Easy Rider
“The daftest thing or perhaps the coolest at this year’s PGA Show is The Finn Cycle by Sun Mountain. ”
Can I just check your license, sir? And by the way, where’s the fire?
So many golf companies seem to be launching themselves in completely new directions.
Sun Mountain’s leap of faith has to be one of the most radical... these guys must thrive on diversity as this bears no relationship to their stock line of golf bags & push carts.
OLD INDIAN
Is it a mini Harley-Davidson, a Ducati, or an old Indian? What it is is ‘Mountains’ of fun!
“The idea is we’d play a whole lot faster on the back of a Finn. ”
NEW BLOOD
My take is it’ll bring much-needed ‘new blood’ into the game when youngsters see ‘old duffers’ like me hurtling down the fairways at breakneck speeds (the Finn goes as fast as 15mph - although, in the saddle, it seems a lot faster). The soft, fat tyres ensure stability as well as looking after the turf and it’s a doddle to ride, a synch to park and quick on the draw when it comes to pulling out the next golf club. I just loved it!
‘Finn’s’ Angels waiting to ambush the next golf cart.
BUSINESS MODEL
“What’s the difference between a Finn and a golf cart?” Well, a Finn is twice as quick and each player doesn’t have to go trundling after the other fellah’s ball and sit there listlessly waiting on him to hit it. Within seconds of your drive, you’re up on your ball and ready to take the next hit.
The business model for golf club owners is they can have their own fleet of Finns and send riders out into the green beyond - en masse! What a blast that would be! Although, to avoid getting snagged up behind said ‘Old Duffers’ in a traditional golf cart, it would help if everyone was on a Finn.
GREAT ESCAPE
Saddled up with a set of clubs strapped between my legs, I felt like Steve McQueen about to make a ‘Great Escape’. They’re such a ‘blast’ to ride making all those hours spent sitting in golf carts waiting (no wonder guys are taking their Bluetooth speakers and tequila with them these days) a thing of the ancient past!
PRICKLY PLIGHT
There could be problems - like mid-fairway collisions from over-exuberant stuntmen. Or maybe those unsure of which ball’s whose! Trying popping wheelies or figures of 8 and the marshal will kick you out of Dodge. Or perhaps an alligator should take an interest if you side-slide into a lake.
Speed golf takes on a whole new meaning on a Finn
There are also trees, bushes and bunkers out there that might catch more than just the errant golf ball. I remember when quad-bikes first came out, I ended up in the gorse bushes on a Scottish off-road adventure trek. Taking a Finn to the likes of Royal Dornoch or St Andrews might just end up in a prickly plight.
But the advantages by far outweigh such minor mishaps. To reiterate; the pace of play would be blistering! If everyone on the course was ‘scooting’ on one of these babies, a two-hour 18-hole round would be within easy grasp. It’ll also grab the attention of everyone and I can guarantee a lot of kids would take up the game just to peel up the fairways like Judge Dredd (although they probably won’t know who he is)…
LOADS OF FUN
The Finn is loads of fun so it might just catch on. I really hope so! For more information visit www.finnscooters.com.
And check Finn Scooters video out below… featuring yours truly!
