Golf Trolley
The golf trolley is the pull or push cart on which you transport your golf bag during the round.
The golf trolley, colloquially usually called a trolley, is the simplest alternative to carrying. Your bag sits on two or three wheels and you pull or push it along behind you. There are classic hand models and electric versions with a motor, some of them controllable by remote control. Unlike the motorized cart you do not sit on it; you still walk the round. Most facilities allow trolleys at all times, even when carts are banned in wet conditions.
In practice, clear traffic rules apply to the trolley. An example: your ball lies at the left edge of the fairway, shortly before the green. You do not park the trolley across the hole but pull it along the side and park it level with the green in the direction of the next tee box. Onto the green, onto tees and into bunkers the trolley never goes. Many clubs additionally mark protected areas with blue posts or lines which you must not cross with the trolley.
Typical mistake is pulling the trolley thoughtlessly across sensitive zones, especially across the green edges and the apron. That is where rut marks form which deflect the putts of all following groups. Also popular: the trolley standing in the middle of the path holding up the group behind. Plan your parking position with an eye on the pace of play — ideally the trolley is already on the way to the next tee while you putt.
FAQ
Am I allowed to take my trolley everywhere on the course?
No, clear zones are off limits: the trolley never goes onto the green, onto tees or into bunkers, and you must not cross protected areas marked with blue posts. In wet conditions clubs can additionally restrict trolleys to the paths. Follow the signage and you are on the safe side.
Where do I leave the trolley while I putt?
Level with the green but already in the direction of the next tee — never across the hole and never close to the edge of the green. That way you do not have to walk back after putting and you do not hold up the group behind you. This parking position is a simple trick for a good pace of play.
Is an electric trolley worth it compared with the hand model?
That depends on your home course and your fitness. On flat facilities a light pull trolley is completely sufficient; on hilly courses the motor noticeably saves strength for the shots on the last holes. Alongside the purchase price, consider the weight when transporting it and battery care — and the fact that you still walk with an electric trolley, unlike with a cart.