golfboard1321An Oregon startup born on Kickstarter is giving golfers an entirely new way to navigate the course.

The GolfBoard in action.
The GolfBoard in action.

GolfBoard, a two-year-old company based in Bend, Oregon, develops customized electric skateboards meant for the golf course. The device itself features four heavy-duty wheels, a stable steering handle, straps for a golf bag, and is controlled with either a thumb throttle or wireless handheld remote. Its battery can run for an average of 18 miles on a single charge.

Golfboard’s investors include Maroon 5 star Adam Levine and Bally Total Fitness founder Don Wildman, who co-founded the company with legendary big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton.

Hamilton, one of the pioneers of big-wave surfing, has spent a majority of his life sharing and spreading his love for our world’s oceans and getting people into the water.

Now, he wants to use the GolfBoard to help spread his love for the game of golf and to encourage people to live healthy, active lives.

“You get the young people out there, they ride the board,” Hamilton told Golf Digest in the video above. “And then they get hooked on the game, where they might not have had the chance had you not had the board for them to come and ride. I think the GolfBoard will change the game.”

Golfboard manufactures its boards in New Jersey and ships most products to golf clubs — however, you can lease a GolfBoard for a monthly fee. The company’s website shows which courses offer GolfBoards to their guests.

In Washington, two courses have GolfBoards: Sudden Valley Golf Course and The Cedars at Dungeness. Six courses in Oregon have the devices, including Caldera Links, a 9-hole par 3 course that’s part of Sunriver Resort near Bend.

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