Finally pulled the trigger on an electric trolley/cart

[burnabao]

Well, it's with a little shame that I pushed the button on a Motocaddy S3 last night after much research and deliberation. I'm only 29, fit/strong and more than able to carry a full bag for 18 holes, but since buying a push trolley a couple of years ago, I found myself just "enjoying" the game more. I couldn't find much in the way of feedback from people in a similar situation (aside from the usual carry vs push/ride banter) so will definitely post my experiences back here. I have no medical/physical factors to consider - I will evaluate the experience purely on "enjoyment". Now, where are my pipe and slippers...?

[lumpuckeroo]

I wouldn't feel bad, look at it this way, you just purchased a caddie that will always keep up, won't talk in your back swing, and just needs to be plugged in now and again.

[phillyk]

There's two arguments in this case I think, and it only matters which one is more important. 1) the fact that you use a push cart to play golf isn't "traditional" regardless if it's electronic, and 2) you're playing golf to enjoy the game of golf regardless of how your bag is carried.  Most people would go with number 2 I think.   Also, from experience of working on a course for 3 years running, people who do have electronic push carts are usually the ones keeping pace, which is awesome!  Like lumpukeroo said, the cart will keep up with you and even go ahead of you a fair distance, so the bag is always in a position that is easily accessible to keep play moving.  In the end, its all a matter of whether you're out there to play golf for the fun of the game and have a good time or to play golf traditionally and enjoy the game.

[burnabao]

So, having charged the Motocaddy battery for the recommended 8hrs overnight, I played 18 holes today with the new electric trolley and my initial thoughts are: a) my back/legs are significantly less tired/aching than they normally would be after 18 holes; b) the convenience on-course of being able to carry waterproofs/food/drinks without worrying about weight is great; c) being able to send the trolley off down the fairway/to the next tee did, I think, help keep my own pace of play up versus that of my playing partner who was carrying. Overall, the round was very relaxing/enjoyable, and I think it's only fair to say that the trolley made a contribution to that. The reduced fatigue from pushing/pulling a manual trolley up and down a hilly course noticeably helped my concentrate on more shots right until the last green, and I actually shot a PB round my home course (could be pure coincidence, but who knows?!). Obviously it's very early days, but so far, I'm pleased with the initial experience. I'm entered into a competition on Saturday, so we'll see how it stacks up in the competition environment.

[turtleback]

What led you to choose that particular one?  What others did you look at?

[Chris G]

I have been using a powakaddy for a few years now, and I love it.

I mix between carrying and using the electronic trolley for different reasons, what is the weather like etc, i hate carrying in the rain.

Also if I have had a late night before I am playing I tend to use the powakaddy.

In comps i always use my Powakaddy due to been able to carry wets, etc cloths and food etc depending how long the day is going to be.

Everyone shouls have one lol

Good luck with you new trolley :)

[burnabao]

Originally Posted by turtleback

What led you to choose that particular one?  What others did you look at?

I was also looking at the Powakaddy Freeway II, as well as the Motocaddy S1 (I wanted to stick to an established manufacturer for spares/servicing availbility in the future).  I wrote off the S1 pretty quickly as it didn't provide as much information as the others (yardages etc.); the FWII looked good/tested well, but In the end I plumped for the S3 since it gave me more distance preset options, I liked the look of the white frame, and it has a USB charging port integrated into the chassis - since I use Golfshot on my iphone as an on-course GPS, this is a real plus.  Alos, it was cheaper than the FWII, which really sealed the deal.

As for performance in competition, we don't allow distance-measuring devices in comps, so I used the S3 in "Competition Mode" (no distance readouts and no ability to send the trolley off 10/20/30y etc. ahead).  Not having the latter was a bit of a shame, but I felt significantly fresher, more energised and less groggy on the final 3 holes than I normally would when carrying/pushing.  And as Chris G alludes to, not having to worry about the weight of extra clothing, waterproofs, drinks and the like is another real plus.

Again, from a pure "enjoyment of my day" perspective, I am very pleased with the electric trolley.  Less fatigue, more concentration on my shots, which will hopefully lead to lower scores (one day!).

[turtleback]

Thanks, I appreciate your reply.  I just got a manual push cart (clicgear 3.0) but I think an electric one is in my future in a couple of years so I am always interested in people's decisions and experiences.