Who needs a golf cart when you can have a golf bike? That’s the thinking behind Fairway Bikes’ new three-wheeled electric bike for golfers, which helps kick the lazy golf cart for a more interactive alternative.

It’s safe to say that golf isn’t very high on the list of sports praised for its cardiovascular exercise benefits.

That’s not to say golfers are lazy, but let’s just say that for many people, it doesn’t help that a little walking has been replaced by an overgrown mobility scooter.

What if you could pedal around the track instead of driving a ClubCar? Now this seems like a great way to get some light exercise and enjoy a day on the links at the same time.

And that’s exactly what the startup is doing Fairway Bikes trying to do it. The company’s three-wheeled e-bike features dual front suspension for better stability and even has two riding modes that offer both electric throttle and adjustable pedal assist for more or less exercise.

The company was founded in 2023 by golfer and tech startup veteran Jim Billmaier with the goal of making playing golf more enjoyable, especially between holes. After retiring, Jim started playing more golf, but he had trouble walking the course. Instead of opting for a golf cart, which would significantly reduce his exercise, he designed a new solution, a golf bike.

To bring it to market, Jim teamed up with Fairway CEO Alex Wunderlich, a lifelong golfer and seasoned startup CEO.

“Our mission is to make gaming more accessible and fun for more players. For many golfers, the opportunity to be active outdoors is what draws them to the game, but on some courses walking is nearly impossible,” Wunderlich explained. “Previously, golf carts were the only solution. With the rise in popularity of e-bikes, there are new models that speed up the game and reduce impact on the course and the environment.” “And we saw the opportunity to provide an alternative option that made golf more active and fun for everyone. It seems obvious in hindsight, but it took years of work to adapt the product and business model to meet the unique needs of golfers and golf courses.”

The bike has a top speed of 20 km/h (12 mph) and is powered by a Bafang mid-drive motor connected to a belt drive.

Featuring two front wheels, it adopts the tadpole tricycle design, which is known to be more stable than typical delta-style tricycles with two rear wheels. The forward cargo area holds a golf bag, and the center console area offers golf cart-like storage for drinks and scorecards.

The removable battery mounted under the bench seat claims to offer a range of 20 miles (32 km/h); This will probably be enough for a few rounds of golf when used all day for rental use on a golf course.

Fairway Bikes, which targets both consumer and fleet use on golf courses, currently has more than 50 trails on its waiting list for bikes across the U.S., with new ones being added every week.

The company recently raised $1.25 million to fund initial production, with plans to launch the bikes for next year’s golf season.

In addition to fleet use, consumer models are expected to be priced around $6,999; the company pinned this down, explaining that this type of pricing works out to about half the cost of many golf carts today.