From Pull Carts to AI Caddies: The Evolution of Walking Golf

For more than a century, golfers have debated a simple choice: walk or ride?

Walking has always been the essence of golf. It allows players to connect with the course, clear their minds between shots, and experience the game as it was meant to be played. But carrying a bag for 18 holes is exhausting. In the US, this challenge fueled the rise of motorized golf carts. Meanwhile, around the world, a quieter revolution was taking shape: the golf push cart.

Today, that revolution has reached a new milestone with artificial intelligence entering the fairways.

The Humble Beginnings

The story begins in 1946, when Bag Boy Company ’s founders, Bruce Williamson and E. Roy Jarman, built the first pull cart from lawnmower wheels and aluminum tubing. Early adopters stood out, and not always positively. Some golfers felt embarrassed to use a cart instead of carrying their bag. But those who tried it quickly noticed the benefits: less fatigue, fresher legs on the back nine, and even improved scores.

Through the 1950s–70s, pull carts spread slowly, especially outside the US, where walking remained the cultural norm. Most were simple two-wheeled frames, collapsible but still heavy and clunky by today’s standards.

The Push Cart Revolution

In 1999, Sun Mountain Sports transformed the category with the Speed Cart. A three-wheeled, ergonomically designed push cart that folded neatly and rolled effortlessly. This wasn’t just an upgrade in convenience, it changed perception. Pushing was easier than pulling, and the stigma around carts began to fade. Soon, features like hand brakes, adjustable handles, and built-in storage became standard.

By the early 2000s, push carts were not just a niche accessory but a growing part of the golf equipment market. The global pandemic in 2020 accelerated this trend. With social distancing limiting shared riding carts, golfers turned to walking. Push carts sold out worldwide. Many golfers who had always ridden rediscovered walking and kept doing it even after restrictions lifted.

Walking vs. Riding: A Global Divide

The adoption of push and electric carts highlights striking cultural differences:

• United States: About 57% of golfers ride motorized carts. Only ~9% use electric trolleys, and ~24% use manual push carts. Walking remains in the minority (Source: MyGolfSpy).
• United Kingdom: Walking dominates. 86% of golfers use push or electric trolleys, and only 3% ride (Source: MyGolfSpy).
• France & Germany: Virtually every golfer walks. In France, 48% use push carts and 44% electric trolleys. In Germany, 50% use electric and 40% manual (Source: MyGolfSpy).
• Canada: Walking is more balanced, with roughly 60% using push or electric carts (Source: Golf Canada).
• Asia: Japan has one of the highest cart-riding rates (over 70%), while in South Korea, many courses mandate human caddies and limit personal electric trolleys (Source: MyGolfSpy).

The health benefits of walking are undeniable. Walking 18 holes burns 1,500–2,000 calories and provides cardiovascular exercise equivalent to a brisk hike. Some studies even suggest walkers score better by staying looser and more focused between shots. Beyond health, walking reduces environmental impact and lowers costs for players and clubs alike.

The Rise of Electric Trolleys

The next evolution came in the 1980s. In 1983, British company PowaKaddy launched one of the first commercially successful electric trolleys. Suddenly, golfers could enjoy the benefits of walking without even pushing.

Over the following decades:

• 1990s–2000s: Electric trolleys became lighter, with better batteries and sleeker designs.
• 2000s–2010s: Remote controlled models arrived, letting golfers steer their trolley with a handheld device.
• 2010s: “Follow-me” technology emerged. Using Bluetooth or RFID, trolleys could track a small transmitter worn by the golfer, following them at a safe distance.

By the mid-2010s, Europe had embraced electric trolleys, while adoption in the US lagged largely due to the entrenched culture of riding carts.

AI Meets the Fairway: Robera’s Smart Caddy

Now, golf push carts are entering the AI era.

Robera has introduced the world’s first AI-powered electric golf caddy, designed not just to follow, but to see, think, and react like a real caddie.

Key features include:

• Computer vision: Using cameras and 3D depth sensors, the cart visually recognizes its golfer and follows without the need for remotes or beacons.
• Obstacle detection: AI-powered recognition allows the cart to navigate around trees, bunkers, and hazards, creating its own safe path.
• Gesture controls: Simple hand signals start, stop, or adjust movement.
• Long-life lithium battery: Capable of handling 36+ holes on a charge.

This is more than a piece of equipment. It’s a robotic companion. By combining walking’s tradition with AI-driven autonomy, Robera is reshaping how golfers experience the course.

My Role & Your Invitation

In full transparency: I am now a strategic advisor to Robera, and this Sunday will be my first time seeing their AI-powered caddy in action.

You can too! Robera is hosting free demo events in the Chicago area, featuring the Robera PRO & NEO:

• Sunday, Aug 24 – Settler’s Hill Golf Course (Batavia, IL) - Event Sign Up Link
• Tuesday, Aug 26 – Hughes Creek Golf Course (Elburn, IL) - Event Sign Up Link

Test drive the world’s first AI golf cart, enjoy free gifts and refreshments, and see the future of walking golf firsthand. (Sign-up links will be included in the article above.)

Closing Thought

From a homemade pull cart in 1946, to the pandemic-fueled push cart boom, to AI-powered smart caddies in 2025 the evolution of the golf push cart reflects the game itself: rooted in tradition, yet always ready to reinvent.

If AI can transform how we walk the fairways, what else might it reshape in the game we love?

If you’d like to learn more about Robera or my experience with their technology feel free to connect with me directly.

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