Skateboarding is not my thing. I tried it in my teens, and nearly broke an arm. But now in my 50s, I have a renewed interest in boarding. Not for street use, mind you, but rather for fairways — thanks to the GolfBoard.

This product and its “Surf the Earth” tagline first appeared on the radar at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show — the golf industry’s annual convention in Orlando. I thought it looked pretty cool back then, even in its infancy prototype stage. Several GolfBoards eventually emerged at courses around the country late in 2014, as rentals. At this year’s show, I got to get on one and ride — only a few yards, mind you. But I was instantly hooked.

Apparently golfers are feeling the same way, from Hawaii to the mainland at select courses that offer fleets of the GolfBoard as rentals for their customers. And if you have $6,500 lying around, you can own one. It’s offered in several configurations, including with or without a vertical pole that will hold a strapped-on golf bag while letting the golfer grab on to its handle. Depending on the version, these travel at up to 14 miles per hour — with graceful smoothness. A rechargeable, lithium-ion battery powers each board that boasts a four-wheel-drive “posi-traction” drivetrain for a smooth ride. Gear boxes on each end are employed, rather than chains and belts, for safety, reliability and almost no maintenance. Steep hills are not a problem, nor is riding the board up to the edge of greens. The minimal-tread tires also have very little impact on the turf, especially compared to golf carts. Which is why many of the courses offering GolfBoard rentals allow golfers to ride right up to the collar of the green. Try that with a riding cart and expect to be kicked off property. To control the board, golfers can either use a thumb throttle or a wireless handheld remote, both of which take away any choppiness from acceleration and deceleration. The board even rides in reverse. Wheels automatically lock when the board stops, for stability. Proprietary technology — including a flexible and adjustable spring plate on each end, plus a shock absorber — help smooth the ride. And the board’s low center of gravity means that even golfers without any skateboarding or surfing experience will find it easy to balance.

Some of my friends recently used GolfBoards during a round, and raved about how it enhanced the entire golfing experience. The manufacturer is touting how it can also speed up play. That’s only true, of course, if the foursome ahead is likewise playing fast. But there’s no question that GolfBoard will add a new level of exhilaration to any round. Before you go out and get one of your own, it’s probably wise to try it out first at a course that rents them. And also check up front with the courses you play most often, to make sure they don’t have insurance issues that ban GolfBoard use at their facility.