Motocaddy refer to the new M7 GPS as the world's first remote control touchscreen GPS trolley.
Their big rivals PowaKaddy also brought out a remote control trolley in the same week earlier this year, which also features a touchscreen GPS, suggesting that there is plenty of appetite in the market for trolleys which provide ultimate ease of use for the golfer.
The M7 GPS is the headline model in the compact-folding M-Series range, and it comes with a whole host of different features as well as a pretty steep price tag.
The Tech
Essentially, Motocaddy are taking all of the best features of their previous M7 Remote Trolley and the existing M5 GPS and putting together into one package.
A look on the website shows that there are a whopping 19 different features on the trolley, so we'll run you through some of the key ones here:
There's a responsive, clear 3.5" LCD touchscreen display which is designed to be usable and easily visible in all weather conditions, and even works whilst wearing a glove.
This screen displays the embedded GPS systems which comes with more than 40,000 pre-loaded courses, and shows yardages to the front, middle and back of the green plus hazards and a new dynamic green view, among a host of other features.
- The trolley also comes with a small rechargeable remote control which can move the trolley forward, left, right and back, as well as starting and stopping the trolley. The trolley can also switch from remote to manual control seamlessly, allowing you to control the trolley normally if you want to.
- Like in the M7 Remote, the M7 GPS features a removable anti-tip rear wheel which is designed to keep the trolley stable through rough terrain and course undulations.
The trolley has a wider wheel base than the rest of the M-Series models, with all terrain tyres to improve handling across the course.
It is powered by a high power 28.8V system, with nine speed settings and a super-lightweight Lithium battery which can be charged without being removed.
Motocaddy M7 GPS Trolley Review
Setup
Setting up golf trolleys is relatively simple these days, simply follow the tabs located on the main body to fold it out, and the front wheel should roll itself out so you can go from folded to standing in a matter of seconds.
This may still sound a little confusing if you've not used a trolley before but once you've done it a few times, it becomes very straightforward. I have used slicker and more simplistic trolleys in the past, but considering its size, the M7 GPS was still pretty good.
One thing to bear in mind is that you have to manually add the anti-tip wheel at the back yourself, although this is just a case of slotting it into the hole at the bottom of the trolley.
You do have to remove this again if you'd like to fold the trolley down to its smallest footprint after the round, although it's not particularly big so this might not be necessary and might reduce the risk of you misplacing it.
Looks
Motocaddy's trolleys look much better since they were remodelled around five years ago, and this M7 GPS looks smart without really having too many frills.
The new touch screen looks fantastic, it's a great size and is extremely clear which should make it easy to read even for those who don't have the best eyesight.
Size-wise, it's one of the largest trolleys I have tested, both in terms of length and width. It would still fit in most car boots when folded but it's a bit of a lump to lift in and out at nearly 15kg - for comparison, the entry level M1 Trolley I reviewed a couple of years ago was less than 10kg.
Motocaddy also give you a stand at the bottom of the trolley which can be used to stand it up vertically for space-saving in the car boot or in your garage, and the wheels can be inverted so that they don't protrude outside of the trolley's footprint.
Functionality
First up, the satellite connection from the trolley's GPS was really fast. After turning the trolley on it located and loaded the golf course within seconds, something that can often take a few minutes when first firing up a new GPS device.
The touchscreen display was also excellent, I found it so responsive and easy to use. I remember being impressed with the performance of the screen on the M5 GPS and this was more of the same - it felt like using a premium mobile phone or tablet.
As mentioned above the trolley weighs nearly 15kg and as a result it did feel a bit bulky at times whilst trying to manouevre it on the course. Despite the fact that there is a double wheel at the front which is supposed to help with turning, I found that it wasn't particularly agile and at times it was quite hard work to turn it around or move it into certain positions.
The anti-tip wheel is a useful touch although it did tend to get in the way a little bit whilst walking. I was glad of it when using the remote and going over bumps when you might usually need to help stabilise the trolley but it's out of reach - it kept it upright in these cases!
The Downhill Control is not a new feature, having been around for a number of years in most trolley brands, but it worked brilliantly even on some larger slopes where the extra weight of the trolley could've easily caused it to lose control.
I played some holes at Chorlton-cum-Hardy GC whilst testing this trolley, a course which does have a couple of pretty steep slopes and paths, and it handled them with ease.
The remote works well and comes with a handy holder on the frame below the screen and it's great that you can have it on charge during your round via the USB port.
I'm not sure how often I would use it personally but it's useful to send it off towards the next tee or move it out of the way at certain points. It was very responsive and easy to control despite being relatively simple in it's usability.
GPS technology in golf equipment (watches, devices, trolleys) is so good these days and that is no different in the M7 GPS. It works perfectly and reduces the need for a watch or another type of device. It helps to consider this when you factor in the price too - we'll come on to that later - because you can essentially add the cost of a GPS into the overall price.
Finally I was really impressed with the battery life of the trolley too. After a full 18 holes the trolley had only used around a quarter of the battery it had when I first turned it on, and that was whilst charging the remote control at the same time.
This is great if you're the kind of person, like me, who always seems to be running late to their tee time and most likely forgets to charge the battery up the night before.
Motocaddy M7 GPS Trolley Verdict
I really enjoyed using the M7 GPS and it really felt like Motocaddy had pulled out all the stops with their latest trolley.
The huge price tag of £1499 means that it will only appeal to a relatively small number of golfers but for that you get a top of the range model, which does everything for you besides actually hitting the shots.
If you're looking for ultimate ease on the course then you have the remote function, if you want information on the hole and your scores then you can use the new touchscreen. It's the best of both worlds!
The addition of the GPS does make the price slightly more acceptable, as it'll save you having to spend a couple of hundred quid on an additional device or watch.
I found it a bit bulky at times but the great thing with Motocaddy is that they have so many models available to golfers, so if you think the price is a bit steep or you want something a bit sleeker and you aren't bothered about all of the bells and whistles then you should still find one that works for you.
Who Is It Aimed At?
The truly dedicated golfer who has money to spend and wants to get their hands on as much tech as possible.
Would I Use It?
There's maybe too much going on for me - I'm a big fan of the Motocaddy Cube Trolley because it's so simple to setup and use instead.
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