Best Golf Trolleys for Older Golfers: Push or Electric?
A golf trolley should make the round easier.
That sounds obvious.
But it is quite possible to buy one that saves your shoulders on the course and then gives your back a completely different job in the car park.
Too heavy.
Too awkward to fold.
Too big for the boot.
Or fitted with so many buttons that you start wondering whether you bought a trolley or a small aircraft.
For some golfers, a simple three-wheel push trolley is all they need.
For others, especially on hills or softer ground, an electric trolley can take enough effort out of the walk to make a noticeable difference.
The important thing is not buying the cleverest one.
It is choosing a trolley that suits you, your course, your car and the way you play now.
Why a trolley can make sense
The bag does not usually feel particularly heavy when you lift it out of the car.
It is what happens over the next four hours.
Pick it up.
Put it down.
Pick it up again.
Walk to the next shot.
Repeat.
Those little bits of effort add up.
A trolley removes that part of the job.
You are still walking the course.
You are simply letting something else carry the clubs.
For some golfers that makes very little difference.
For others it can mean arriving at the fifteenth or sixteenth with a little more left in the tank.
That is enough reason to consider one.
Push or electric?
This is the first decision.
A push trolley is normally the simpler choice.
No battery.
Nothing to charge.
Less weight.
Lower cost.
Less to go wrong.
If your course is fairly flat and pushing feels comfortable, that may be all you need.
An electric trolley does more of the work.
That becomes more useful if your course is hilly, winter ground gets heavy or pushing a loaded trolley is beginning to take something out of the later holes.
But electric brings its own questions.
How heavy is it?
How easily does it fold?
Can you lift it into the boot?
Can you remove the battery comfortably?
Those things matter just as much as what happens on the fairway.
Before you start shopping
I would forget the gadgets for a moment and look at the things you will deal with every week.
- How easily does it fold?
- How heavy is it?
- Can you lift it without twisting awkwardly?
- Does it fit in the car?
- Is the handle comfortable?
- Are the brake and catches easy to use?
- Does your golf bag sit securely on it?
- If electric, is the battery easy to remove and charge?
- Does your normal course actually justify electric?
That list is not particularly exciting.
That is probably why it is useful.
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A simple three-wheel push trolley is where I would start
If carrying has become less appealing but you are still perfectly happy pushing, I would look here first.
The Cube 3-Wheel Push/Pull Trolley is a good example of the sort of design I mean.
It is relatively light, folds down fairly small and has the sort of things I would want on a manual trolley: an adjustable handle, stable three-wheel design and parking brake.
Those are the useful bits.
I would worry about those before cup holders, gadget trays and whatever else gets added to the list.
Who it suits: golfers playing mainly flat or gently rolling courses who want to stop carrying without moving straight to electric.
Why I like it: it keeps things simple and is easier to lift and store than most electric trolleys.
What to bear in mind: you still have to push it. On long climbs or soft winter fairways, that can become more effort than expected.
Cube 3-Wheel Golf Push/Pull Trolley from ClickGolf
A three-wheel design is normally where I would start.
It gives you stability without having to support part of the trolley's weight as you walk.
If your hands are not as strong as they used to be
This is easy to overlook when looking at trolley photographs online.
A folding mechanism may look wonderfully clever.
Then you discover it needs two stiff catches pressed at exactly the same time.
If you have stiff fingers, arthritis, less grip strength than you once had, or simply dislike fiddly equipment, look closely at:
- folding catches
- brake controls
- battery clips
- bag straps
- adjustment levers
- on/off controls
If possible, try them before buying.
A trolley that needs the grip strength of a jar-opening champion is probably not making life easier.
Back and shoulder comfort matter too
Electric sounds like the obvious answer if you want to reduce effort.
On the course, it often is.
But remember where the motor stops helping.
The car park.
An electric trolley may roll beautifully around the course, but you still need to fold it and get it into the boot.
If your back or shoulders can be troublesome, trolley weight deserves just as much attention as motor power.
Also check whether the battery can be removed easily before lifting.
The better test is not whether you can lift the trolley when fresh at the start of the day.
It is whether you will still be happy lifting it after 18 holes.
When electric starts to earn its place
There is no particular age when somebody suddenly needs an electric trolley.
The course and the golfer matter much more.
If pushing becomes noticeable on hills, soft ground or towards the end of the round, electric starts to make sense.
The Motocaddy SE Electric Trolley is the sort of straightforward electric option I would look at before moving into more expensive GPS and remote-control models.
It gives you electric assistance, simple controls and folding without turning the trolley into another piece of technology you have to learn.
Who it suits: golfers who want electric assistance without automatically moving into the more complicated end of the market.
Why I like it: the useful things are easy to understand. Motorised help, straightforward controls and a folding design intended for normal everyday use.
What to bear in mind: electric still means more weight, a battery to charge and something larger to store than a basic push trolley.
Keep electric fairly simple
Modern electric trolleys can do quite a lot.
GPS.
Touchscreens.
Remote controls.
Phone connections.
Some golfers will love all of that.
Others will use the speed control and barely touch the rest.
I would start with four questions.
Can I fold it easily?
Can I lift it comfortably?
Can I operate it easily?
Will it actually help on my course?
Get those right first.
You can worry about everything else afterwards.
And remember:
The cleverest electric trolley in Britain is not much use if the battery is still sitting uncharged in the garage on Saturday morning.
Hills change the decision
Going uphill is the obvious advantage of electric.
Coming back down matters too.
A loaded trolley can become surprisingly enthusiastic on a steep slope.
If hills are a regular part of your course, an electronic braking system becomes much more interesting.
The PowaKaddy FX3 EBS is designed with that sort of course in mind.
Its self-sensing electronic braking system automatically slows the trolley on steep slopes and helps maintain the walking speed you have selected.
It also has a height-adjustable soft-touch handle, one-click folding system, ambidextrous controls and bag-locking systems designed to help keep the bag secure.
The trolley weighs 9.6kg without the battery and is available with 18-hole or 36-hole lithium battery options.
Who it suits: golfers who regularly play hillier courses and want help both climbing and controlling the trolley on slopes.
Why I like it: the extra technology is solving a real problem rather than simply adding another screen.
What to bear in mind: at 9.6kg before the battery, lifting still matters. Make sure the folded trolley is something you are comfortable getting into and out of the car.
Balance and stability are worth thinking about
Not everyone feels quite as steady on uneven ground as they once did.
That makes a stable trolley more useful.
You do not want something that tips easily or needs constant correcting on slopes and rough paths.
A wider wheelbase can help.
So can setting the handle at a comfortable height.
One thing I would not do is choose a trolley because you expect to use it for physical support.
A golf trolley is there to carry the clubs.
It is not designed as a walking aid.
Handle height matters more than it sounds
This is another small thing that can make quite a difference.
If the handle is too low, you may find yourself leaning towards the trolley.
If it is too high, the arms and shoulders can feel awkward.
An adjustable handle lets you find a position that feels natural.
Once it is set properly, you should hardly think about it again.
That is usually a good sign with golf equipment.
Make sure your bag actually fits
This sounds obvious until you see somebody spending four hours stopping their bag from slowly turning sideways.
Check how the bag is secured at the top and bottom.
Some trolley and bag combinations have locking systems designed to hold everything more securely.
That can be useful, but the important thing is simply that your own bag sits properly.
A bag that stays put is one less thing to think about.
A bag that twists every couple of holes will become surprisingly irritating.
Small car? Check the folded size first
The trolley may look compact on the course.
That does not necessarily mean it is compact in the boot.
If you drive a smaller car, measure the available space before buying.
And remember you still need room for:
- the golf bag
- shoes
- waterproofs
- the trolley battery
- whatever else normally lives in the boot
The smallest folding trolley is not automatically the best trolley.
But if two suit you equally well, the one that leaves enough room for the shopping probably has an advantage.
Storage at home matters too
Not everybody has a garage with acres of room.
The trolley may be living in a shed, utility room, cupboard or corner somewhere.
Check the folded dimensions.
Also think about where you will charge the battery.
A trolley that fits beautifully in the car but takes over half the house has not completely solved the problem.
Think about winter restrictions
An electric trolley can be particularly useful when the ground is soft.
Unfortunately, very wet weather is also when some golf clubs restrict trolley use.
If your club regularly introduces winter restrictions, check its rules before buying specifically for winter golf.
Some clubs allow particular winter wheels or have their own requirements.
The club's own policy is what matters.
Battery size does not need to become complicated
If you normally play one round, an 18-hole battery may be enough.
If you regularly play 36 holes or simply want more capacity in reserve, a larger battery may make sense.
I would not automatically buy the biggest one.
Buy for the golf you actually play.
That rule saves quite a lot of money in golf generally.
The car park test
This is probably the most useful test of all.
Imagine the end of a November round.
It is damp.
Your shoes have collected half the course.
You are tired.
Everybody else has gone inside for tea.
Now fold the trolley.
Can you do it easily?
Can you lift it without an awkward twist?
Does it fit into the boot without removing three separate pieces?
Can you get the battery out easily?
If the answer is yes, good.
If the folding process involves three buttons, a foot pedal and a small act of faith, I would keep looking.
A trolley does not mean the bag should become heavier
There is one little trap here.
Once the trolley is carrying the bag, it becomes very easy to stop caring what goes into it.
Another jumper.
Another six balls.
Three old gloves.
A second towel.
Something in a side pocket that nobody has seen since 2023.
Before long, the trolley is transporting half the garage.
It may be doing the carrying around the course.
You still have to lift the bag into the car.
If yours has slowly accumulated too much, this may help:
Golf Bag Clutter After 60: What to Carry and What to Leave Out
A lighter bag still makes sense
A trolley helps.
A lighter bag helps too.
It is easier to lift.
Easier to move around at home.
Easier to load into the car.
And there is less temptation to fill every available pocket.
If the bag itself is becoming part of the job:
Do not forget the shoes
The trolley deals with the clubs.
Your feet still have to do the walking.
If your shoes are uncomfortable after ten holes, an electric trolley will not make the final eight feel much better.
If walking comfort is becoming more important:
What I would choose
If I played a fairly flat course and pushing felt comfortable, I would start with a good three-wheel push trolley.
Less money.
Less weight.
Nothing to charge.
Not much to think about.
If the course was hillier, the ground regularly became heavy or I tended to fade towards the end of the round, I would look at electric.
If there were steep slopes, I would move proper downhill control higher up the list.
And if lifting, hand strength or stiff fingers were an issue, I would pay very close attention to weight, catches, folding mechanisms and battery removal before worrying about GPS screens.
That gives you a fairly simple starting point:
Flat or gently rolling course: a push trolley may be enough.
Want more help over 18 holes: a straightforward electric trolley.
Regular steep hills: electric with good braking or downhill control.
Limited hand strength or an awkward back or shoulders: prioritise easy controls, simple folding and manageable lifting weight.
A simple buying rule
Before buying, ask yourself:
- Does this make my normal round easier?
- Can I operate the controls comfortably?
- Can I fold it easily?
- Can I lift it after 18 holes?
- Will it fit in my car?
- Will it fit where I keep it at home?
- Does my golf bag sit securely?
- Does it suit the terrain I normally play?
- Am I paying for useful features or simply more features?
That covers most of what matters.
Final thought
A trolley is not giving in.
It is just another piece of golf equipment.
If carrying still suits you, carry.
If a push trolley takes enough work out of the day, use one.
If electric assistance leaves you with a bit more energy for the final few holes, that may be money well spent.
The best trolley is not necessarily the most expensive one.
It is the one that suits your golf, fits your car, does not make life harder for your hands or back, and quietly gets on with the job.
Once the round starts, you should almost forget it is there.
That is probably the best compliment you can give it.
If you'd like a useful golf thought to take into the weekend, my free Friday email might be worth a look.
Every Friday I share one thought to help make your next round a little easier or more enjoyable.
See you out there,
Andrew