Push vs Electric Golf Trolleys: Which Suits a British Course?

A trolley takes the weight of your bag off your shoulders. However, the harder question is whether you want one with a motor. This guide compares push and electric trolleys on the points that matter on British courses: terrain, weight, charging, storage, club rules and cost of ownership.

We have not tested any trolleys, and we do not rank products or quote prices. Specifications and prices change often, so check the maker’s own spec page for any model you are considering. This page contains Amazon affiliate links, which are marked as sponsored. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

The basic difference

A push trolley has no motor. You push it or pull it, and it needs no battery. An electric trolley has a motor and a battery, and it drives itself, either by hand control or by remote. As a result, everything else follows from that one difference.

You can browse push golf trolleys on Amazon and electric golf trolleys on Amazon side by side to see the range of styles on offer.

Terrain: the first question to ask

Start with the courses you actually play, not the ones you dream about, because the ground decides most of this. A flat parkland course asks little of a push trolley. A hilly layout, or a links with long walks between green and tee, asks a lot more of your legs.

• Mostly flat courses: a push trolley is often enough.
• Hilly courses or long walks: a motor saves energy, so you arrive at each shot fresher.
• Soft or wet ground: both types can struggle. Wheel choice matters here, and our winter golf kit guide covers it.

Our guide to golf course types explains how links, parkland, heathland and moorland differ, which helps you picture the ground you will cover.

Weight, folding and your car

You will lift the trolley in and out of the boot, so weigh up the whole package. A push trolley has no battery, so it is simply the frame and wheels. An electric trolley adds a motor and a battery, which you must carry and fit. Look at the folded size on the maker’s spec page and measure your boot before you buy.

Charging and battery care

Electric trolleys need a charged battery. That is easy to forget before an early tee time. Ask how long the charger takes, whether it is included, and whether you can buy a spare battery later. Over winter, a battery needs care, so follow the maker’s guidance on storage. You can compare golf trolley batteries on Amazon, but always match a battery to the trolley maker’s own guidance, because a wrong fit can be unsafe.

Cost of ownership

We do not quote prices, because they change. The comparison is still worth making. A push trolley costs less to buy and has fewer parts to wear out. An electric trolley costs more to buy and may need a replacement battery in time. Think about how often you play. If you play weekly, a motor may earn its keep. If you play a few times a year, simple may be better.

Club rules and course access

A trolley is only useful if the course lets you use it. Many clubs publish trolley rules on their websites, and some restrict them in wet weather. Rules also vary by trolley type, so ask the club if you are unsure. You can browse clubs on our course finder, or look at courses by region in England. If you want a short round to try a new trolley, the nine-hole course finder is a good place to start.

Budget courses are often flat, and they are usually relaxed about equipment, although it is still worth asking. Our guides to municipal golf courses and pay and play golf explain what to expect.

Which one should you choose?

However, there is no single right answer. These questions help:

1. Are your usual courses hilly, or flat?
2. Do you play 18 holes often, or short rounds?
3. How much can you comfortably lift into your car?
4. Will you remember to charge a battery?
5. Does your club allow the type you want?

For example, if most answers point to hills, distance and frequent play, look at electric. If they point to flat ground, short rounds and low upkeep, a push trolley makes sense. For new golfers, our guides to golf courses for beginners and top tips for golf beginners are useful companions.

Once you have chosen a type, read our electric golf trolley buyer’s guide for battery, range and braking questions, or our guide to buying a second-hand electric trolley if you want to spend less.

Common mistakes to avoid

Buying for the course you dream of. Choose for the courses you play most often, because that is where the trolley will earn its keep. A trolley that suits a famous hilly links may be more than you need for your local parkland.

Ignoring storage. An electric trolley needs a place to charge and a place to sit over winter. A push trolley can live in a corner of the garage. If space is tight, that may decide it, since a charger needs a socket too.

Forgetting the rest of the kit. While a trolley works alone, it works best with a bag that fits and a few sensible extras. Our guides to trolley bags and trolley accessories cover both.

Skipping the maker’s information. Weight, folded size, range and braking are all on the maker’s own page. A quick read can save a return, because figures differ between models.

A practical way to decide

Borrow before you buy if you can. Many golfers try a friend’s trolley for a round, or a club may hire them. Although descriptions help, a single round tells you more about weight, handling and noise than any description. Then write down what you liked and what annoyed you, and use that list when you compare models.

Try your kit on a course near you

Once your kit is sorted, find somewhere to use it. Our directory lists golf courses near Leeds, golf courses near Sheffield and golf courses near Bradford, and you can browse every course we list in England by county.

Where to compare

These links go to Amazon search results:

• Push golf trolleys
• Electric golf trolleys
• Golf trolley bags

Because specifications change, read the maker’s own spec page for weight, folded size and any battery details. Our terms page explains how affiliate links work on this site. They never change which courses we list or how we describe them.