Hedgehog Trolleys

fundy

fundy

Ryder Cup Winner
Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
27,053
Location
Herts/Beds border
Visit site
Was at my local driving range earlier and they now have a sign up saying Hedgehog trolleys only.

Have had a quick look on the web and it seems a decent enough philosophy, yet Ive never seen them used anywhere else.

Does anyone use them? Any of your clubs require them? Do they work?
 
All of our rental trolleys have them. I also believe from next year, they will be needed for anyone using a trolley during the winter months. Doesn't bother me, they have given more than enough notice.
 
We have had them for a good couple of years, the theory is that they don't put as much down pressure on the wet muddy ground in the winter. The downside of them is that if your ball lands where the wheel has been, then it's liable to come to rest in a dimple type hole, so, if you can't take relief, it's a tough shot! Also whether the downward pressure is more in each dimple than spread over the flat area of a conventional trolley wheel has often been argued.


Chris
 
I'm agreeing with chris here based on the same principle ad if you was to walk on a frozen lake. You have to argue that if you putting 20 kilo through 2 areas of approximately 4" x 2", this has to be better than sticking the same weight through 4 points approximately 1" x 1".

In my opinion a gimmick
 
I'm sure we had a Greenkeeper on here who went throught the cience and reckoned they were worthwhile.
We have them from today. All trolleys must have them and in times of real wet weather only pull/push trolleys - ie not electric - will be allowed on the course.
My old course didn't have this and every winter looked an even bigger cow fied than it did in the summer.
I've had the hedgehogs on since last Christmas, they've stayed on all through the summer and when they fall off and die I'll get some new ones. Carrying is a poor option for me with my dodgy knee and ankle so if I can't use my trolley I'm stuffed.
 
I'm agreeing with chris here based on the same principle ad if you was to walk on a frozen lake. You have to argue that if you putting 20 kilo through 2 areas of approximately 4" x 2", this has to be better than sticking the same weight through 4 points approximately 1" x 1".

In my opinion a gimmick
Click to expand...

Exactly - more pounds per square inch or in metric, more litres per rectanglar kilo (or something like that)

They do seem to make the areas between greens and tees much more unsightly


Chris
 
We try and keep them for when it gets really wet (so that'll be by Thursday) then. I'm not too fussed as I keep a spare set of GK wheels in the boot already fitted with the hedgehogs and so can switch over if I need to.

There was a lot of talk on the club forum thread about various clubs not being good at communicating important matters. This is a typical example as the decision to make hedgehogs mandatory is normally taken on a day by day basis and never ever communicated in advance. Unless you have a spare set of wheels or go for the option of keeping them permanently on the trolley then you can end up having to use a pull cart fitted with hedgehogs from the pro shop rather than your own electric trolley.

Some clubs make them mandatory from a set date i.e. 1st November right through until Spring. It probably makes a lot of sense as everyone knows where they are.

The only problem we tend to have is that they do seem to make the walkways from greens to tees and on the approaches to the putting surface quite muddy I guess through sheer volume. There was definitely someone with greenkeeping knowledge who came on (I think this time last year) and explained why clubs are insisting on hedgehogs now
 
You should all be out carrying in the winter. Are you all feeble and decrepit ? Well obviously i am, but the rest of you ? :D
 
My club insist on them from the 1st Nov. through to April. It's supposed to spread the weight more evenly and not as harmful to the grass as ordinary wheels are.

Apparently, according to the Assistant Pro, hedgehog wheels can cause excessive wear to the gearing on electric trolleys. This I think could be a gimmick, as the option is to buy the fat wheels purpose made for some electric trolleys. Not for Gokarts, which I have. At a cost of about £45 a pair I believe!

Anybody have any info on these?

In the winter when electric trolleys are banned I bought a lightweight carry bag, a bit smaller than a normal one and a bit bigger than a pencil bag. Works fine for me, even carrying waterproofs etc. :cool:

Golfmmad.
 
Was at my local driving range earlier and they now have a sign up saying Hedgehog trolleys only.
Click to expand...

:D Why would you need a trolley when you're at a driving range? Our range doesn't allow golf bags never mind trolleys.
 
We have a buggy ban in place. A mate of mine has just bought a segway, which is still allowed. Looks mental, and is proper fast. Only weighs 45 kilos, about 450 less than a buggy, and can't wheel spin or skid. No good when a trolley ban is in place, but we don't often have those. We don't have a hedge hog rule.
 
Apparently, according to the Assistant Pro, hedgehog wheels can cause excessive wear to the gearing on electric trolleys. This I think could be a gimmick, as the option is to buy the fat wheels purpose made for some electric trolleys. Not for Gokarts, which I have. At a cost of about £45 a pair I believe!
Click to expand...

£45 ? wishful thinking

manual are £25+, electric £65 - I'll get the strap fixed on my carry bag!

http://www.hedgehoggolf.co.uk/#/on-line-store/4537072985
 
Apparently, according to the Assistant Pro, hedgehog wheels can cause excessive wear to the gearing on electric trolleys. This I think could be a gimmick, as the option is to buy the fat wheels purpose made for some electric trolleys. Not for Gokarts, which I have. At a cost of about £45 a pair I believe!
Click to expand...

£45 ? wishful thinking

manual are £25+, electric £65 - I'll get the strap fixed on my carry bag!

http://www.hedgehoggolf.co.uk/#/on-line-store/4537072985
Click to expand...

No, they're not the ones I meant Steve. The ones I'm talking about are the wide width without the spikes. Sorry, can't think of the name. :o

Golfmmad.
 
Flat wheels tend to 'squish' the ground, hedgehogs kinda ride on top of the ground, not squishing everything in it's path. Apparently the turf recovers quicker too when it hasn't been crushed completely flat by a normal trolley wheel.

^
^
well that's what I heard about hedgehog wheels... sounds feasible I s'pose.
 
Flat wheels tend to 'squish' the ground, hedgehogs kinda ride on top of the ground, not squishing everything in it's path. Apparently the turf recovers quicker too when it hasn't been crushed completely flat by a normal trolley wheel.

^
^
well that's what I heard about hedgehog wheels... sounds feasible I s'pose.
Click to expand...

This is exactly the reason theyre used , a normal wheel will "slip" (wheel spin) on wet ground and this does far too much damage and it takes a lot longer to recover.

I just tie wrap my hedgehogs to my Gokart all winter , no probs
 
I've got a treaded tyre on my trolley though the tread isn't particularly deep, more an intermediate, but it's the front wheel that causes the problems. There is insufficient space around the wheel to shed the mud it picks up with the result that it jams and just slides. That's what does the damge.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Imurg
Pitchmark repairers
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
KenL
KenL
S
Newbie feeling completely lost
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
garyinderry
garyinderry
Lord Tyrion
Fog lights
Replies
18
Views
625
Billysboots
Billysboots
C
The Club. 1994 Channel 4 Documentary.
2 3
Replies
46
Views
2K
BubbaP
BubbaP
Orikoru
Worst Ryder Cup Captains?
2 3 4
Replies
68
Views
5K
Lucifer MorningStar
Lucifer MorningStar
Top