As the golf boom continues into 2022, one of the most exciting aspects has not just been people coming to the game and playing rounds, but how many are discovering how enjoyable walking a golf course can be. While some take their carry bag and go, others opt for a pushcart, and it is in that segment which technology is really starting to advance the experience.
That technology is the electronic pushcart, and while there are many brands out there selling fully integrated designs costing thousands of dollars, Alphard believes they have found a better way. Originated as an idea which became backed by what was nothing short of an astounding crowdfunding, they have made it possible to convert any standard pushcart into a fully electronic one.
The goal for Alphard is to make the walk more enjoyable for everyone regardless of age or health, and with so many already owning a pushcart, the Club Booster V2 looks to accomplish that goal in style. But does it perform? Read on to find out.
Quick Take
Flat out brilliant in its inventiveness and ingenuity, one of those ideas that you wish you had thought of. The Club Booster V2 is a heavy-duty high-performance design which makes conversion of a standard cart easier than one would imagine. More than that, it works extremely well and intuitively. Add in the future plans from Alphard, and the V2 is poised to cement an even more prominent position in the market.
Alphard Club Booster V2
Though the boom is showing more people that walking a round can be fun and beneficial, I have long been a fan of a good walk on the course. As a high school coach, that means a lot of carrying, but we also make use of push carts come season time. I’ll be honest that prior to this review I never really thought seriously about using a conversion like the Club Booster V2. However post review, I totally understand the electronic pushcart trend.
Unboxing the V2 setup we got in for review I didn’t know what to expect. For this, it was paired with a ClicGear ROVIC RV1S, on which the conversion brackets were already installed, but with an additional set included I got to see just how simple they have made converting any pushcart to the necessary clamp system. It’s something even those who are not mechanically inclined will have little issue with.
The V2 unit itself is a tank. The weight is all there, but as a self-contained mechanical unit, I suppose that is to be expected. There is a carry handle which is as sturdy as the rest of the build for transporting it to and from the vehicle to the ground for install. Also included is a set of wheelie bars to keep from tipping on steep inclines and a well-designed remote with a handle strap to hook to the cart. I can’t state enough how impressed I am by the quality here, there are no corners cut at all and it is clearly built to last.
Setting up is a breeze as the remote comes pre-connected to the wheel unit and after brackets are installed onto the chosen pushcart all that has to be done is lowering the cart to the axel and engaging the clamps, that is it. The indicator lights on the unit convey battery charge as well as connectivity and it’s kept super simple which will appeal to golfers of all age demographics. Also worth noting, the charging process is simple, and the battery will detach from the unit to prevent having to load and unload the V2 every time you come home from a round, a very smart design.
Performance Experience
Of course, the big question always comes back to performance. You can have the most well thought out, ergonomically pleasing design ever, but if it doesn’t work, then none of that matters. I am pleased to say, there should be absolutely no concern there when it comes to the Club Booster V2.
As mentioned, setup is pleasantly easy, and I would describe operation the same way. The included remote is quite intuitive out of the box (it is also a micro-USB charge, so no batteries needed), and if you were to misplace it or lose charge you can also use the Club Booster V2 eWheels app from Alphard to operate it as well, a nice touch for those of us who tend to misplace things.
With six speeds, the V2 can flat out get it on the course. Personally, I found that level 3-4 range to match my stride well, but of course I turned it all the way up on straight run just to see. Of note, when you start moving after a stop, it always goes back to speed level 1. Getting used to steering/turning takes a few minutes, but for me it was an easy learning curve. I will say that having a cart with a front wheel that swivels definitely made it more maneuverable letting it turn on a dime, but Alphard is adamant it will work with non-swivel carts as well, the turning radius just changes.
My main concern was how it would handle the inclines/declines and overall rough terrain of my home courses. The Club Booster V2 has got some torque! I took the path less travelled a lot just to see how it would perform and with the wheelie bars on it and I had no issues with tipping, even on some funky sidehill angles where I was trying to overturn it, it still stayed upright. I will say, if you are going up a very steep incline, the best bet is still to keep a lower speed and follow closely to ensure no tipping happens, but it would frankly have to be one heck of a grade for the V2 to not handle it solo.
While the remote does have specific 15 and 30 yard travel buttons, I just used the directional pad the majority of the time. I carried the remote with me to the green and used the lock button to make sure I didn’t move the cart while it was in my pocket, and as soon as I would putt out, I went ahead and started moving the cart ahead of me to the next tee. I have to say, I never thought about how handy being able to do that would be, but it really seemed to make my walk more enjoyable being able to move and converse with buddies more freely.
Though I didn’t get the opportunity to fully test the battery capacity thanks to crazy weather, Alphard states that you can get 27-36 holes out of a charge, I played 18 and the battery meter was still over half full so that checks out. Should the battery run out in round, or if you just need to manually push the cart though tight spaces, you can hold the stop button and engage “free wheel mode” allowing you to traditionally push the cart as needed, nice to have that contingency.
Continuing Evolution with Follow
While the Club Booster V2 has been out for a bit, Alphard continues to want to evolve the experience and performance for its users. Another feature offered is the “TFS”, Tethered Follow Sensor, which mounts to your bag and has a tether which you pull out and attach to a metal belt clip allowing the cart to follow your pace and direction. It is a handy device, but Alphard knows people don’t like cords/cables, and they want freedom.
With that in mind, we at THP got to test out a soon to come feature for the Club Booster V2 known as the “V2 Sidekick”, this is Alphard introducing the first ever wireless follow system, and to say it is promising is an understatement. Though we worked with a prototype, the functionality of the final product is there, this involves attaching a main unit to the handle of your pushcart and aligning as well as leveling it before use. The unit is not small, but for the freedom it allows, I think that will be a non-issue. It syncs to a transmitter which you clip a specific pocket depending on where you want it to follow back, right, or left.
Performance was beyond promising, in fact, it was fantastic. What impressed the most was that even in a prototype, the connectivity and ease of setup/use was there just like the V2. There is a reaction time from pressing the button to the cart beginning to follow, but that is just communication with the transmitter, for me it did what it intended without any real issue. It will be a lot of fun to see the finished product when it rolls out and see how it is adopted because in the segment, it could truly be a differentiator for them.
The Details
The Alphard Club Booster V2 is available now through various retailers as well as directly from the company. At the time of this review the unit comes priced at $739.00, and though that is not an insignificant investment amount, it is a fraction of what fully integrated motorized pushcarts on the market are, and it lets you use the pushcart and all its attachments you may already have.
For me, this is one of those items I didn’t know I needed nor that I would enjoy as much as I have. What do you think about the Alphard Club Booster V2? For those of you who use a pushcart, would you consider it? For those who don’t walk for the physical wear and tear, does something like this unit from Alphard make walking a more realistic possibility? Let us know what you think either below or on the THP Community!
