aspirations.
A Job Like No Other
Cart girl work in Las Vegas is a ride to remember part bartender, part performer, part businesswoman. From stunning tips to uncomfortable run-ins, it’s a job that requires charm, wit, and a talent for creating moments into memories. With their carts as stages and the greens as their spotlight, these women prove that in Sin City, even a drink run can become a ticket to something extraordinary. So, next time you’re on a Vegas course, tip your cart girl generously she’s earning every penny.
