Best Phone Mount for a Golf Cart or Golf Buggy

Which golf cart phone mount is best?

There is no single base that is best for every cart. Start with the mounting point available on your vehicle:

On mobile: swipe across the table to compare every option.

For most privately owned ride-on golf carts, our overall recommendation is the permanent dash-mounted system below. It keeps the phone close to the dash, gives you excellent adjustment and avoids relying on an exposed rail being in exactly the right position.

Best permanent option: a drill-down golf cart dash mount

A drill-down RAM mount is the strongest and neatest option when you own the cart, have permission to modify it and can access a solid part of the dash. It is particularly useful for golf carts that regularly travel over uneven paths, grass or private property.

A complete B Size setup uses three parts:

1. Dash base: RAM Diamond Base with 1" B Size Ball (RAM-B-238U). This compact two-hole base is fixed directly to the dash.
2. Adjustable arm: use the RAM Short Double Socket Arm (RAM-B-201U-A) when the phone can sit close to the dash, or the RAM Standard Double Socket Arm (RAM-B-201U) when you need more reach. A shorter arm usually produces less movement over bumps.
3. Phone holder with a B Size ball: choose the correct holder for your phone and case using our Phone and Tablet Holder Finder.

Our preferred holder choices for a new installation

• For easy one-handed insertion: choose the RAM Quick-Grip™ XL Phone Holder with Ball (RAM-HOL-PD4-238AU) for most modern phones, or the smaller RAM Quick-Grip™ Phone Holder with Ball (RAM-HOL-PD3-238AU) for compact phones. Check the fit using the Holder Finder, especially when the phone has a case.
• For an open, highly adaptable holder: choose the standard RAM X-Grip® Phone Holder (RAM-HOL-UN7BU) or the large RAM X-Grip® Phone Holder (RAM-HOL-UN10BU).

Do not choose between the standard and large holders from screen size alone. The external height, width and thickness of the phone, including its case, determine which cradle fits. The Holder Finder checks those dimensions for you.

Best removable option: a no-drill Tough-Claw rail mount

If the cart is leased, shared, club-owned or you simply do not want to drill the dash, a RAM Tough-Claw is usually the most flexible alternative. It can clamp onto suitable round, square or irregularly shaped rails and can be removed without leaving holes.

For smaller rails, the simplest low-profile options are:

• RAM Tough-Claw with Standard X-Grip (RAM-HOL-UN7-400U)
• RAM Tough-Claw with Large X-Grip (RAM-HOL-UN10-400U)

These small Tough-Claw kits suit rails approximately 16 to 29 mm thick. Measure the rail at the exact point where the clamp will sit, especially if it is tapered, padded or irregularly shaped. For a larger rail, browse the RAM Tough-Claw range and select a base with the correct clamp range.

A direct low-profile Tough-Claw kit is compact and simple, but it offers less reach than a full ball-and-socket system. If the rail is set back from the driver, build a system with a separate Tough-Claw base, B Size arm and phone holder instead.

Best secure rail option: a U-bolt phone mount

A U-bolt mount is a good choice when the golf cart has a suitable round rail and you want a firmer, more permanent connection than a removable clamp. It is commonly used on steering columns, support bars and tubular frames, although the final location must not interfere with steering, controls, access or visibility.

The standard RAM U-bolt base fits round rails approximately 13 to 32 mm in diameter. Suitable complete kits include:

• RAM Quick-Grip™ XL Phone Mount with Short U-Bolt Arm (RAM-B-149Z-A-PD4), recommended for most modern phones
• RAM Quick-Grip™ Phone Mount with Short U-Bolt Arm (RAM-B-149Z-A-PD3), for smaller phones

Measure the outside diameter of the rail before ordering. A U-bolt is designed for a round tube and should not be forced onto a square or oversized post.

Best phone holder for a push buggy or electric golf trolley

A push buggy or electric golf trolley usually needs a compact handlebar mount rather than a dash system. The mount should stay close to the handle so it does not catch on the golf bag, scorecard holder or folding mechanism.

The RAM Tough-Strap is a strong low-profile option for round handles approximately 22 to 35 mm in diameter:

• RAM Tough-Strap with Standard X-Grip (RAP-460-UN7U)
• RAM Tough-Strap with Large X-Grip (RAP-460-UN10U)

Before fitting it, fold the trolley completely and check that the phone holder will not hit another part of the frame. Also make sure there is enough room to insert and remove the phone while the golf bag is loaded.

What about a suction cup phone mount?

A suction mount can work on a golf cart with a smooth glass windscreen, but it is not our first choice for an open cart with a plastic, curved, textured or frequently dusty windscreen. Suction performance depends on the surface, cleanliness and installation, and the mount must never obstruct the driver's view.

Where suitable, use a proper RAM Twist-Lock™ suction base rather than an adhesive pad designed for a road car dashboard. You can browse our phone mount range or use the Holder Finder to select the correct cradle first.

How to choose the right phone holder

The base attaches the mount to the cart. The holder is the part that actually secures your phone. Choosing the correct holder matters just as much as choosing the correct base.

RAM Quick-Grip

RAM Quick-Grip holders are a strong choice when you want fast, one-handed insertion and removal. The spring-loaded design holds the phone between the upper and lower supports without needing to pull apart four arms. The Quick-Grip XL (RAM-HOL-PD4U) is the best starting point for most modern phones, while the smaller Quick-Grip (RAM-HOL-PD3U) suits compact phones. Always check the phone's dimensions with its case fitted before choosing between them.

RAM X-Grip

X-Grip uses four spring-loaded arms and leaves much of the phone exposed. It is highly adaptable and works well when different people may use the same cart with different phones. Use the supplied tether whenever the cart will travel over rough ground or whenever extra security is required.

Check the phone with its case fitted

Measure or identify the phone in the same configuration you will use on the course. A thick case, wallet case, battery case, ring grip or attached accessory can change the required holder. For the most reliable match, enter the phone model and case details into our Phone and Tablet Holder Finder.

How to install a phone mount on a golf cart

1. Choose the position while seated. Sit in the normal driving position and place the phone where it is easy to glance at without blocking the path ahead, mirrors, controls, steering wheel or cup holders.
2. Check the full range of movement. Turn the steering wheel, operate every nearby control, open storage compartments and check any folding windscreen before fixing the mount.
3. Use the shortest practical arm. A short arm keeps the phone closer to the base and generally reduces vibration. Use a standard or longer arm only when extra reach is genuinely required.
4. Inspect behind the dash before drilling. Confirm that there are no wires, switches, batteries, structural members or other components behind the proposed holes.
5. Support thin panels properly. Use suitable corrosion-resistant fasteners, washers and locking nuts. A backing plate or large washers may be needed where the dash material is thin. Do not overtighten fasteners into plastic.
6. Tighten the arm securely. Position both ball joints, then tighten the arm knob firmly so the mount cannot rotate under normal use.
7. Test before driving normally. Fit the phone, shake the mount by hand and complete a slow test over the surfaces the cart will regularly encounter.
8. Use a tether where appropriate. The tether provides additional security on rough ground, steep sections or carts without a full enclosure.

Set your navigation, scorecard or music before moving. Do not interact with the phone while driving, and follow the rules of the golf course, workplace or property where the cart is being used.

Video guide: installing a phone mount on a golf cart dash

The video below demonstrates the basic drill-down installation using a RAM diamond base, B Size arm and X-Grip holder. The holder choices have expanded since the video was produced, but the mounting method remains useful for planning a permanent dash installation.

Need help choosing the complete setup?