The game of golf is getting an exciting upgrade, and Fox Hopyard Golf Club in East Haddam is at the forefront.

GolfBoarding is a new way to navigate the course that provides a bit of adrenaline between shots. We test drove the device — like a snowboard with a small, stealthy engine — recently at the club, and noted several clear advantages.

First, Fox Hopyard is known for its spectacular layout and this vehicle is an ideal way to experience it. The boards were designed by folks with a keen understanding of both course terrain and the variety of players who love this game. The board’s four-wheel drive capability is paired with an on-board computer that monitors speed and controls braking, and a stability bar that responds to the touch of a thumb. It’s equipped with a mount for clubs — and environmentally friendly and battery-powered to boot. Steering is a matter of shifting your weight and turning in the direction you want to go. I’d compare it to learning how to ride a bike — except that it’s much easier. The center of gravity is very low, making the board accessible to players across a wide range of ages and abilities. A brief video explained the board’s controls and how to maneuver, and we were on our way.

The most significant difference between boarding and using a cart became quickly apparent — and that is time. “GolfBoards speed up the pace of play as each player can advance directly to their ball,” explained Fox Hopyard’s Director of Golf, Ron Beck. “If you think about it, 95 percent of your time in a round of golf is the time between shots. The boards can be taken right up to the edges of the greens and tees. They ultimately don’t change the shots you play or the strategy you employ they just make it a lot more fun to get between shots.”

Fun is the key word here. GolfBoarding’s official motto is “Surf the Earth”, and that’s exactly what boarding felt like, as we crested the peaks and cruised into the valleys of the course. “They sort of bring out the kid in you and we all can use a little of that,” Beck said. GolfBoarding offers a more energetic, direct experience of the course. The immaculate fairways opened before us and the green hills stretched into the sky. If you love being in the open air and a cooling breeze between shots — this is the way you want to play.

“People are loving them, much more than even anticipated,” Beck said. “It is a unique experience, one that’s fun to share over dinner or at a cocktail party. We thought it might be a bucket list sort of experience but people are starting to request them on a regular basis. Any we’ve been a little surprised that it’s not just for the younger generation. We’ve had plenty of riders in their 70s and even 80s. It seems players have even more fun when there are several Boarders in the group and it becomes a shared experience.”

It also felt great to use a device that is super respectful of the course — the board’s smaller wheels minimize turf wear, and the electronic braking feature dramatically reduces the kind of damage that carts can leave. Impressive when you consider how easily the GolfBoard handles. We brought along our friend Kiona, a golf newbie, for the test drive. She was quickly converted.

“This would actually get me to try golf, something I would have had no interest in otherwise,” she said. “I would definitely recommend trying this to anyone who hasn’t yet. The steering feels pretty natural once you become familiar with the motions. The boards easily handled obstacles such as transitions from grass to pavement, or rocks and hills. It was actually surprisingly good on hills – it was able to climb even steep hills without struggling or losing power. Going downhill was a breeze too because the board managed to keep a consistent speed no matter the decline.”

And GolfBoarding is gaining recognition. It won “Best New Product” at the PGA Merchandise Show in 2014 and is the 2016 Golf Digest Editor’s Choice pick for Best Club Transport.

People from across the Northeast have been visiting Fox Hopyard specifically to try the boards, Beck said. (The club is one of only two in Connecticut that carries the device.) And he hopes this innovation will spark new and renewed interest in the game.

“We are always looking for ways to differentiate ourself from other clubs and golf operations. Bringing in GolfBoards shows the golfing community that we are progressive and investing in and something that might be important in the game of golf in years to come,” he said.

Fox Hopyard Golf Club is located at 1 Hopyard Road, East Haddam, CT. Visit golfthefox.com or call 860-434-6644 for more information.