[My Golf Spy Blog Staff Writers-An All Star Bunch!]

12 hours ago, cnosil said:

You need to give some Japanese putter head covers to the forum members; heard you had some extras.  

Bizarre....where'd ya hear that?

 

Maybe a limited sale for forum members only and donate proceeds to a charity?

[My Golf Spy Blog Staff Writers-An All Star Bunch!]

Many thanks to you for the kind words. Like all of you, what we do is rooted in a passion for the game and trying to give you all the unvarnished truth.

 

Any questions at any time, just ask! Thanks for making this forum great and a place that so many people enjoy spending time. 

[OFFICIAL MyGolfSpy Reader Review: Motocaddy]

OFFICIAL MyGolfSpy Reader Review: Motocaddy

We know 2020 has been a bit of a hot mess. But there are several silver linings, one of which is that by and large more people are playing more rounds of golf more often. That reality ultimately yields a positive impact on other factions of the industry.

As golfers are forced to reexamine how to best (or most safely) access courses, it appears that golfers are happy to explore options other than 2-person carts or walking/pushing.

With that, we gave three readers the opportunity to get out on the course with several electronic pushcart models from Motocaddy to give them a test drive.

Here are their thoughts:

 

 Motocaddy M1

The M1 is the billed as the “simplest to use compact trolley in the world.”

Key features include: compact folding system, 28V waterproof Lithium battery, USB charging port, 9 speed settings, EASILOCK compatibility, anti-glare LCD screen with speed indicator and battery meter, and 24-month warranty.

PROs

• In general, a much better overall experience than a pushcart. Easier overall use, clearly more convenient – less work, felt more like walking with a “caddy”

CONs

• Would occasionally pull left or right on steeper hills
• This user felt the “4” setting was a little slow, but the “5” was too fast. Maybe have ½ increments
• Would like to see some included storage – similar to what is typically included on class-leading pushcarts
• Because it’s electric, there’s opportunity for more onboard USB/other plugs

M5 GPS

The Motocaddy M5 is basically the M1 trolly with the addition of on-board GPS.

Unsurprisingly, the feedback on the M5 mirror that of the M1, though there are several key differences.

1. The native GPS system wasn’t as accurate as other class-leading options – so if Motocaddy is going to embed this feature, it could make more sense to partner with a company like Arccos, SkyGolf, etc.
2. It would have been nice to have a 4th wheel for better stability during incline/declines.

M7 Remote

The Motocaddy M7 Remote is likely the model many of you envision when you think about the potential benefits of an electric cart/trolley. It’s the most expensive option, but it also includes plenty of bells and whistles, most of which center around the remote functionality.

Anything remote-controlled should come with a “sounds like a great idea” disclaimer. The upside is significant and something most consumers can wrap their heads around pretty quickly. But not a whole lot needs to go haywire to create a super frustrating experience.

Connectivity, responsiveness, ease-of-use, range, “butt-dialing” are all make-it-or-break-it criteria for a remote-controlled system.

Testers universally agreed that the M7 Remote was entirely reliable and passed most every test. Most importantly, the remote provided a truly hands-free experience which one tester described as “exactly what I was hoping for.” The additional rear wheel noticeably increase stability as well.

But, it wasn’t perfect. Though Motocaddy does include front-wheel adjustments, there was still too much pulling on both flat ground and inclines and the USB port isn’t as accessible as some testers would like.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS/FEEDBACK:

Electric push carts – or trolleys – have long been the norm in Europe, particularly in/around the UK. But the US market is slightly different as evidenced by our testers’ wishlist….

Testers liked:

• The overall weight (thought it might be too heavy) and compact size made it easy to store or transport to/from the course
• Ease of use even without the battery (should the unfortunate situation arise where the battery runs out…)
• Easy to set up and get ready to operate
• Putting everything aside, electric is far superior to standard push carts.

Tester requests:

• Seamless iPhone/Android integration (something along the lines of Apply CarPlay)
• An option for an electric cart with a remote for under $1000 – As we seen the potential of single-rider carts other less traditional options, cost is always going to be a concern. There’s probably a sweet spot and based on this limited sample, the general consensus is that $1500 feels a little steep.
• Courses to allow golfers the option to rent an electric cart for a nominal fee (something a bit less than the traditional $18-$25 cart fee)
• Most testers would have all gone for the remote model. However, the M5 with GPS was convenient but needed to be more accurate at capturing accurate yardages. If that was achieved some golfers could have been swayed towards the M5 if it was a lower price than the remote.

ETC: We’re also hearing that several established companies *might* have electronic push cart versions in development. This is important simply because it validates the sense that there is sufficient demand (and therefore opportunity) in North America for this type of product.

As always, what do you think? Would you use an electric push cart if given the option?

[Winners Announced! PRG Originals Contest]

Thanks to the most active, passionate and engaged forum in the business!

We've narrowed it down to 4-6 final designs which will be announced shortly.

Here's what happens next:

1) Each finalist will receive a one-off copy of that individual design.

2) A final winning design will be decided via voting on social media, etc.

Stay tuned!!!

[Winners Announced! PRG Originals Contest]

Likely looking at Monday, Sept. 9th - 

[Winners Announced! PRG Originals Contest]

Hopefully, you don't have to dig too deep to find the basic, albeit, targeted message in this one.

Green, orange and a bunch of lucky 4-leaf clovers aren't enough to make me a good putter, but it's not a bad start.

[Winners Announced! PRG Originals Contest]

[Winners Announced! PRG Originals Contest]

2 hours ago, GolfSpy STUDque said:

Bust out the crayons and scan it in!  That's what I'm gonna do.

Me too! Just got some colored pencils out and can't wait to see what I come up with!

[Winners Announced! PRG Originals Contest]

Great ideas so far! Keep them coming!

For those asking questions around who owns submitted designs, here's what we're going to do:

  ** For this contest specifically, the winner will receive 5 (five) copies of their headcover and a portion of the proceeds from the limited sale dedicated to the charity of his/her choice.

 

** Moving forward, should PRG wish to use any of the submitted designs, PRG will contract with that individual and provide consideration (e.g. royalty payment, on-off payment) for further use of said design.

 

Basically, if you win the contest, you receive 5 copies of your design and get to direct a portion of the proceeds to a charity of your choice. If PRG wants to use your design beyond that, you will be fairly compensated.

 

If your design doesn't win and PRG wants to use it in any capacity, you will be compensated for that. 

 

 

[Most Underrated Tour Players]

I always struggle with this question b/c on some level and player on tour is freakishly talented...and if you're not one of the 5-10 guys constantly getting mentioned, I guess you could fall into the category of "under-rated" - 

 

That said, I guess it's the best player who gets the least amount of press/recognition...I throw Luke Donald into the mix - I think people forget he was the #1 player in the world at a time...not too many people can claim that...

[Golf Shoes - Worth the Price?]

Would I pay $200 for a pair of shoes? Probably not. That said, I tend to be more of a value buyer than a "must have the latest model" buyer with shoes...

 

I walk 95% or so of my rounds, so comfort is an absolute must and often comes at a premium. But that premium doesn't mean it has to be the newest thing...I'm a huge fan of Ecco and snagged 2 pr. on closeout for $120..both were over $200 new...