For the first 55 years I always walked unless I was playing at a resort or in the 4 winter months at our Club in the Desert, where riding is required. Four years ago I had my first knee replacement (the preceeding year of limping around the course with a bone-on-bone knee was not fun) and following rehab I started walking again. Wore out the other knee and then 2 years ago replaced it, as well.
I'll be 72 in 2 months, played 122 times last year and have a 7.4 Index as of the moment.
If you know anyone who has had knee replacement surgery, they have probably told you that the week following surgery is godawful miserable. The 2nd week is just miserable and the 3rd-4th weeks are slightly better, horrible. BUT, following 4-5 months of faithful rehab, you are pretty much almost good as new.
HOWEVER, just before going into the O.R. prior to the 2nd replacement my doctor asked me if I had any final questions. I said Yes. "Do these wear out?"
He said YES. Depending upon use, they should last 10 - 20 years before needing to come out and have new hardware reinstalled!!!
That's it! I now ONLY ride, even though I can easily walk the 18 holes every day. I plan to outlive my artificial knees.
For what it's worth, sometimes after a heavy rainstorm and we are restricted to cartpaths, according to my Apple Watch I walk about 7,500 steps over the 18 holds of going back & forth to the cart. On such days, I leave my cart at the clubhouse and walk the full 18for about 10,000 steps. A round fully using the golf cart clocks about 3,500 steps.