What’s the ultimate PWC? A blinged-out Kawasaki? Maybe a Sea-Doo with a V8? What about a golf cart that can glide its way over land and water (well, water traps)—why the hell not?
Pro golfer Bubba Watson had this very brainwave, and, with the help of Oakley and Indiana hovercraft firm Neoteric, brought it to reality. The prototype, dubbed “BW1” and built on Neoteric’s 7600 hovercraft platform, lit the internet on fire back in 2013. “Bubba’s Hover” went viral. See it for yourself, if you haven’t already.
But a huge buzzkill became apparent. Maneuvering a hovercraft on land requires more training and skill than what’s needed for your Club Cars and E-Z-GOs, and Thinkmodo, the ad agency who drummed up the short film, had to tell multiple golf courses the disappointing news. Neoteric also received 150 phone calls in the aftermath from interested customers willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars for the machine, according to Business Insider. The serious demand for a joke got Neoteric to take notice. A production version of “Bubba’s Hover” was offered through that well-known home of unusual luxury goods, Hammacher Schlemmer.
Every now and then, this PWC that answers a question nobody asked gets another moment in the limelight. YouTube golf personality Josh Mayer tried one out (well, a Neoteric hovercraft with a retrofitted top and golf bags) in his “I Tested Every Level of Golf Cart” video in 2025, which is one of his most popular uploads to date. Neoteric will still make you a faithful replica of the BW1 Watson fooled around with, if you ask very nicely.
Sure, that’s great news, but the idea didn’t catch on in a major way. Yet The Wake Edit refuses to let such a nifty concept disappear under the waves. Let’s be honest, gliding over water hazards doesn’t constitute a majority of golfing. Why not put the brainchild of Neoteric, Oakley, and Watson in a more watery environment?
Unlike a jet ski, hovercrafts are amphibious. “It has a footprint pressure about 33 times less than the human foot,” Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald notes in the original “Bubba’s Hover” video—that means our subject can skim across almost anything you throw at it. The original intent of BW1 was more land-based than aquatic; we have a different idea.
Let’s say you treat yourself to a resort vacation. The room you’ve booked happens to be at a place that has teamed up with a golf course in the area. Walk past the WaveRunners available for rent and, for a little extra cash, get on board one of these – an experience sponsored by the local 18 holes – for an unforgettable afternoon. On the water, there’s not as many obstacles to worry about, and you can get to grips with the endless fun a hovercraft can offer. Are you listening, Shinecock Hills?
