The pitch:

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…a flying golf cart? That’s what upscale retailer Hammacher Schlemmer is promising with its Golf Cart Hovercraft. And with a price tag of $58,000 (around 10 times the cost of your run-of-the-mill electric golf cart), it’s certainly got a jet-setting pedigree. And while a hovercraft won’t improve one’s handicap, Hammacher says this cart “glides over sand traps and water hazards on a cushion of air” (and at a speed of up to 45 miles per hour, which is at least twice as fast as most electric golf carts). So, there’s no need to steer around that lake in the middle of hole 17. The cart’s “hull” even meets U.S. Coast Guard standards “for reliable hovering over water,” according to Hammacher.

And lest you think a hovercraft is a little unwieldy to maneuver, Hammacher promises that the cart’s “streamlined” and “low-profile, aerodynamic” design make it as easy as driving, well, a golf cart. The retailer says “motorcycle-style handlebars” and a patented “fly-by-wire reverse thrust system” assist with solid steering, braking and backwards hovering. Oh, and Hammacher says noise is kept to a minimum, too.

As for seating, the cart holds four passengers, and an open rear compartment accommodates two golf bags. Alas, a nice set of golf clubs isn't included in the price.

The reality:

A Jetsons-worthy golf cart may sound like a fun ride, but that is provided you’re allowed to bring it on to your favorite course, golf pros note. Many courses have strict rules about what duffers can drive. Courses are “conservative in nature,” says Greg Wrobel, lead pro at South Carolina’s May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff.

But even if a course welcomed a hovercraft, pros say it’s probably overkill. A good gas or electric golf cart can easily be found for $4,000-8,000 (keep in mind that some courses won’t allow gas carts, which are naturally noisier than the electric variety). Look for carts with solid frames and firm suspensions, pros advise, especially since some courses can get bumpy. But the big difference price-wise can be in the extras features and accessories. A windshield is “great for cooler mornings,” says Leo A. Simonetta, director of golf operations for The Wigwam resort outside of Phoenix High-end sound systems are popular, too, says Greg Wrobel.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a flying golf cart? That's what upscale retailer Hammacher Schlemmer is promising with its $58,000 Golf Cart Hovercraft. Charles Passy has a review on Lunch Break. Photo: Hammacher Schlemmer.

As for manufacturers, the big names — Club Car, Yamaha and E-Z-Go — are all cited by pros as possibilities. Jim Chickarello, owner of the Legend Oakes Golf & Tennis Club in Summerville, S.C., is especially high on Club Car. “They’re reliable and user-friendly,” he says. Another option on the luxury front is Garia, which makes high-performance carts tricked out with everything from leather seats to refrigerators; prices start at $15,500.

Still, if you want to hover across the course, there is that $58,000 Hammacher hovercraft. The retailer admits the item is a bit of a lark — “It’s a science-fiction version of a golf cart,” says Hammacher spokesman Stephen Farrell — but says there’s been strong interest in the product, judging from customer requests for information. “The amount of attention has been amazing,” adds Farrell.