Strolling or Rolling You Have A Choice !

By Adam Barr

It's great to stand on your own two feet. Or walk on them. On the golf course, I feel sorry for those who can't, or won't. I love to walk, even in Florida, where on summer days you can get as wet walking as swimming.
Still, I stroll every chance I get, even if I have to lighten the bag and put it over my shoulder. (Ten clubs should be enough to get around, right?) More people should, just to get the breath in their lungs and feel some rhythm in their rounds.
But many opt for carts. I like carts, in general. They serve a crucial function, allowing the less ambulatory to play golf longer into their lives, and in some cases, to play at all. Makers of golf carts (they prefer "golf cars") operate an enlightened automotive enterprise, always looking for ways to make their products easier to use, safer, and more fuel-efficient. Carts are not evil.
What I'm after is choice. As long as players hold up their end in the speed-of-play social contract, they should be able to walk. Many courses don't offer that choice nowadays; some aren't designed for it. But those that do allow walking should be applauded. And patronized.
Walking is not without its problems. As I get older, that bag-on-the-shoulder thing is accomplished much less blithely, shall we say. But rolling over the horizon is a brighter dawn for walkers. If carrying is the issue -- and it's a reasonable issue on hilly courses, hot days, or balky shoulders -- it's a problem easily solved.
The wheels belong under the bag, not under you. There are more choices than ever before in push and pull carts ("trolleys" to our UK friends) to get you rolling.
Simple folding pull carts, such as the ones made by Bag Boy, can be had for as little as $40. These have wide but small tires, so they won't damage turf. And fitting them into your trunk is easy; when I was younger, we just kept them strapped to the bag and chucked the whole thing into the boot.
Beyond the classics, golf has done well to draft the running industry. The wheel and suspension systems on those child carts pushed along by marathon-training moms and dads, almost bicycle-like in their efficiency, have made their way into golf. Brands such as Sun Mountain and ClicGear have three- and four-wheel models, mostly in the $200 area -- a minor investment for a solid product that will last many seasons. These models usually fold up, too, for easy storage.
The next level may be a splurge, but if it gets you on your feet, I'm all for it. For anywhere between $500 and $1,000, you can get a battery-powered, motorized trolley such as the ones offered by PowaKaddy and others. They have handheld remotes, auto-stop features, and reliable braking systems. They can handle a surprising variety of terrain.
And that's just the front of the showroom. After all, the idea isn't to take the wheels out of golf. It's just to make room for some feet next to them.

$795 Bat Caddy X4R www.batcaddy.com The X4R features a pair of powerful 200-watt, virtually noiseless DC electric motors, inconspicuously hidden and protected in a small aluminum tube. The Bat Caddy x4R will master any hill with 30-plus degrees of climbing ability, and reaches a top speed of six-plus miles an hour. An easy-to-use, multi-function remote control features directional controls and effective brake/stop functions, as well as a manual rheostat handle control, on/off buttons, cruise control functions and a power and battery charge indicator integrated into a new small handle design.

$189 BAGBOY Express www.bagboycompany.com The Bag Boy Express is a new model in the company's innovative three-wheel push cart fleet. The Express Auto features Bag Boy's patented one-step folding mechanism, enabling the cart to open and close with one simple fold, promoting ease of use, effortless transportation and compact storage. A lightweight model that is suitable to carry any size bag, the Express Auto is also equipped with G-Force wheel technology; a smooth rolling, low profile, wide contact tire that makes maneuvering around the course effortless..

$199 Clicgear Model 3.0 www.clicgearusa.com The Clic Gear 3.0 features an improved ergonomic main hinge lever for easier opening, a push button front wheel lock for easier opening, an easy-action brake lever, and a larger console for more storage. The cart also has a Dura-Comfort handle grip material, a new mesh storage net and folds to a subcompact 13-by-15-by-24-feet for easy storage. It's also powder coated to resist scuffing and scratching.

$189 Trekker TC3 Freestyle www.trekkercaddy.com The Trekker TC3 Freestyle was developed to offer walkers the lightest, freest-rolling, best-balanced caddy cart in the business. High-strength aircraft-grade aluminum tubing allows for an incredibly lean 15 pounds overall weight, one of the lightest in the deluxe cart market. The Trekker TC3 is constructed on a low, flat, reinforced sub-frame to deliver the lowest possible center of gravity and an equal distribution of load across the three wheels, ensuring stability and a free-rolling action.

$239 Sun Mountain Speed Cart www.sunmountain.com Sun Mountain Speed Cart The Speed Cart V2 is a deluxe version of the company's Speed Cart V1. The V2 has a heavy-duty frame with steel stampings and glass-filled joints for increased durability. There is a larger handle to allow for a wider and more comfortable grip. The larger handle also allows for an expansion of the accessories panel. The mesh sweater basket is an added feature, perfect when weather constantly changes. An improved frame shape cradles the golf bag and lowers the center of gravity, making a loaded cart more stable.