Believe it or not, my favourite piece of golf tech are not my clubs.
In the last few years, there has been a surge in the availability of electric golf caddies. When they first started, they were big, clunky, and slow. The batteries could barely get through a round of golf. Worst of all, they had an old bike handlebar to hang on to keep it straight. Well, flash forward, and the world has changed.
Electric golf caddies can run you between $1,500 and $3,000 CAD depending on how deep you want to go with it. They have buggies that have Bluetooth, follow you around and even a seat to sit on in case you get tired. Here is my story of how I was able to build my own for a lot less than you would think!
I started with the Alphard motor, which is jam-packed with value. This two-wheeled motorized wonder will fit a plethora of buggies listed here. It also comes with a super handy remote that is very simple to follow. It even gives you three different distance options to hit should you want to let it venture down the fairway without you. The battery lasts around 27 holes, and I am pretty sure it could touch 36 based on my real-world trials. The lithium battery charges in 3 hours, and the unit compress to fit in any trunk.
The cart itself I chose was a Rovic 3 wheel cart. The cart is lightweight, folds up into a tiny unit to fit in the trunk. It also has a locking mechanism on it to keep the front wheel straight for uneven surfaces. You can also customize with accessories like an umbrella holder, a drink holder, and storage.
It’s not all perfect for the ‘Rovic’ as we know it by. There are a couple of shortcomings. First, it does not go backwards. Most every other cart on the market has an option to go forward and backwards. The second downside is that there is no back wheel. If you go up too steep of an incline, the cart could tip over, sending your clubs and belongings everywhere.
What makes this combo so good is that you can upgrade the cart itself down the road if you wanted to. The lithium battery and the remote are fantastic. Other than a couple of small nitpicks, the Rovic based setup is excellent. With a kit price of $1,100 CAD, it is amongst the least expensive and as well the most versatile on the market.
Have you been considering an electronic golf caddy? Or current use one? Share your experience in the comments!
*EDIT* After releasing this review I humbly learned that the Rovic I have been using for months will actually go backward by holding down the back button. Originally when I hit the button it did not move. Goes to show that we learn something every day.
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