I was shocked by the push cart’s ease of use. Walking is truly the way the game is meant to be played, and I couldn’t believe I had eschewed the experience in favor of ride-on carts for so long.
Well, actually I can. Schlepping my clubs on my back was a college-days thing, and it’s not something I’ll ever voluntarily do again. I like walking, but hauling the clubs around is a different matter. The right push cart can make all the difference.
That’s why I was very intrigued by the notion of Stewart Golf’s electric carts. They offer the best of both worlds: the walk you’re craving, but with complete freedom of movement, because the clubs carry themselves. Brilliant!
My selected venue was The Raven Golf Club, a beautifully-conditioned course in Phoenix, Ariz., about 10 miles south of the city’s downtown. I arrived a few minutes early in order to get acquainted with the cart’s features. I used a follow model, which means that, in follow mode with the remote in my pocket, the cart would follow me. Pretty cool!
The cart’s remote slides easily into a pocket.Jessica Marksbury
The remote takes a minute to get used to — I definitely put the cart (and some playing companion’s feet) in peril a couple of times. But the cart is easy to control by putting your hands on it to manage tight spaces, and there’s also an emergency stop button.
My favorite mode was sending the cart out ahead of me to my ball. You can increase the speed to zip it in whatever direction you want, or you can allow it to roll at a walking speed, so you arrive at the ball together.
The cart’s durability was impressive — it went up and down hills with ease and was very responsive to the remote. It also folds into a nice, compact package when not in use.
My favorite thing about the cart was the total hands-and-arms freedom I was able to experience between shots. I could send the bag ahead on a stretch of fairway and feel completely relaxed on the walk to the ball. Plus, there’s just something undeniably fun about guiding an electric vehicle with a remote.
Ready to add a Stewart Golf cart to your golf repertoire? Check out a few of the company’s models below, and to shop more great gear for your game, click through the inventory in GOLF’s Pro Shop.
