OT: Push cart advice

[Bernie Bell]

It's great how many people are walking now.  I wonder if it will last.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

I like my Clicgear reasonably well, and I'll use it as long as it lasts. I don't plan on buying another one though. While the frame itself is built to last, most of the components are just plastic. I had a nut come loose from the brake hammer a few weeks ago while on a trip and it quickly rendered the cart borderline unusable. While it's nice that Clicgear sells replacement parts through their website, I learned that they don't keep all of them stocked, including the part you'll probably need. Ultimately, I was able to solve the problem for about 42 cents by pushing the cart two blocks through my little inner city neighborhood to the nearest hardware store and just finding a replacement nut.

I'm with the others in having a very different experience with the ClicGear I have than you.

My daughter has punished the crap out of her ClicGear for four years now. In that time, I've replaced or repaired the following:

• The brake spring (a $4 part, so I got two extra as well).

That's it. She's shoved Gatorade bottles, 32-oz. steel drink bottles, water bottles, etc. in the cup holder thing (the XL cup holder, the skinny one is not all that useful). She's got the cooler bag that goes between the back wheels. She's got the cart mitts, the adjustable umbrella holder. The Cozy (the bag doesn't twist - most don't, but her stand bag sometimes would). She loves the seat, too, and uses that all the time.

She's not one to check on screws or nuts or bolts, but the Sun Mountains (my golf team has six) have had screws and bolts fall out five or six times, and they see far less use than my daughter's ClicGear.

FWIW, the Sun Mountain is about three pounds lighter than the ClicGear. The ClicGear's frame is a fair amount thicker

[Tim Martin]

I got the Cliqgear 4.0 and after five rounds I would say better than advertised. The ease of adjustment if the bag starts to twist is a quick fix with the notched rubber straps that are used to secure the bag. With the cup and umbrella holders thrown in you are good to go. Finally it seems sturdy enough to last.

[JHoulihan]

Personally I have only owned Clicgear 3.0 and loved it so I have not purchased a competitor to compare. Cliqgear 3.0 may seem a bit heavy to lift in and out of your car/truck. For this weight burden your benefits include 1) Plastic wheels (not air filled and popable in the desert) 2) sturdy construction (large tubular frame) 3) Accessories availability. Since I only walk about 30-40% of rounds, I have not not yet added a cooler or other accessories. My only drawback is the seat accessory offered. Instead of being able to fold the cart with the seat attached, it forces you to remove one of the wheels, attach the accessory seat and reattach the factory wheel. Technically no competitors do this well, just want to add my personal story. If a company could do this well it could be a game changer until then wealkers will continue to see out uninterrupted rounds with few breaks and impatiently spend the time waiting hoping for a better Cliqgear 5.0 version

[Matt MacIver]

No one has mentioned Caddy Tek which I and several friends have. Three and four wheel versions available, lots of storage, light, folds nicely. Bought on AMZN.  Even has a chair add-on which helps on long days.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

My only drawback is the seat accessory offered. Instead of being able to fold the cart with the seat attached, it forces you to remove one of the wheels, attach the accessory seat and reattach the factory wheel. Technically no competitors do this well, just want to add my personal story. If a company could do this well it could be a game changer until then wealkers will continue to see out uninterrupted rounds with few breaks and impatiently spend the time waiting hoping for a better Cliqgear 5.0 version

The 3.5 and 4.0 models I have don't have you removing the wheel at all (only for installation of the seat bracket). The seat unattached with a spring-loaded clip, and it detaches in a few seconds so you can fold the cart normally.

[Niall C]

I've used electric trolleys in the past and found that I kept forgetting they are electric and start trying to stop it by pulling on the handle leading to a bit of a strain in my shoulder. Somehow I find it easier and more comfortable using a three wheel push trolley.


I recently bought my brother a three wheel push trolley as a present. Folds up well and easy to set up. Comes complete with the umbrella holder. The make is icart. Anyone else used one ?


Niall

[Andy Shulman]

Who knew that this seemingly innocuous subject could engender such strong opinions.  As we discussed when we played, I've got a Clikgear 3.0 that I'm very happy with.



So, what did you decide, Mr. Hughes?

[A.G._Crockett]

It's great how many people are walking now.  I wonder if it will last.

I'm going to guess no.  I think it will be similar to what happens to car sales as gasoline prices fluctuate.  When the pandemic fades, I think the people that were walking before still will be, and the people who only started walking because of the pandemic won't be.  That's cynical, I know.
I played in a Member-Guest this weekend, on a 1966 George Cobb course that is one of the nicest walks you'll ever play; I doubt that the total elevation difference between the highest and lowest points on the course is more than a hundred feet or so, and the longest green to tee walk is probably a hundred yards or so.  Heavy rain Thursday night until midday Friday, so cart path only.  Then the weather turned cold; the temps on Saturday morning were in the 40's, and it was still cart path only.  Oh, I did I mention that there is a pandemic?  NC recorded the highest positive test numbers yet on Thursday and Friday!
I walked both days, as well as the Thursday practice round, pushing my Clicgear with a seat attachment, a giant umbrella, etc.  I was the ONLY player in the field that walked.  Not one of a few; the ONLY player who walked either day.  I was really sort of stunned, but more than that, I was dismayed. 

[Lou_Duran]

With permission from Mr. Nicklaus, of course, "Golf My Way" by A.G. Crockett.


My 3.0 is a workhorse.  The club's 3.5s haven't taken the beating of a rental fleet even though they don't get out all that much.


Pushing my cart adds about .2 miles to my walk and it exacerbates my neck problem if I don't consciously use my left arm and side to propel it.  I prefer the cart presently mainly because it allow me to play with a full set and it seems to lessen the strain on my left heel.


I'd invest in a light-weight, easy to break down electric model if my club would allow privately-owned carts post Covid.

[Jerry Kluger]

Lou: Your club needs to get with the program and allow push carts and eliminate the snob appeal of not allowing them. 


I have an electric trolley and it makes walking a much better option for an old guy like me and adds to the enjoyment of the round.  I really don't see what the negative side of them is other than one's image but that is usually disparaged by some guy riding in a buggy.

[A.G._Crockett]

Lou: Your club needs to get with the program and allow push carts and eliminate the snob appeal of not allowing them. 


I have an electric trolley and it makes walking a much better option for an old guy like me and adds to the enjoyment of the round.  I really don't see what the negative side of them is other than one's image but that is usually disparaged by some guy riding in a buggy.

Jerry,

It's not snob appeal, it's revenue.  It's exactly like clubs who say that you can't walk on weekend mornings and say that it's a pace of play thing, when of course the reality is that on a crowded golf course walking matters the least vs. riding.

The push cart thing at private clubs is presented as uniformity and a "look", but at one of my former clubs, the rental fleet was black Sun Mountains, which I had at that time, and I couldn't use my own.  Lots of places have a similar policy.

It's always refreshing to me when a club simply says, "It's revenue!"  That I get, and that I can support. 

[Tim Martin]

Lou: Your club needs to get with the program and allow push carts and eliminate the snob appeal of not allowing them. 


I have an electric trolley and it makes walking a much better option for an old guy like me and adds to the enjoyment of the round.  I really don't see what the negative side of them is other than one's image but that is usually disparaged by some guy riding in a buggy.

Jerry,

It's not snob appeal, it's revenue.  It's exactly like clubs who say that you can't walk on weekend mornings and say that it's a pace of play thing, when of course the reality is that on a crowded golf course walking matters the least vs. riding.

The push cart thing at private clubs is presented as uniformity and a "look", but at one of my former clubs, the rental fleet was black Sun Mountains, which I had at that time, and I couldn't use my own.  Lots of places have a similar policy.

It's always refreshing to me when a club simply says, "It's revenue!"  That I get, and that I can support.

Who was the genius that came up with the “trail fee”?

[A.G._Crockett]

Lou: Your club needs to get with the program and allow push carts and eliminate the snob appeal of not allowing them. 


I have an electric trolley and it makes walking a much better option for an old guy like me and adds to the enjoyment of the round.  I really don't see what the negative side of them is other than one's image but that is usually disparaged by some guy riding in a buggy.

Jerry,

It's not snob appeal, it's revenue.  It's exactly like clubs who say that you can't walk on weekend mornings and say that it's a pace of play thing, when of course the reality is that on a crowded golf course walking matters the least vs. riding.

The push cart thing at private clubs is presented as uniformity and a "look", but at one of my former clubs, the rental fleet was black Sun Mountains, which I had at that time, and I couldn't use my own.  Lots of places have a similar policy.

It's always refreshing to me when a club simply says, "It's revenue!"  That I get, and that I can support.

Who was the genius that came up with the “trail fee”?

Another club that I belonged to charged a trail fee for walkers on weekend mornings during DST.  Again, though, the GM was very frank about saying that it was a revenue matter, which I appreciated and supported and had no problem with. 


I've never been in the situation where I had a private electric cart, but as long as the club was honest about WHY they were charging a trail fee, I don't think I'd have a problem with that, either.  I think we all understand that there are hidden costs to cart usage that occur no matter who owns the cart.

[Lou_Duran]

Club Corp and American Golf were/are bottom line oriented.  AG in particular was big on finding ways to grow revenues per member/round.  At my old club they went to a mandatory riding scheme during the morning wave weekends and holidays.  Speed of play was first offered as the reason, but the manager finally admitted that it was to maximize revenues during prime tee times.  Push carts weren't allowed, supposedly because they would make the club look too muni.  I think that I was about the only golfer who walked during the weekend mornings even though I was charged a cart fee.


My TX club has a fleet of a dozen or so CilcGear 3.5, all in various states of disrepair.  No private push carts were allowed prior to Covid, supposedly because they wanted to maintain a uniform, upscale look.  The club is allowing private push carts during the pandemic restrictions because there simply aren't enough riding carts with one golfer per cart (some weekend mornings they run out by 9:30).  Since 90% +/- ride, I am doubtful that we will have a more liberal cart policy when things return to normal.

[Sean_A]

It's crazy to encourage or require using a cart or to discourage walking to play golf.  Clubs must be out to lunch with such policies.

Ciao

[Peter Pallotta]

Hadn't ever given it much thought, but interesting to note the different golf 'cultures':
At my home course in Ontario (just outside of Toronto), on a typical day many people chose to ride in carts, including the 20-30 year olds, but I saw very few push-carts; while at my new home course in BC (just outside of Vancouver), I've not yet seen anyone riding in a cart, not even the 70 year olds, but a majority of golfers use push-carts (instead of carrying).
I don't know if in either/both cases it's golf culture driving club policy or club policy creating golf culture.
PS - re the original question: from what I can tell, ClicGear rules the day where I play: all of the quality push-carts I've seen are ClicGear, I've not seen a Sun Mountain yet. Maybe the former had a special promotion at the club before I got here -- there are even golfers with ClicGear caps and (I thought I saw) towels.

[Matt MacIver]

I will add to my other post about liking my Caddy Tek: it’s a three wheel and I should be able to adjust the front wheel so it doesn’t pull one way, but the cart guys man-handle it storing it after every round so now it pulls materiality to the left every five feet, so I have to lift the front wheel up and re-route. Exhausting. So, there’s that.

[Garland Bayley]

Peter,

The climate in Vancouver would approximate the British Isles, so it may be more related to climate that any particular golf "culture".

What burb of Vancouver are you located in? What course(s) do you play?

[Joe Hellrung]

All, looking for a quality push cart that is easy to use, has enough storage for odds and ends, makes walking the course nicer (and not a battle to drag the clubs up and down hills).
Is the Clicgear 4.0 the way to go, or are there better options?


Many thanks in advance.

I used to have a 3 wheel click-gear, and switched to a 4 wheel bag boy (link below).  I love my bag-boy.  Easy to fold up, light, stable.  Regardless of which brand you like best, I highly recommend 4 wheels over 3.

https://bagboy.com/collections/bag-boy/products/quad-xl-push-cart

[Marty Bonnar]

Some guy on the Society of Golf Historians Facebook page just said, and I quote:” Pull cart ...at our club reserved for women and punks”.
I’m going to assume he isn’t a Brit or an Aussie...EDIT: Or an enlightened GCAer, of course!
 
F.

[BHoover]

Some guy on the Society of Golf Historians Facebook page just said, and I quote:” Pull cart ...at our club reserved for women and punks”.
I’m going to assume he isn’t a Brit or an Aussie...EDIT: Or an enlightened GCAer, of course!
 
F.

It’s Facebook, so why would you expect anything different?