Walking with trolleys

[Jeff Johnston]

Trolley culture is toast. They are going the way of the double cab pick up truck.

No way! Trolleys are a fixture of GB&I golf never to go away... and they are growing in popularity in the US, especially the powered ones. The powered trollies are much less expensive in the UK, for some reason (supply & demand, I suppose).

As batteries become less expensive and the price of powered trollies comes down... and the average golfer age continues to rise... they will only become more popular.

Trolleys have been a fixture in the states for a long time. I bet I’ve had a speedcart for twenty years. I played in Ireland in 2013. Didn’t see one three wheeled trolley. In fact when I didn’t use a caddie the rental trolleys were in very poor shape.

Rob,  given the reference to using caddies in Ireland I guess you played high end spots mainly? If you could also please clarify on what you mean by each of 'speedcart' / 'three wheeled trolley' / 'rental trolley' that would be useful - just to know we are comparing apples with apples etc.

To pick up a point mooted above, the only golfing establishment (note I don't say club) that I am aware of in GB&I with mandatory caddies currently is Adare Manor.  People can form their own conclusions on that.

[Rob Marshall]

Jeff,
When I was in Ireland I used a caddie by choice at 4 courses. The others in my group carried.


Caddies
RCD
Portrush
Lahinch
Ballybunion


Rented a “pull cart / Trolley”
Ballybunion Cashen
Portsalon
Ballyliffin
The Island
Rossapena(sp)
Portstewart
Valley


Speedcart is a three wheel push cart made by sun mountain . The carts available for rental In Ireland were 2 wheeled pull carts.

[Michael Whitaker]

Rob - rental trollies everywhere in GB&I are two-wheeled pull-carts. That’s very normal. Folks who own their carts have ones similar to your speedcart. Again, very normal. Rental trollies are a very utilitarian item... basic, just meant to get the job done. Some courses might offer nicer ones (like push carts) in a rental fleet, but I haven’t seen that in GB&I.


As for trollies in the States... yes, they have been a fixture for quite some time at a FEW places. But, trollies are UBIQUITOUS in GB&I. You would be hard pressed to play any course that didn’t offer them.

[Niall C]

Rob - rental trollies everywhere in GB&I are two-wheeled pull-carts. That’s very normal. Folks who own their carts have ones similar to your speedcart. Again, very normal. Rental trollies are a very utilitarian item... basic, just meant to get the job done. Some courses might offer nicer ones (like push carts) in a rental fleet, but I haven’t seen that in GB&I.


As for trollies in the States... yes, they have been a fixture for quite some time at a FEW places. But, trollies are UBIQUITOUS in GB&I. You would be hard pressed to play any course that didn’t offer them.

Mike


A lot more clubs are getting the three wheel caddycars (to use the old fashioned term) and a good number keep a stock of powercaddys for rent also. The days of the horrible two wheeled pull trolleys seem to be numbered.


Niall

[Michael Whitaker]

Niall - the rental powered trollies are very popular. When visiting a course on busy days one generally has to call ahead and reserve one, or otherwise be disappointed.

[Mark_Fine]

I do want to apologize for this thread.  I normally don’t start threads that are not purely golf architecture related.  Walking does impact architecture but still this thread is off topic.  However, I believe it might have helped get the job done so thanks to all of you for your input.  We will know next Tuesday night if we were successful.  For all those who want to walk at my course I hope so 🤞

[Daryl David]

I do want to apologize for this thread.  I normally don’t start threads that are not purely golf architecture related.  Walking does impact architecture but still this thread is off topic.  However, I believe it might have helped get the job done so thanks to all of you for your input.  We will know next Tuesday night if we were successful.  For all those who want to walk at my course I hope so 🤞

Will it be a full membership vote or a board decision?

[Mark_Fine]

I believe the golf committee makes a recommendation and the board then votes on it.  We all know there are much more important things to worry about than pull carts but it will help a lot of people who want to walk and can’t carry.  I have gotten a ton of thank you emails for speaking up about this and also from members that have changed their mind and are now in favor of using them.  I used a caddie yesterday for the first time this spring but it was my playing partner’s son so I felt comfortable doing so.  It was good to walk. 

[Bernie Bell]

"Now push carts are available on all courses, including No. 2 and the recently redesigned No. 4."

https://pinestrawmag.com/golftown-journal-26/

[Tim Martin]

Does anyone have any feedback on the Cliqgear 3.5+? It looks pretty stealthy.

[Peter Sayegh]

tim, pm sent.

[Tim Martin]

tim, pm sent.

Peter-Thanks for the quick reply.

[JohnVDB]

Rob - rental trollies everywhere in GB&I are two-wheeled pull-carts. That’s very normal. Folks who own their carts have ones similar to your speedcart. Again, very normal. Rental trollies are a very utilitarian item... basic, just meant to get the job done. Some courses might offer nicer ones (like push carts) in a rental fleet, but I haven’t seen that in GB&I.

Royal Dornoch has had 3-wheel trolleys for about 4 years.  They also have power trolleys available.  At the end of each year they sell the power trolleys to the members and get new ones.

[Michael Whitaker]

Deal does the same with their powered trolleys, but they still offer the traditional two-wheeled manual ones.

[Mark_Fine]

Great article!


https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-pandemic-caused-many-to-rediscover-the-joys-of-walking--will

[Lou_Duran]

Mark- thanks for the link.  I am forwarding it to our DoG, a good guy who knows which side of his bread is buttered and by whom. 


As with the pictures of me with a rickshaw at Bandon Dunes many years ago that I pinned on the bulletin board in the locker room at a former home club, I suspect that the article will get the same consideration and a good roll of the eyes.  The pictures didn't last on the board for the four hours of my round.  Of course, my inscription "Good enough for a World Top 10 good enough for Great Southwest?" might not have helped. The club maintained that trolleys (pull carts) were too "muni".   Not long afterwards it went to a mandatory riding policy during weekend and holiday mornings.  It was probably coincidental that the club started near this point on a slow decline from some 425 full members on average to periods of less than 250-300 when it was sold off for warehouse development.

[Mark_Fine]

Lou,
It is sad that some clubs think this way.  Thankfully many clubs are changing their ways.  Many have to if they want to survive.
Mark

[Daryl David]

I believe the golf committee makes a recommendation and the board then votes on it.  We all know there are much more important things to worry about than pull carts but it will help a lot of people who want to walk and can’t carry.  I have gotten a ton of thank you emails for speaking up about this and also from members that have changed their mind and are now in favor of using them.  I used a caddie yesterday for the first time this spring but it was my playing partner’s son so I felt comfortable doing so.  It was good to walk.

Did the golf committee act on this yet?  Hoping they saw the light.....

[Mark_Fine]

The board punted it back to the golf committee and supposedly the golf committee is going to discuss it again especially now that many members have spoken up.  I am not holding my breathe