Mark Twain is reputed to have said that golf is ‘a good walk spoiled’, and golfers returning to the fairways after lockdown may well be tempted to agree. Winter temperatures and time pressure at work may well make that good walk feel slightly less appealing. SKOOTA, a collaboration between Northamptonshire businessmen Duncan Geddes from Technical Foam Services and Ben Thomas from All Things Management, who saw an opportunity within a fun and niche market.
And it’s not just golfers that get to play on what is described as the ultimate ‘boy’s toy’, both SKOOTA One and SKOOTA golf are an ideal form of fun, electric transport that ticks all the tech boxes and is guaranteed to turn heads wherever they go. SKOOTA was established in 2019 to meet the increasing demand from people wishing to make short work of golf courses, large industrial sites, leisure parks and large gardens in an environmentally friendly way.
The first model was launched at the Golf Show in May last year. Perfectly suited to golfers, with tyres the same size as those used on a traditional golf buggy but less than half the weight, so it doesn’t cause any damage to the fairways. With the golf bracket fitted on the rear, it’s a much quicker and more efficient way to get round the golf course.
Duncan Geddes explained: “One of the biggest problems with golf is the time required to play 18 holes. SKOOTA cuts walking between shots down to a minimum. The quickest we’ve heard of a four- ball playing 18 holes, with all players using a SKOOTA, is two hours and ten minutes.“My son is at golf college, and I came across this product and thought it was great. I have known Ben for a number of years and approached him to do the branding and marketing, and he loved the product as much me, so we joined forces to bring SKOOTA to a new market.”
Given its efficiency and simplicity, SKOOTAs are now being used in several other markets. In large industrial areas and factories, for instance, where people need to move around quickly, the SKOOTA is a cheaper and easier alternative to two or four-man golf buggies. Similarly, outdoor leisure and caravan parks are great areas to fully maximise the benefits of the SKOOTA. The SKOOTA is road legal and is the equivalent of a 50CC bike, so ideal for those who want to use it to get to work or a quick trip to the shops at the weekend.
The founders have considerable commercial experience in running successful businesses, and have ambitious plans to establish SKOOTA as a well-recognised brand in the next couple of years. There are already a couple of new SKOOTA models being designed, to ensure the range is constantly being evolved to meet customers’ innovative demands.
SKOOTA One is fitted with dual suspension, indicators and a horn and can reach an impressive top speed of 40 kph, while a full battery charge lasts up to 50 kilometres. With its chrome style finish, the SKOOTA has a slick, retro finish, with lights, wing mirrors and handlebars engineered to precision and a comfy seat and spacious floor area and a USB port to charge a phone or listed to music. SKOOTA Golf includes a bracket for a golf bag and packs enough power to complete 36 holes between charges.
Ben Thomas said: “SKOOTA is fun way to play golf that, to be honest, golfers either love or loathe. Golf clubs across the country need more members and many struggle to recruit new members for a variety of reasons, one of which is how much time you need to spend on the course.
“SKOOTA enables golfers to play 18 holes in half the time. In fact ,YouTube sensation Seb Carmichael-Brown played a round on a SKOOTA in 59 minutes. A SKOOTA is half the weight of a golf buggy, and its two wheels creates far less wear and tear on the course than a four-wheel buggy.
Find out more about SKOOTA One and SKOOTA Golf or call 01604 267677.
