Tour makes huge rule change that has “raised eyebrows”

A handful of players trying to climb their way to the top table in professional golf are about to witness a bizarre rule change.

The Epson Tour – a feeder circuit to the LPGA Tour – has announced that electric pushcarts have been approved for use from this season.

After inking a new deal with MGI Golf, an Australian-owned firm, the change in tour regulations will make the vehicles legal starting at this week’s Central Florida Championship.

It’s because Epson Tour players don’t require a professional caddie like on the LPGA.

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“When I saw some of these athletes carrying their own bag and or pushing a cart, I was like well, that seems weird too,” said Jody Brothers, the tour’s Chief Business and Operating Officer.

“Because you’ve got somebody who has the financial resources or the backing to have a professional caddie, and somebody out here that’s maybe just scraping by and has the winter job and is a really talented player, but they just don’t have the resources to hire a caddie yet.

“It feels like there is a gap in performance that needs to be bridged a little bit.

“Personally, I use an electric motorised caddie when I play at my home club, and I thought ‘There’s gotta be a way that we can make this work on the Epson Tour,’ and then I was shocked to find out that we had a regulation against it.”

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MGI carts aren’t cheap, though. They retail between $699 and $1,895.

The company has plans to sign several brand ambassadors, while Epson Tour players will receive a discount on purchases.

So, how’s it going down? Well, the overall reaction has been positive, says Brothers, but she confirmed that the use of carts has “raised eyebrows”.

“There’s been a few that have sort of had raised eyebrows, I’m not gonna deny that,” said Brothers, “and that’s maybe some of the more purists, and maybe some of the athletes that have played some seasons on the LPGA Tour.

“They probably were just surprised more than anything that we would put this into play.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.