The best golf push carts can help you split the difference between an exhausting round and a lazy trip across the links. Golf can be played like a game or as a sport. If you hop an electric or gas-powered cart and ride your way through 18 holes, that makes the 500-year-old activity into a game, saving you some exertion. And if you walk the course with your clubs across your shoulders, that’s combining a five to 10-mile hike with about 30 pounds on your back (and swinging 80 to 90 times for most amateurs). But a golf push cart wheels in to allow you to walk your golf round without requiring you to carry your clubs. For many, the subtraction of that sweaty brand of lugging is the difference between an enjoyable run of golf and too strenuous an afternoon.
The best golf push carts make it easier than ever to tote your clubs around the course.
Illustration: Forbes/Photo: Retailer
Golf carts for hand use can be pushed or pulled, though most designs call for the former. They show up for duty in two- or three-wheeled designs, while most fold up for easier transport before and after the round. In general terms, the more features and abilities the cart includes, the more it costs. But because golfers of all abilities will occupy the links at any given time (especially as the weather improves), push carts can be found in a dizzying array of styles and price points, one of which will cater to your needs.
Below, we’ve rounded up a topnotch collection of the best golf push carts in every category. While the Sun Mountain Speed Cart V1R took home first place, we’ve also highlighted a cart for the budget-minded golfer (the Jef World of Golf Deluxe Steel Cart), another for those that prefer two wheels to three (the Kaddey Switch Cart) and even a lightweight cart that sheds unwanted ounces (the Golfstream Express Push Cart). Find the model that meets your needs and enjoy the game like never before.
Amazon
Sun Mountain Golf Speed Cart V1R
The Sun Mountain Golf Speed Cart V1R is one of Sun Mountain’s most recent designs and offers everything you’d need in a modern golf push cart. The company specializes in golf club bags, golf travel bags and carts like this new V1R 3. A foldable, three-wheeled design, the Speed Cart includes a redesigned handle with a larger mesh head cover tray to hold items while you’re playing. Secure, stretching upper and lower bag brackets adjust to the size and shape of your bag for a reliable hold.
Add-ons for the Speed Cart V1R include an umbrella holder, a built-in bracket for the Speed Cart seat if you’d like to take a load off while your partner struggles through the back nine, or a bottle holder for your drink of choice. The cart weighs 17.95 pounds, so it can be a little bulky in and out of the car. Still, it rolls over hill and dale with ease.
Amazon
Jef World Of Golf Deluxe Steel Golf Cart
It’s not much to look at, but it’ll do the job of wheeling your golf clubs around easily for less than $50. The (deep breath) Jef World Of Golf Deluxe Steel Golf Cart is indeed made of its titular metal and folds into a smaller shape for transport to and from golf. That folding halves the cart, so it’ll fit in most cars and SUVs without worry.
While its price would indicate a bare bones design, the manufacturer includes a waterproof scorecard holder, a contoured bottom shelf to hold golf bags both large and small and an adjustable bag strap to hold all of the above in place securely.
Its durability might not hold up compared to the pricier options listed here, but treat the Deluxe Steel Golf Cart well and it should provide loyal service for a few years.
The compact design of the Kaddey Switch amounts to little more than a two-wheeled add-on that transforms a golf bag into a cart that works much like a moving hand truck. That simplicity is what makes this design stand out amongst the many two-wheel carts out there.
Push it or pull it, but the Kaddey Switch is light and manageable over open ground. While it’s not as stable as some elaborate three-wheeled carts, it is easy and responsive to maneuver. Since it folds up tight to the golf bag, it can remain attached to the bag, if you prefer. The Switch is sized to take on any golf bag, and it stands ready to add on a myriad of accessories from the company, including an umbrella holder and valuables compartment.
Golfstream makes a motorized golf cart for players with deeper pockets, but the Golfstream Express Push Cart is a simpler push model known for its stiff, lightweight construction and ease of use. Weighing less than 9 pounds and arriving ready to use right out of the box, the Express Push Cart is made of anodized black aluminum and folds quickly for easy transport.
It’s made in the UK, but the company has partnerships in place for American buyers to pick up a Golfstream Express without paying for and waiting on international shipping. The company makes a complete selection of accessories, including a beverage holder, umbrella connection and scorecard holder.
We admit that this is technically not a golf push cart. Heck, it’s not even a golf pull cart. In fact, you don’t have to touch the thing as you play golf—and that’s the entire point of the Stewart Golf Q Follow. This high tech product from the UK allows you to walk your round of golf without having to carry, push, pull or otherwise wrestle with your golf bag.
The Q Follow is Stewart’s toughest design with its brawniest build quality. It’s built with a microcellular composite material chassis and two, dual-bearing, free rolling wheels to cross the rougher terrain of any golf course. Available with an 18 or 36-hole battery pack, the Q folds up to fit in any car, though it weighs nearly 40 pounds between the cart and battery, so keep that reality in mind.
Amazon
Zero Friction Wheel Pro Push Cart And Stand Bag
We’re pushing the limits of what passes for a golf push cart with the Zero Friction Wheel Pro Push Cart And Stand Bag because (as the name indicates) it’s as much a golf club bag as a cart. And its name becomes even more perplexing as the Zero Friction product is as much a pull cart as a push model.
The Wheel Pro has its two-wheeled cart element built into a golf bag with a 14-way club divider built into its frame. Since the wheels and stand bag elements are combined, you end up with a cart that weighs less than its rivals (but also a golf bag that’s a tick heavier than other club carriers).
If for some bizarre reason you can’t stand the idea of a golf bag and cart happily married, you can remove the 11-inch wheels and render the Wheel Pro wheel-less before carrying the golf bag alone.
Is It Better To Push Or Pull A Cart?
Whether you should push or pull a golf cart depends on several factors, including personal preference, the design of the cart and the terrain. Pushing a golf cart promotes control, visibility and weight distribution, while pulling a golf cart improves ergonomics, maneuverability and assistance should you need to pull a heavier load.
Ultimately, the best approach depends on your personal preferences, the specific cart design and the conditions you encounter. Some golf carts are designed to be pushed, like those on this list, while others have handles intended for pulling.
What Is A Power Cart For Golf?
A power cart is designed to autonomously track any golfer as they move around the course, carrying their clubs and equipment to make the round more enjoyable. Power carts typically utilize advanced technologies such as GPS and sensors to navigate the course, and they can adjust their speed and direction based on your movements. Some models even incorporate artificial intelligence algorithms to optimize their path planning and obstacle avoidance capabilities.