Be a Well-Adjusted Walker with Sun Mountain Ridgeline 3 Push Cart

I prefer to walk when I play golf. Since at least 2009 when my lower back began balking at the weight of my golf bag, I have been a staunch proponent of push carts. I review a lot of gadgets, balls, clubs, drinks, snacks, etc., etc. nearly every round, so my bag is often stuffed with extras. When I was sent my first push cart to review, it was a revelation: so much space for my excess gear, and a drink holder for a beverage, and a spot to clip a cigar holder, convenient access to my scorecard…the benefits were too many to list.

Since then, I’ve reviewed at least a dozen push carts, and all work more or less similarly – and more or less well. One issue that does arise, however, is the way my bag sits on some carts: sometimes they twist, or the straps slip off, or the build of the cart fits a cart bag better than a stand bag (I still carry for 9 holes, sometimes). Sun Mountain’s new Ridgeline 3 push cart ($350) addresses this irritation by introducing the first-ever fully-adjustable 3-wheel push cart. It fits any bag, from junior stand bag to full staff bag with just a few adjustments.

The Ridgeline 3 opens and folds easily, with just one lever and one latch. The fully adjustable part is the bracket on the main vertical handle support. The bracket has a lever that can be loosened or tightened to adjust the height of the bracket. Personally, I like to leave it tight enough to keep from slipping, but loose enough to allow me to slide it up and down without messing with the lever. When I unfold the cart, I slide it all the way up. Then I slide the adjustable top strap through the front handle of my bag to keep the bracket from sliding down. After finding the appropriate length for the straps, my bag is held snugly. The bottom strap stays snug on the bottom of my bag. Best of all, I can set the bag on the bottom bracket without popping the stand legs out.

The handle is rather radically adjustable – ranging from too high for me (I’m 6’1”) to below my waist level. What is particularly nice is the angle at which your bag sits: it’s pretty upright, so your clubs aren’t crowded by the handle and console no matter where you set the handle height. This upright carriage also means that normal-length golf towels don’t get caught underneath the cart wheel. (Does this happen to anyone else? It always seems to happen to me after I hit a bad shot, compounding the irritation. Seriously, is it just me?)

Speaking of the console, it is perhaps a titch shallow. But even so, it has room for a couple extra balls, your keys, wallet, lighter, etc. on the inside. Outside, there is a scorecard holder and a clever cell phone bay with a small bungee to keep the device secure and facing you. At the front of the console is a spacious net to hold larger items.

All in all, the Ridgeline 3 is an outstanding push cart. If there are weaknesses to the design, it is the overall weight, which is slightly heavy. But the ease with which it rolls helps counteract the few extra pounds. Another small quibble is the size of the cart when it is folded: it’s got a fairly high profile—it doesn’t fold particularly small. However, it does fit well enough in the trunk of my mid-sized sedan, even with the 20 pairs of golf shoes and my golf bag. So it’s not that large, and the plusses far, far outnumber the negatives. The Ridgeline 3 is an excellent choice for the walking golfer.