Kid Caddie Review: Turn Your Stroller Into a Push Cart
We tested the Kid Caddie on the course to find out if it can be a game-changer for parents who golf
It’s hard to prioritize golf when you have young kids. I have two little ones, a 1-year-old and a 2-year-old, myself. The idea of checking out on Saturday morning, making a 30-minute drive to a golf course, arriving 30 minutes before a prime tee time, spending four-plus hours playing, and retuning home mid-afternoon is laughable.
But I also believe that as a parent of young kids, carving out a little time for hobbies that make you happy should be a non-negotiable. It’s simply required in order to maintain the balance and level-headedness required to survive the everyday madness.
This dilemma has nagged golf-obsessed parents for years, until Ben Fairbanks invented a solution, the Kid Caddie.
What is the Kid Caddie?
The Kid Caddie retails for $119.99
The Kid Caddie is actually a pretty simple product that opens up a huge opportunity for moms and dads who golf. The contraption straps to any stroller that has a 12-inch handlebar, instantly allowing the stroller to double as a push cart. It holds up to 18 clubs, seven balls, and tees. Just like in a golf bag, clubs sit in the Kid Caddie with the heads up, with the grips resting in the basket underneath the stroller.
I recently took the Kid Caddie, and my 2-year-old, to the golf course to find out if this is another golf gimmick, or a breakthrough product that can keep parents who golf connected to the game and their families at the same time. Here’s my complete review.
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Kid Caddie Pros & Cons
From my experience, here’s are the most important pros and cons of the Kid Caddie.
Pros:
- Provides an avenue for additional golf
- Creates an opportunity to bond with children over golf
- Very functional for holding everything you need for golf in your stroller
- Fits any stroller with a 12-inch handlebar and basket underneath
- Option add-ons for drink holder, accessory holder, kid club holder, and magnetic accessory holder
Cons:
- May need to counterweight the clubs to prevent tipping
- Requires the extra step of removing and replacing clubs from the bag before and after the round
Kid Caddie Functionality
First thing’s first. Does the Kid Caddie actually function as a golf bag, turning your stroller into a push cart? I found that it passed this test with flying colors.
It straps to the handlebar of the stroller in seconds, and gives easy access to every club without interfering with my stride.
It does, however, require the extra step of unloading your golf clubs from your bag and into the Kid Caddie before the round, the back into your golf bag afterwards. For me, that process was negligible.
The only issue I had was that I strapped the Kid Caddie onto my stroller and started loading it with clubs before my son was actually in the stroller. Once I began loading clubs, it soon threw off the balance, causing the stroller to tip backwards.
To avoid this, I recommend loading the kid first, then the golf clubs.
I played a short course and only threw eight clubs into the Kid Caddie. If you plan on utilizing all 18 club slots, you’ll absolutely need to factor in some sort of counterweight in the basket to prevent tipping.
Is the Kid Caddie Safe? Tips for On-Course Use
The last thing a parent wants to do is put their kid in harm’s way, so it’s natural to wonder if bringing a baby or toddler to a golf course is safe. Afterall, errant shots are part of the game.
Ultimately, it’s up to each parent to decide what they’re comfortable with. Personally, I had no hesitation bringing my little one to the golf course, following these safety considerations.
Pick the Right Tee Time
First, it’s best to play at an off-peak time when the golf course won’t be crowded with groups on every hole. I played a mid-afternoon round on a fall Sunday, when courses are typically less busy, even before you factor in the vacancies left by the NFL crowd.
Mid-week and twilight rounds should often be a safe bet, and avoiding the weekend morning rush is highly recommended.
Course Selection
Second, consider the course selection. I have a 9-hole par-3 course nearby, and that was an easy choice for a Kid Caddie round. I knew it would be a quicker loop in case thing went awry (they didn’t). I also know the course is very flat, which relieved any concerns I may have had about a runaway stroller.
I’d definitely recommend 9-hole rounds when bringing your little one along. I was able to make the trek in just about an hour, and we left with enough enthusiasm to last at least another 20-30 minutes if we needed to, which would have gotten us through nine holes on a wide open regulation course, but it’s better to leave with your kid wanting more than drag it after they’ve had enough.
Course Awareness
While you’re on the course with your kid in the stroller, just pay a little more attention to your surroundings. Be aware of players hitting on adjacent holes and take note when you’re in their “shank zone.”
When you park the stroller, park it in a spot where you’re between the stroller and any other golfers, shielding your kid from potential stray balls.
Finally, always use the stroller’s canopy, and apply the brake when you stop to hit a shot. No matter how flat the ground seems, you never want to risk a runaway stroller.
Kid Caddie Utility
Did the Kid Caddie solve my golf-parent dilemma? It actually did. I mentioned I used it on a Sunday afternoon, and the truth is that up until that point, I had all but said goodbye to weekend rounds, opting to squeeze them in during daycare hours instead. But, the Kid Caddie provides a viable option to play some weekend golf without burdening the proverbial village helping raise your child.
My On-Course Experience With the Kid Caddie
Weather permitting, I always take the kids for an hour-plus long stroll on the weekends anyway, now I can do that and play golf.
Meanwhile, my 2-year-old absolutely loved it. We talked all week leading up to our round about going to the real golf course (as opposed to the putting green in the basement that’s he’s referred to as the golf course since he could talk).
He was thrilled to be out there, hitting some tee shots here and there, and getting out of the stroller on every green to place his ball one foot from the hole, and attempt to putt it in, often hitting it farther from the cup on every attempt.
When we finished the 9th hole and headed to the parking lot, he pleaded to return to the first tee instead. It was an unforgettable first round of golf with my son, and a memory I’ll hold on to for decades.
Final Recommendation
Using the Kid Caddie gave me the opportunity to play more golf, give my wife a little extra quiet time, and get my son onto a real golf course for the first time. Those are all things that I think any golf-obsessed parent of little ones would appreciate.
With a little planning and some extra awareness on the golf course, I found the Kid Caddie to be a problem-solving product, and one that I’d recommend for any golfer with young kids. It would also make a great gift for golf-obsessed parents or golfers expecting kids in the near future.