Press
By Larry Edsall
Special to The Detroit News
Carry golf clubs on a trailer hitch
The hard-shell device and attachment system lets a vehicle transport up to four sets of bags.
Like a lot of couples, Ron and Katharine Hesmer liked playing golf together. However, it was a real challenge when they wanted to take Katharine's 1995 Volkswagen Cabriolet to the course. Even with the top down, it was a chore to fit both their golf bags and pull carts into the car's back seat.
Ron Hesmer, then in medical sales selling orthopedic implants, knew there must be an easier way. Though the VW wasn't built for serious towing, Katharine had installed a light-duty trailer hitch to pull her small Sunfish sailboat, which got Ron Hesmer thinking. Was there a way to use a trailer hitch to carry his golf clubs?
There is.
The result is Autolinx, a hard-shell golf bag and attachment system that can mount four sets of clubs on a standard trailer hitch receiver. After discussing it with a local entrepreneur, he hired a real designer, created a new firm, Feat First Inc. and began production.
A hard-case and mounting bracket for one set of clubs retails for $295. Linxduo is an adapter that can carry two bags. It costs $105. Linxquad, a four-bag adapter, runs $215. Adapter prices do not include any carrying cases.
Hesmer notes that the Autolinx is made to be airline complaint, which means you can use it to ship your golf clubs as baggage on that flight to some southern golf resort.