Fairway wants to replace golf carts with this funky electric bike

Who needs a golf cart when you’ve got a… golf bike? That’s the thought behind Fairway Bikes’ new three-wheeled electric bike designed for golfers, helping kick the lazy golf cart for a more interactive alternative.

It’s fair to say that golf doesn’t rank very high on the list of sports praised for their cardiovascular exercise benefits.

That’s not to imply that golfers are lazy, but let’s just say that it doesn’t help that for many people, the little bit of walking involved is replaced by an overgrown mobility scooter.

But what if instead of driving a ClubCar around the course, you could pedal around? Now that sounds 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 Fairway Bikes is trying to do. The company’s three-wheeled e-bike has dual front suspension for improved stability and even features two rides modes offering both an electric throttle and adjustable pedal assist for more or less of a workout.

The company was founded in 2023 by golfer and tech startup veteran Jim Billmaier with the goal of making golfing more enjoyable – especially between the holes. After retiring, Jim was playing more golf but found it challenging to walk the course. Instead of opting for a golf cart, which would have significantly reduced his exercise, he designed a new solution that became a golf bike.

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

“Our mission is to make the game more accessible and fun for more players. For many golfers, the opportunity to get active outdoors is what draws them to the game, but some courses are almost impossible to walk,” explained Wunderlich. “Previously, the only solution was golf carts. With the rising popularity of e-bikes, we saw an opportunity to offer an alternative option that speeds up play, reduces impact to the course and environment, and makes golf more active and fun for everyone. It seems so obvious in hindsight, but it took years of work to tailor the product and business model to meet the unique needs of golfers and golf courses.”

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

With two front wheels, it takes on a tadpole trike design, which is known to be more stable than typical delta-style trikes with two rear wheels. A forward cargo section holds a golf bag and a center console area offers golf cart-like storage for drinks and scorecards.

The removable battery mounted under the bench seat claims to offer 20 miles (32 km/h) of range, which is likely enough for several rounds of golf when used all day for rental use on a golf course.

Targeting both consumers and fleet usage at golf courses, Fairway Bikes already has over 50 courses across the U.S. on the waitlist for bikes with more being added every week.

The company recently raised $1.25M to fund initial production with plans to roll out bikes in time for next year’s golfing season.

In addition to fleet usage, consumer models are expected to be priced at around US $6,999, which the company anchored by explaining that such pricing puts it at around half the cost of many golf carts today.