Bubba Watson Hovercraft Video Goes Viral: Golfer Glides Over Water (WATCH)
Bubba Watson's hovercraft has gone viral as golfers and fans of the sport are marveling at the pro golfer's creative approach to golf carts. Watson partnered with Oakley, a clothing company, to create a hovercraft golf cart that has less restrictions than a traditional 4-wheeled cart.
Bubba Watson's hovercraft, called the BW1, was shown off in a video Tuesday that went viral almost immediately. Two days after the video was posted, it already has 3.1 million hits on YouTube alone, with many more interested in the hovercraft than even golf itself.
"What if there was a way to improve the traditional golf cart concept and take away some of the limitations?" the post under the YouTube video read. "Using hovercraft technology, the BW1 is able to glide over any terrain, including grass, sand, and water."
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Watson demonstrated the concept by driving from a golf course's green to the water, then back onto the green without a hitch. The BW1, though possibly distracting to other golfers, has the advantage of not having to stay on the track like other golf carts do.
"The big advantage of the hovercraft is that it has a footprint pressure about 33 times less than the human foot, so by hovering across the green, you leave absolutely no trace," Chris Fitzgerald, a hovercraft expert, said during the video.
Watson also said that there are no bumps during the ride, which is another added bonus for frequent golfers.
While many fans of Watson's and the game were excited for the new technological advance to the sport, others pointed out that there may be problems associated with too many golfers using hovercrafts on the green.
"This hovercraft was customized for Bubba … but I believe this company sells hovercraft that start around $20,000," one user wrote on YouTube.
Another pointed out that hovercrafts tend to "dump a lot of water across the grass" when emerging from lakes or rivers, which could lead to a lot of mud on the course.
Watson and Oakley announced their partnership in January, with the company's previous face, Rory McIlroy, seemingly ready to depart.
"Oakley gets it," Watson said at the time. "They love the game and they never stop pushing technology to make the game better. Whatever they can do— whatever can be done— Oakley will do it. I respect that."
