It’s reasonable to think that saving energy on the course might just save you a few strokes too. Even if you don’t always see it in the scorecard, feeling fresher of mind and body during a round usually makes for a more enjoyable experience. And while modern carry bags have become lighter, there’s nothing like a golf trolley when it comes to preventing back and shoulder aches on the course.
The best golf push trolleys will certainly help with this, but even then there’s still some effort required. That is when the best electric golf trolleys come to the fore, with their technology allowing you to walk the fairways relatively unencumbered and free to focus on the shot ahead. There’s even the option of a remote control golf trolley , with some models equipped to follow you around the course. And the technology doesn’t just end there. You’ll find electric carts with GPS systems that work like the best rangefinders .
This guide features some of our favorite electric golf trolleys from those we’ve reviewed. They’ve been chosen for their overall performance as well as for excelling in important areas, such as the quality of the screen, the responsiveness of the remote or for their compact size or the ease in which they fold away. And despite their generally higher price tags, we’ve also found a few models that represent excellent value, too.
The Quick List
The M5 GPS is one of the most complete and comprehensive products on the market, with an array of features designed to provide as much help on the course as possible.
One of our favorite GPS electric trolleys currently on the market. The touchscreen GPS is very responsive, with the CT8 incredibly compact and lightweight.
The Vertx Remote features the familiar Stewart Golf design, but it's the new technology that makes up the trolley's DNA that creates a class-leading remote control experience.
A comprehensive and enjoyable remote-controlled golf trolley. The remote-control functionality works as well as ever and the Performance Plan makes for a superb GPS experience.
The Q Follow is great fun to use and, with practice, the switching between modes and use of the handset becomes second nature when out on the golf course.
The RX1 GPS utilizes a class-leading battery, responsive remote functionality, a premium touchscreen and sports car looks to offer a comprehensive package.
Load the next 6 models
The MGI ZIP Navigator is a well-rounded remote electric trolley. It is well-built, responsive and stable, with the main standout being how compact it is when folded.
The S5 GPS is a compelling option that really moves the needle when it comes to electric trolley innovation, reliability and ease-of-use. It is on the slightly bulkier side.
A superb electric trolley that does a little bit of everything and does it well. It's compact and easy to assemble, while the usability is faultless and includes an excellent GPS system.
One of the most compelling entry-level electric trolleys on the market. It has a simple, one step folding system and you can charge the battery without removing it from the chassis.
A unique, practical and altogether enjoyable piece of technology that successfully converts push carts into remote electric trolleys. For the price, it provides a great option!
A very solid entry-level electric trolley. While it lacks the excitement of more expensive models, the FX3 is very simple to use and does what it was set out to do perfectly.
Best Electric Golf Trolleys
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Top pick
The M5 GPS is our top pick with good reason. It’s driven by the super smooth 28.8v power system that all M-Series models benefit from and make them so easy to control. Here you can still fold the trolley away with the battery in place, which we found especially handy when it was time to fold the trolley away and place it in the car. When folded it makes for a pretty compact unit, albeit a little stiff during the process.
As the name suggests, it's the GPS feature here that’s at the heart of the user experience. It’s centered around a hi-res 3.5” touch screen that’s easy to use even if you're wearing your golf glove or during a shower. You’ll get yardages to the different points, including hazards and both the front and back of the green - you can adjust the pin position on each green too for a more accurate read on those all-important approach shots. During testing this helped improve our on-course strategy.
And the tech doesn’t stop there. You can track scores, time your round and, if you’re a subscriber to Motocaddy’s Performance Plan, benefit from advance course mapping, which we found to be a very handy feature indeed.
- Read our full Motocaddy M5 GPS Trolley Review
Most compact
You might not typically associate the best electric golf trolleys with being compact - but Powakaddy’s CT8 GPS is just that. In fact it claims to be the world’s smallest touchscreen GPS cart.
So just how compact is it? According to the brand it’s some 35% smaller when folded than its nearest rival. Certainly during testing its smaller size was noticeable, making it worthy of consideration for golfers who are strapped for space in their car or in their home.
Small but perfectly formed might be an accurate description when it comes to the design. It looks the part and we found that it was really easy to maneuver out on the course. One of its key selling points is the GPS tech. Here you get a full-color 3.5” touchscreen that’s crystal clear and straightforward to operate.
In terms of features thye GPS comes loaded with 40,000 courses as well as a scorecard and stroke index information for each hole. But it’s in helping you with your yardages that it really shines. Not only do you get an enhanced view of the green you can also move the pin to deliver accurate yardages alongside stock distances to the front and back of the putting surface. As with the previous trolley, we found this a real bonus when it comes to sharpening your strategy out on the course.
- Read our full Powakaddy CT8 GPS Electric Trolley Review
Best remote model
The Vertx Remote Cart excels in both its design and the technology that underpins it.
To begin with you get a good-looking trolley that uses Stewarts intuitive two-step folding system. A cart can have all the gadgets it wants but if it’s tricky to fold and unfold, then its appeal becomes limited. That’s certainly not the case here, with their easy-to-use system resulting in a surprisingly compact unit when folded.
When in motion the design translates to a really solid trolley despite the two front wheels being pretty small in comparison to some other carts. Some of this stability is aided by its overall bulk but this doesn’t negatively impact its maneuverability. During our testing the Vertx had no trouble with a variety of terrain, including steeper hills. It’s here that the unseen tech called Active Terrain Control (ATC) plays a leading role, with the operating system allowing the trolley to react to different conditions.
What you don’t get here is a GPS built-in to the handle. If that’s a dealbreaker you might want to consider the GPS options from Powacaddy or Motocaddy, for example.
- Read our full Stewart Golf Vertx Remote Trolley Review
Excellent GPS
At the heart of the M7’s appeal is its GPS system. It’s one of the better examples we’ve tested. The screen is clear and responsive and as easy to use as your smartphone. The GPS delivers a ton of features that can have a real impact on your scores. You get distances to the front, middle and back of the green as well as the option to drop a pin for further accuracy. Yardages to hazards, shot distance tracking and a scorecard tracker are also featured here.
But the M7 GPS has plenty more going for it. Design-wise it folds away easily, resulting in a compact unit that should even fit in cars that are lacking in space. Out on the course the remote function is just as straightforward. The controller itself feels great in the hand and is noticeably responsive. The trolley responds in kind, with the Down Hill Control feature impressing us - it translated to a steady ride, even as the trolley negotiated some undulating terrain. This is matched to a ‘anti-tip’ wheel for added stability.
So what’s not to like? That aforementioned wheel does have to be manually removed before you pack the trolley away and the battery is wired, which feels a little bit ‘old school’ for an otherwise thoroughly modern cart.
- Read our full Motocaddy M7 GPS Electric Trolley Review
Unique follow feature
If you love gadgets then the Q Follow from Stewart Golf could be the trolley for you.
The technology in its title translates to a trolley that will follow you around the course. It’s great fun at first of course but if you’re looking for a real hands-free experience then it might just be a gamechanger. In terms of reliability we found it to be reliable, with the cart always ending up by our ball.
We were equally impressed with the Q Follow’s stability too. It features a retractable stabilizer in the shape of two smaller wheels that helps keep the cart upright at all times. The fact that it’s deployed automatically when you’re unfolding the cart is a bonus.
With regards to the folding and unfolding of the trolley, it uses a straightforward system that’s easy to use - and you don’t have to remove the battery either. Given the cart’s weight - this is a fairly heavy trolley - the integrated carry handle is appreciated.
- Read our full Stewart Golf Q Follow Electric Trolley Review
Best battery
A GPS electric trolley should ideally help your golf in two ways. Firstly the GPS element should allow you to attain accurate yardages and allow you to plot your way around the course with greater precision. Secondly, it should function remotely without issue, no matter the terrain, allowing you to save energy and remain focused on your game. PowaKaddy’s RX1 GPS trolley does both.
Let’s start with the GPS function. It uses a clear and easy-to-use 3.5” touchscreen that displays yardages to the front, middle and back of the green as well as any hazards. Yes, there are more advanced offerings out there, but in terms of giving you the essential data it’s all here.
Then there’s the remote functionality. In general it’s responsive, straightforward to use and translates to a stable and reliable trolley when it’s in motion. During our testing we were impressed with the Slope Traverse Assist function that enabled the cart to maintain a straight line when navigating steeper hills. Equally the built-in braking system is a valued feature that adds stability and confidence.
- Read our full PowaKaddy RX1 GPS Electric Trolley Review
Most compact remote
The Zip Navigator is proof that good electric trolleys don’t have to break the bank. But even with an attractive price tag a cart has to perform. And this model from MGI does so with aplomb.
Perhaps its two biggest assets are its size and its stability. Thanks in part to the unique 4th wheel design, the Zip Navigator handled undulating and tricky terrain without issue. During our review period it remained upright at all times, aided by the downhill speed control that allows it to safely navigate steep slopes. There’s also a lock feature for the remote so you can’t accidently send the trolley scurrying off in the wrong direction as you head to the next tee. The result was a cart that was always waiting for us by our ball. Now that’s a reliable caddie.
As for its size, the Zip Navigator packs down to form a compact unit that fits comfortably in the trunk of our car. This is helped in no small part by the ability to invert the wheels when you’re folding it down.
- Read our full MGI Zip Navigator Remote Electric Trolley Review
Excellent screen
While the S5 GPS isn’t the smallest or lightest electric trolley on the market it makes up for this in other ways.
It’s packed full of tech and is home to one of the best touch screens we’ve used. The 3.5” LCD screen is clear and easy to use and serves up great features, such as a dynamic green view of the hole you’re playing along with accurate yardages to pins, green locations and hazards - both of which really helped us with our on-course strategy during testing. The remote function is just as impressive, with nine speed settings and an adjustable distance control.
Despite its size, the trolley is straightforward to set up, aided by the Easilock system that makes it a breeze to load your bag on the trolley when it’s unfolded. We also appreciated that the battery can be charged even when the cart is folded - if you’ve ever arrived at the course only to find you’ve left your trolley battery at home charging then this feature won’t go unnoticed.
- Read our full Motocaddy S5 GPS Electric Trolley
Easy to set up
While some electric trolleys can be prohibitively expensive, the M3 GPS from Motocaddy delivers plenty of functionality at a pretty agreeable price.
You still get GPS, delivered via a LCD touchscreen that, at 2.8” is smaller than most of its competitors but still really user friendly. Like more expensive Motocaddy models it still comes with 40,000 preloaded courses and all the ‘basic’ requirements are present including accurate yardages.
The remote tech is just as good too. There are nine speed settings so you can match it to your needs alongside Motocaddy’s Adjustable Distance Control, which allows you to send the trolley off ahead to the next tee, even if it's 60 yards away.
Before and after your round, the M3 GPS makes life easy. It folds and unfolds using a straightforward system; an added bonus is that the wheels both invert or can be taken off completely depending on just how small a space you’re trying to get the folded trolley into. During our review period this allowed us to pop it in the trunk alongside our golf bag without issue.
- Read our full Motocaddy M3 GPS Electric Trolley Review
Best sporty design
The S1 is likely to be a familiar model to many but the most recent iteration improves considerably on previous generations.
Perhaps the most noticeable upgrade is the size - the latest S1 is smaller (by 16% compared with previous models according to Motocaddy) and more compact when folded. It uses a one-step method to fold up and down and features a cable-free battery that can be charged without having to remove it first.
Once upright it uses Motocaddy’s EasiLock system to attach your golf bag to the cart. The name is accurate and during our testing we found that it really did save us time in the car park. Once out on the course the S1 is as reliable as you’d hope and benefits from a really quiet motor, a super clear LCD screen and a stable three-wheel design.
- Read our full Motocaddy S1 2022 Electric Trolley Review
Unique golf gadget
Say you’re already the owner of a push cart, and despite quite fancying upgrading to something remote, can’t quite justify the additional expense. You could learn to live with your existing cart. You might even explore the second-hand market. Or you could take a look at the Alphard Club Booster V2.
Despite looking a little more like a remote lawn mower it is, in fact, a clever little product that allows you to convert your push cart into a remote one. Using a wide base design it translates to a surprisingly stable unit out on the course, with the integrated 6-axis gyroscope apparently detecting the terrain every 10 milliseconds. Certainly during testing we were impressed with just how easily - and accurately - we could control the Club Booster.
But there are a couple of downsides. Firstly it only works with certain push carts. Then there’s the assembly that’s a little trickier than you’d probably like. That said once assembled it makes for a surprisingly effective rear wheel drive cart - so much so it made our Editor's Choice List .
- Read our full Alphard Club Booster V2 Review
Simple folding system
If you appreciate a simple and effective design over a cart with all the bells and whistles, then the FX3 should be right up your alley. Here you get all you need - a 9-speed power system, a 2.3" color display, lightweight lithium battery and one click folding system - and nothing that you don’t. So despite being one of PowaKaddy’s most affordable models it still delivers an impressive performance.
The one-click folding system is among the most straightforward we’ve tested. As the name implies the trolley folds by simply pressing one button that’s located on the chassis. From here all you need to do is slide both sections of the cart down. The front wheel does remain in place, which means the FX3’s footprint is a little larger than some when folded but it’s a relatively minor issue.
Its slender, lightweight battery is a real bonus and again is simple to use - just plug it in and off you roll. It’s a feature that's emblematic of an entry-level trolley that’s able to punch above its weight so long as you’re not after an array of gadgets.
- Read our full Powakaddy FX3 Electric Trolley Review
How we test for the best electric golf trolleys
All the reviews you see here in this guide, and across the board at Golf Monthly, are the result of a rigorous and careful testing procedure.
Regardless of the product, we’ll try it out it over a number of rounds as well as taking it to the range if required. For golf trolleys we make sure that we use them across a range of conditions to give us accurate feedback of how they will perform across the seasons. It’s this level of detail that allows us to provide comprehensive reviews that are designed solely to help you in your product choices. Brands can’t simply buy a good review from us; if it’s in this guide it’s because we tested it and were pleased with the results. It’s as simple as that.
We should also say that before testing even begins, the Golf Monthly team will usually attend product launches and meet with the manufacturer’s R&D experts to understand the new technology. With how much technology is in electric trolleys these days, we think having an understanding of what a particular model can do is very important.
How to choose
Despite all electric trolleys essentially doing the same thing there are still enough models and variables within these to make choosing the right one a little overwhelming. We hope this guide has helped you to narrow down your choice but before you part with your hard earned money, here are a few key points to consider
Manual/Remote/Follow
Electric trolleys function in three ways. At their most basic level, there’s the manual cart. While it’s still powered by a battery it requires you to maneuver it, controlling both its direction and speed. Add in a remote control and you have a trolley that can be controlled via wireless handset. Understandably this makes them, in general, more expensive than their manual counterparts.
You also have models with a follow function.These use Bluetooth or similar wireless connectivity to allow the trolley to follow you around the golf course. If you’re looking for a truly hands-free experience then a ‘follow model’ will deliver that.
Battery
Like any moving object powered by a battery, you’ll need to consider how easy it is to charge and how much mileage you’ll get after you’ve done so. A cart battery that requires you to charge it after every round might not be efficient enough, so pay attention to the battery life claims of the models you're considering.
Features
Figuring out what you need - and don’t need - from your trolley can help to save you money. The more features a cart has the more expensive it’s likely to be, so consider whether you really require all that it offers. For example, if you already own a good quality range finder, do you need to double up with a GPS trolley?
Foldability
Electric carts can be bulky, so if you’re operating with limited space in your car or in your garage, you’ll want to choose wisely. Fortunately, as this guide shows, there are models that can be described as compact and have design features to aid with this such as folding and removable wheels.
Budget
Last, but certainly not least, is budget. In fact, for some it may govern your purchase more than any other factor. Again, as this guide proves, you can find electric carts at a range of price points. However, if after a little research they are still proving a little too costly, then it's worth looking at our guides to the best push carts , and the best value golf push carts .
FAQs
Are electric golf trolleys worth it?
There is no sugar-coating it, electric trolley's are a big investment but we have found that the models above have really helped golfers physically. Going from carrying a heavy bag on the shoulders and back, to using an electric trolley is truly illuminating as to how much effort it saves. Indeed this point can also be applied to people differently not only because of golfers wanting to spend money at different price points, but also we all have varying physical capabilities and all play on contrasting courses. For example if a player has a bad back and plays on a hilly golf course, then an electric trolley will definitely be worth every penny. Whilst a golfer who is fit and healthy and plays on a flat course, despite undoubtedly also saving physical exertion, may not get as much out of an electric model.
What accessories should I get with my electric trolley?
There are a wide range of accessories available on electric trolley's these days and there are some we regard as more important than others. First we would always recommend a rain cover, as well as an umbrella holder for when the weather turns nasty. A holder for a GPS device and a drink is also a must have because we should always remain hydrated on the course.
Should I buy a push cart or electric cart?
That depends on your preferences and budget. Ultimately, electric carts are a lot more expensive than push carts meaning that they are better for those who play regularly. But don't rule them out entirely as you can find some very good and ergonomic options, that can be great for any player.
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