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What About GPS?

By Robert Hardie March 13, 2024 15 comments

Usually at Stewart we like talking about what our machines can do, not what they don't do. However, one of those topics that come up every now and again is GPS and will we ever add an integrated GPS to our trolley lineup. The short answer...no. But, we wanted to share with you why we don't offer it in our range.


Obviously we've considered integrating GPS into our machines, but every time we've had those conversations internally we've reached the same conclusion for the following reasons:


We Don't Want To Make You Compromise

We're confident we make the best golf trolleys available, but we're even more confident someone else makes a better GPS than we could. If we force you to have our GPS we're asking you to accept second-best, and we'd never do that! Buy the best trolley you can. But then buy the best GPS you can too.


You've Probably Already Got It

Most golfers already have GPS in some shape or form - in fact recently we conducted our largest ever customer survey, in which we found 96% of our golfers used some kind of GPS/distance measuring device - smartwatches are becoming almost as popular as smartphones. A good proportion of golfers also have a rangefinder for when they want the most accurate distance measurements. No GPS can compete for accuracy with a good quality laser rangefinder. 


GPS Is Free

Even if you don't have a GPS watch, there are countless really good smartphone apps out there that offer accurate GPS totally free of charge! So why would we make you pay extra for it? What's more, your phone screen is way bigger with better resolution and easier to see when the sun is shining (remember that?) than any trolley screen could ever be. If you want to go down this route we offer a smartphone holder that fits neatly to any of our trolleys' handles. 


You're Not Always With Your Trolley

With remote control, you're often playing your shots some distance from your trolley - and for good reasons. How frustrating would it be to have paid the extra money to get the freedom a remote trolley gives you and then have to be constantly tied to it just to read your GPS? Walking back to a tee box; leaving your trolley on a fairway while you go to find your ball; etc etc; we've all been there, and we've all then realised we didn't know the distance! Keep your GPS with you and don't think you have to have your trolley with you 100% of the time.


Screens Don't Add Much Value

A screen just doesn't add any value out on the golf course. If you have a Follow trolley then you can't see it anyway, and if you're using Remote then it should be 10 - 15 yards ahead for the best experience, so again you can't see it. What a screen does do is provide another potential failure and maintenance point, and drains battery power. Power is for motors as far as we are concerned. To be frank, we go to the golf course to get away from screens and you should too!


In summary, we don't offer integrated GPS because honestly, we don't see the point. The beauty of our trolleys is that they offer the best walking golf experience you'll ever have, so that's what we focus on giving you. For our money, the best place for traditional GPS is on your wrist, and the best way to get an accurate yardage is with a laser rangefinder.

WATCH: Q FOLLOW FEATURES

Check out Patrick's RGV Tour page here: www.pjkoenig.com/rgv-tour-20


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15 comments


  • I feel your comments are a little bit of a cop out… yes you do make a very good cart but without GPS I feel you just fall behind PowaKaddy and Motocaddy who have GPS in most of their electric trollies… the reason I say this is… at the age of 55 I very rarely carry my clubs and take a trolly everywhere… I’m fortunate enough to still have two trollies as I didn’t get rid of my PowaKaddy when I bought my Stewart cart… my PowaKaddy is my go to trolly poorly because of the built in GPS… yes your right I could go and buy a GPS unit at an extra cost on top of an already expensive trolly but this then adds to the hassle of having to charge both the trolly plus the GPS… I like simplicity and just having to remember one charger for the trolly with built in GPS makes my PowaKaddy edge it over my Stewart Follow as this already has two chargers to worry about… one for the trolly and one for the remote.

    Dave on

  • Totally agree range finder worth money GPS on trolley not, had one of those on another make for a “short time” I would confirm the validity of all Robert’s comments. However, a control on the handle would be useful as the short term trolley I used did have full remote and handle control, which was very useful.
    Another minor point I have removed the Stewart Name in “stick on lettering” on my ghost as it was becoming unsightly due to peeling off.
    Wish all problems were as easy to fix.

    John Krancioch on

  • All very valid points, but where is the USB socket to at least allow us to charge a GPS device – or trolley remote :)

    Robert Burdett on

  • I have been using Stewart trollies since the original X1 manual version.

    I understand and agree with your philosophy regarding Integral GPS. However, I have been asking for a while now about incorporating a USB charger on the trolley. (Mentioned it to Mark prior to the X7 launch.) Phones are used a lot for good graphics on GPS apps, however they do drain the battery when being used for 4-5 hours at a time. There would be plenty of juice in your batteries to power a USB charger on the handle for this purpose. Would this not be feasible and relatively inexpensive?

    Shaun Johnson on

  • Afternoon

    What about a speed control on the trolley that would make a world of difference instead of messing around with a remote all the time!

    Kenneth on


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