Walking with trolleys

[Kalen Braley]

But again, people are free to look for and choose a model that fits their preferences.  If I disagree with your preference, so long as it is not immoral or illegal, I will respect it.  So why the problem, particularly given the ancillary benefits?  The rules at the clubs who require caddies for walkers are known before anyone joins.  Nobody is compelled to join.  Club by-laws permit rules changes and rules are often changed yet this rule survives.  Those who are outside the club who don't like the rules need not join.  Since the rule does not violate any other public policy, there is no reason for an outsider to complain.

Shel nailed it, with this statement...

Nothing else to be said....

[Wayne_Kozun]

Here in Canada we are somewhat between the US and UK, which is not surprising.  There is more use of riding carts than the UK but push carts are commonplace.


I have played many of the most exclusive courses in the country and pretty much all of them have push carts.  The only ones that I can think of that may not allow them are ultra-private enclaves like Redtail or Memphremagog.


At the most exclusive old-money private clubs in Toronto, like Toronto GC and Rosedale, the default is to set you up on a push cart.  At my club, Scarboro, we probably have about 1/3 cart riders, 1/3 trolleys and 1/3 carry.  Also popular are the motorized walking carts which I think are a very good compromise.  My club has lots of elevation changes, including the approach to the 18th green is very steeply uphill, and it is hard for many people to push the carts up the hill.


I think we are much more pragmatic here than in some places in the US that have practices that are very hard to change.  Caddies are fairly rare in Canada other than a few places like Hamilton G&CC and the Cabot Links resort.  Cabot Links also provides trolleys and they are quite widely used.

[PCCraig]

I hate pushing around a trolley but I've been forced to recently as I am struggling with a bulging disc in my neck and it's made carrying my single strap bag pretty painful. And of course this is all in a year with no caddies. As much as I miss carrying and walking, I don't dislike push carts enough to NOT walk.

[William_G]

how about the next step of walking with a trolley that is electric and controlled by a remote control, ghastly isn't it, so many lazy ffffers out there

[John Kavanaugh]

how about the next step of walking with a trolley that is electric and controlled by a remote control, ghastly isn't it, so many lazy ffffers out there

I just finished playing a round with a guy using an electric trolley. He didn’t have a clue about trolley etiquette. There is never a reason for your trolly to be more than five paces in front of you. Sending your trolley forward while everyone else is hitting does nothing to improve speed of play. It only declares the fact that you own an electric trolley.

[John Kavanaugh]

Anything with a battery is bad for golf. The bigger the battery the worser the problem.

[Mark Pearce]

how about the next step of walking with a trolley that is electric and controlled by a remote control, ghastly isn't it, so many lazy ffffers out there

Yeah, they should do something hard work like using a caddy or sitting in a cart.  Lazy sods.

[Kalen Braley]

Anything with a battery is bad for golf. The bigger the battery the worser the problem.

Fully agreed John,


This is why I always insist on gas powered carts, they usually have a bit of extra ummf too for those hilly courses. 

[Bernie Bell]

What is the most popular power trolley in UK?  How much do they cost, more or less?

[Marty Bonnar]

What is the most popular power trolley in UK?  How much do they cost, more or less?

Powakaddy or Motocaddy probably.
£500-£1000ish.
F.
PS Some days, it feels like I’m the only person not using one. Even ten and twelve year old kids have them...

[David_Tepper]

Electric power trolleys (with batteries!) are commonplace in Scotland, especially among us older folks.

[Marty Bonnar]

Electric power trolleys (with batteries!) are commonplace in Scotland, especially among us much older folks.

[Mark Pearce]

What is the most popular power trolley in UK?  How much do they cost, more or less?

Powakaddy or Motocaddy probably.
£500-£1000ish.
F.
PS Some days, it feels like I’m the only person not using one. Even ten and twelve year old kids have them...

I have a Motocaddy I won in a charity day last year.  It's middle of the range and would costs around £500 I think.  Batteries are an extra cost, though, around £200 for a 36 hole battery.

[John Kavanaugh]

I have a power caddie myself. Just learn how to use it!!!

[John Kavanaugh]

I said the same thing back when everyone got camera phones. No one listened then so I don’t expect anyone to listen now.


Expect a damn parade of electric trolleys doing drills like they think it’s the Rose Bowl. Golf in the modern age.

[SL_Solow]

John,  lots of developments are a mixed bag.  Camera phones have been useful in exposing some of the issues we are currently facing outside of the world of golf

[Duncan Cheslett]

how about the next step of walking with a trolley that is electric and controlled by a remote control, ghastly isn't it, so many lazy ffffers out there

I just finished playing a round with a guy using an electric trolley. He didn’t have a clue about trolley etiquette. There is never a reason for your trolly to be more than five paces in front of you. Sending your trolley forward while everyone else is hitting does nothing to improve speed of play. It only declares the fact that you own an electric trolley.

Electric trolleys are now ubiquitous in the U.K.


The remote control version however, is very rarely to be seen. Everyone I know who has bought one very quickly eschewed the remote control function and steers it manually.


Most people have never bought one. The handset is one more thing to lose!

[John Kavanaugh]

A perfect solution would be to only allow electric trolleys without remote control.

[George Myers]

You do need to understand that the number of UK clubs that require long socks with shorts is tiny, in double figures at most. I went to Royal Cinque Ports on a hot day a couple of weeks ago wearing shorts, and remembered that it was a long sock club just as I was parking my car (I had to buy a pair of RCP long socks in the pro shop).

The pasty white calves must be protected!

[Jerry Kluger]

I have always rented an electric trolley in the UK and Ireland and in the US I use an electric trolley with remote control.  The remote is great when you approach a green and can continue straight on to the green while sending the trolley around the green to where you will be leaving the green.

[John Kavanaugh]

I also tool my remote control trolley to the next tee, emphasis on tool.

[Mark Mammel]

how about the next step of walking with a trolley that is electric and controlled by a remote control, ghastly isn't it, so many lazy ffffers out there

Harsh! I am 68, I have had a knee replacement, a hip replacement, and 2 low-back surgeries. I am not a lazy ffffer! I walk with a bag of 9 clubs but also use an electric trolley many days so I can walk. Like electric carts, there should always be a place for older and infirm players to use them. AND my trolley has a remote. I can always run you over if necessary! Basically, I generally encourage any implement that allows and encourages walking.
PS At my last playing some years ago Muirfield in the UK mandated caddie use for guests.

[Philip Caccamise]

I think it’s ridiculous that some clubs/courses still don’t welcome trolleys or pull carts when walking/carrying your own bag is allowed. They are widely welcomed in Europe and Asia and if you want to use one for example at The CC Brookline, which is one of the most exclusive golf courses in the world, you could take one as well.  What say you?

I agree with you. It's my preferred way to play, when healthy.


Pebble Beach didn't allow them up until the reopening from COVID shutdown.

[JohnVDB]

I’ve never used the electric trolleys, but they are extremely popular at Dornoch.  At the end of each season the clubs sells the old ones to the members and gets new ones for the rental fleet. Most of the locals now have one.


As for non-powered trolleys, I love them. At 68, I still love walking but carrying my bag was rough on the back and shoulders. I resigned from the private club I was a member at here in New Jersey when I retired because they wouldn’t allow them. It was crazy since the owner is Also a member at a much higher end club here that does allow them, but he doesn’t like them. 

[Mark_Fine]

We are through almost five pages of posts and there are very few negatives against the use of trolleys.  Frankly there really shouldn’t be as walking should be encouraged and if a pull or push cart allows someone to walk who would otherwise have to ride or not play at all they should be allowed!  Clubs need to get past this old obsolete perception that trolleys are beneath their status!!