Australian golfers who use electric buggies are not only walking more often, they’re also playing better, feeling fitter and enjoying the game more than ever before, according to a new industry report released by Motocaddy.
The world’s leading electric buggy brand has unveiled the first dedicated Australian Electric Buggy Report, a comprehensive 36-page study examining one of golf’s fastest growing equipment categories.
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And the numbers are hard to ignore.
According to the report, demand for electric buggies has doubled globally over the past five years, with the market forecast to grow by a further 49 per cent by 2030 to reach an estimated $393 million.
The findings are based on insights from more than 10,000 golfers across Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan and South Korea.
For Australian golfers, the benefits appear to extend well beyond simply avoiding the strain of carrying a golf bag. A whopping 76 per cent of local electric buggy users said they feel fitter when using one, while 68 per cent reported enjoying the game more. Perhaps most surprisingly, 69 per cent said they believe they play better golf when using an electric buggy, while 71 per cent cited having more energy during the round as the biggest benefit.
More than half of all golfers surveyed also said using a buggy encourages them to play more golf.
The findings come as Australia’s golf boom continues unabated. Golf Australia recently recorded a fifth consecutive year of club membership growth in 2024, with younger and more fitness-conscious players increasingly opting to walk rather than ride.
Motocaddy marketing director Oliver Churcher believes that trend is helping drive rapid growth in the category.
“We’re delighted to introduce this trailblazing report on the Australian buggy market at a time when both the category and golf are seeing unprecedented growth across the country,” Churcher said.
“Compiling a comprehensive report on one of the fastest growing equipment sectors, as the global No.1 in electric buggies, reinforces our expertise and demonstrates our dedication to becoming part of the Aussie golfing community.”
The report also found that while traditional push buggies remain the most common way Australians transport their clubs during a round, accounting for 60 per cent of usage, demand for electric models is rising rapidly.
Almost one in three golfers said they would be either very or quite likely to rent an electric buggy if one was available at their club.
Interestingly, Australian golfers appear to have developed a particular fondness for remote controlled models. Since Motocaddy’s official Australian launch in September, its Remote range has accounted for an eye-opening 87 per cent of local sales.
Motocaddy chief executive officer John Helas said technology has been a major driver behind the category’s growth.
“Today’s electric buggies feature longer-lasting batteries, intuitive remote controls and sleek, lightweight designs that make them easier to use and more enjoyable to own,” Helas said.
The report also found strong levels of customer loyalty among existing users, with most owners choosing to buy rather than rent and almost half indicating they are likely to purchase another electric buggy in the near future.
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For a product once viewed as the domain of older golfers, perceptions appear to be changing quickly. In fact, nearly a quarter of Australian golfers surveyed admitted they wished they had made the switch sooner.
As more players embrace walking and seek ways to make the game less physically taxing, the humble electric buggy may be emerging as one of golf’s most underrated performance aids. And if this report is anything to go by, plenty more Australians could soon be following suit.
