They cost 2x a cart which is 4x more per rider.
Tough hurdle for operators.
A fleet/steady diet of them will of course cause turf wear, the same as a trolley can(witness the long trolley walk arounds at busy places like Ballybunion) so I wouldn't hold your breath that they can go "anywhere"
5 a day? no problem.
I've demoed one but our terrain is too difficult between holes to feel comfortable/safe for most riders
Jeff,
The costs are certainly prohibitive and IMO, the other major impediment to their adaptation.
I disagree with you on turf wear as their low-pressure wide tires are low impact and the device weight is starting to come down. If anything, I'd argue that with the exception of some, more fragile (i.e.vulnerable high-root bent grass or super-fine fescue), grasses, the distribution of the player's weight and the alleviation of lengthier walks with cleated or numbed shoes produces a healthier long-term effect on most grasses. We ran them in concentric circles across a poa annua green and our Super thought they had no meaningful impact whatsoever. I wouldn't recommend running them across any greens, but they really don't leave much, if any, of a substantial footprint.
Steve.
I seen all the demos, and got the same opinion from our super that you did.
That said, I see the wear around greens and tees at popular courses in the UK.
No way they weigh less than a trolley.
No worries unless they are heavily used but one cannot deny the traffic marks and little white fences strewn on narrow passages around greens at Uk courses-as wellas the artficially surfaced paths and walkarounds at many popular links courses.
I've also seen the marks golf boards leave on turf-there is weight there-the same as concentrated foot traffic can cause a problem to a smaller degree.
Also remember that there would be 4 in a group, not 2.
As an alternative to carts? yes.
OK to park at edge of green and tee?--not so much if widely adopted
Again a few do nothing-a lot will.