Frequently Asked Questions
Compatibility and Fitting
Q. How do I know which size Hedgehog Sleeves to buy?
Standard Hedgehog Sleeves come in 3 sizes and the Electric Sleeves come in an additional 2 sizes, but the processes are the same across all of them.
Measure the outside diameter of your wheel, as a guide most trolleys tend to be around 10" or 25.4cm in diameter.
If your trolley exactly matches an available size then that is the Hedgehog for your trolley.
However (as an example) the 10” sleeves may stretch to fit an 11” wheel, but we advise caution to avoid splitting at the seam. Try applying them after soaking in warm soapy water and if possible avoid using the screws and plates to secure them - use extra cable ties instead. Similarly, 12” sleeves can be used on 13” wheels, but 14” sleeves should not be fitted to anything larger.
Please remember your Hedgehogs should always be fairly difficult to fit, otherwise they are going to be too loose.
Q. My sleeves keep on sliding off of the wheel - what can I do?
The chances are that the sleeve is slightly too large for the wheel, in which case the best thing to do is to use strong, household cable ties to secure the sleeves to the trolley. This is often the best way to secure them to your trolley.
Q. Do you make Hedgehog Wheels for my electric trolley?
There are many electric trolley models on the market today, each with slight variations in wheel design and size. While we produce Hedgehog Fairway Protectors for the most popular trolleys, it isn’t possible to cover every model.
Each product listing clearly states which trolley models it fits.
If you can’t find your model, it’s probably not compatible — but don’t worry!
We’ve designed Electric Hedgehog Sleeves for electric trolleys, which are available in two sizes, with an extra row of studs to help distribute the extra weight and clips and cable ties for a secure fit.
If in doubt, contact us with your trolley model and wheel size for advice.
Performance and Longevity
Q. How long will they last?
That depends on how and where they’re used. Hedgehogs are designed for golf course use on grass.
If you keep them on all year, they’ll last the pace — but regular use on hard, abrasive surfaces will accelerate wear.
Q. Will Hedgehogs damage the course?
No. The Hedgehog Fairway Protector has undergone extensive testing on all types of golf course surfaces — including fairways and rough.
In wet conditions, you may notice small dimples in your trolley’s wake, but with healthy turf these recover quickly. On frost-covered turf, they leave no mark at all.
(We don’t recommend walking a fully loaded trolley across putting greens — but in our tests, even that left no lasting impression!)
Golf Club and Policy Questions
Q. Why does my golf club insist on Hedgehogs in winter?
Before Hedgehogs, golfers faced winter trolley bans to protect the course from wear and compaction. The only alternatives were to carry fewer clubs or not play at all.
Hedgehogs solved this — allowing year-round play while protecting the course. Golfers benefit, pro shops stay active, and clubs maintain revenue through the winter. Everybody wins.
Q. My golf club has never heard of Hedgehogs – what can I do?
We advertise in leading golf magazines and journals, but the best form of promotion is word of mouth.
If your club isn’t yet using Hedgehogs, mention them to your professional, head greenkeeper, or course committee - you can even give them a copy of this report which goes into the benefits across the board of a Hedgehog Wheel Policy.
Download the Hedgehog Viability Report here.
When your introduction results in a first order, we’ll even send you a free gift as a thank-you.
Technical Details
Q. How do Hedgehogs protect the course?
Traditional flat trolley wheels compact the turf, especially around greens and tees, leading to “compaction and smearing.”
The patented Hedgehog stud design reduces surface contact from around 6–7 square inches (for standard wheels) to only 1–2 square inches — dramatically cutting compaction and improving traction.
That’s why your trolley feels lighter and easier to pull — you’re gliding on studs rather than dragging against the ground’s surface tension.