Golf’s return to walking, at least in the motorized cart-centric U.S. market, might be an isolated moment dictated by the necessity of the times. But it’s also a chance to appreciate anew the game on foot and maybe embrace walking as an aspect at least as central to the golf experience as, well, what carts were just six months ago.
Here are some of our favorite options for walking that will save your back, too.
▶ The aerospace-foam strap self-balances on this three-pound bag, but there’s still room for a four-way top with full-length dividers and seven pockets. $250
▶ That multipart base allows for stability, but most important, it’s hinged to provide extra room at the bottom so your clubs slide more easily in and out. $200
▶ A high-tensile strength fabric helps make this the lightest Hoofer bag at three pounds, and a rain hood fits inside the hip pad. The strap easily converts from double to single. $250
▶ There’s a slot for all 14 clubs in your set because of the capacious 10.5-inch top. (That includes full-length dividers.) Nevertheless, the total weight is less than four pounds thanks to carbon-fiber legs. $240
▶ This updated design features a smaller folded size, a one-latch, two-step folding system and a more upright position for the bag for easier club access. $240
▶ The waxed-canvas accessory bag and whitewall spoked tires give this pushcart a vintage feel, but the anodized-aluminum construction and one-fold handle offer modern simplicity. $400
▶ If your trunk is overstocked already, here’s a pushcart slim enough to fit between the front and back seat of your car, and it weighs just 6.5 pounds. $350
▶ Tired of trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube to unfold your pushcart? This air-powered piston system takes this cart from folded to ready with the press of one button. $260
▶ Like having R2-D2 as your caddie, this ride automatically follows you at your pace, even braking as it goes down hills. It can also be guided via remote control. $2,500
▶ Designed mainly for golf-course rental, this autonomous machine follows your pace, and there’s space for a cooler, plus connectivity features such as on-course GPS, a USB port and a charging pad for your phone.