Walking vs Riding

[Dibb]

I'd like to get people's opinions on walking vs riding. This is obviously a broad topic, considering there are a lot of factors like weather, walking ability, etc. Just wanted to see everyone's take on it. I play with a Saturday group where i would say 80% of the people walk with a push cart, and I think most of them do it for exercise given their age and life style outside the course. But being a younger member of the group and living in South Texas, I don't find it enjoyable to walk in 100* weather especially if I'm carrying my bag. All thoughts are much appreciated!

[Nolan220]

4 minutes ago, Dibb said:

I'd like to get people's opinions on walking vs riding. This is obviously a broad topic, considering there are a lot of factors like weather, walking ability, etc. Just wanted to see everyone's take on it. I play with a Saturday group where i would say 80% of the people walk with a push cart, and I think most of them do it for exercise given their age and life style outside the course. But being a younger member of the group and living in South Texas, I don't find it enjoyable to walk in 100* weather especially if I'm carrying my bag. All thoughts are much appreciated!

I like and play better when I use my push cart but I walked last Friday and it was so hot and humid I dead for the rest of the weekend 

[cnosil]

12 minutes ago, Dibb said:

I'd like to get people's opinions on walking vs riding.

Pretty polarizing topic and lots of strong opinions.  Here’s a line to an old thread that got restarted a couple of months ago; should give you some insight into what people think.   There is even division on walking with a cart vs carrying the bag  

 

 

 

[cksurfdude]

Thx @cnosil for linking to that thread.

So, dedicated walker here. I believe golf is meant to be a walking game - excepting those, of course, who are physically unable to walk the course.

For sun and hot temps - a golf or even a solar shade umbrella works great! I've even seen battery powered fans clipped to the push cart handlebar

[Hobert]

I strongly prefer walking, carrying (Sun Mountain 2.5+) or pushing (BagBoy Nitron). Walked 9 last Friday afternoon. Hot and extremely humid, but was still glad I walked.

[David Leighton Reid]

I have enjoyed walking for many years.  I recently purchased an Alphard Golf V2 Club Booster and converted my Caddytek push cart into a self-propelled model, which has made walking easier.  

[Bossfan]

I used to love walking. Unfortunately health has changed that. It’s nice golf has carts so I can still play.

[GaDawg]

I walk with a push cart except when it’s above 90 and very high humidity. Lately it’s just been miserable for a 65 yr old to walk. 

[Hook DeLoft]

3 hours ago, Bossfan said:

I used to love walking. Unfortunately health has changed that. It’s nice golf has carts so I can still play.

Same here.  If you are able, walking is the way to go.

[russtopherb]

I prefer to walk and have a push cart. There is one course I play a lot where a cart is the better way due to how hilly and spread out the course is. I can walk 9 there but 18 pretty much calls for a cart. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

13 hours ago, Dibb said:

I'd like to get people's opinions on walking vs riding. This is obviously a broad topic, considering there are a lot of factors like weather, walking ability, etc. Just wanted to see everyone's take on it. I play with a Saturday group where i would say 80% of the people walk with a push cart, and I think most of them do it for exercise given their age and life style outside the course. But being a younger member of the group and living in South Texas, I don't find it enjoyable to walk in 100* weather especially if I'm carrying my bag. All thoughts are much appreciated!

I am all about walking through and through.

I enjoy the walk, I play better walking vs riding and for me it allows me to take a bit more in. Plan the shot as I am walking up to it. 

Riding to me feels more mechanical.. obviously there are courses back in Canada where you had to cart, but when given the option I am walking all day long regardless of temperature.

[berkeleybob]

I think it’s easier to walk in high temps if I’m living in a high temp place. I’ve seen younger folks walk and carry without any kind of shade in 40°C/104°F, and I’m impressed.

[Tallwood88]

I play better when I walk it. The pace play is better also when everyone in the group walks. But, at 66 now and not a small guy, when it gets hot and humid I'll take a cart. And I will pay an extra fee to be a single rider.  I like being in my own space when playing and the pace of play can be miserable if riding with someone who can't play "cart golf".

[Emag315]

17 hours ago, Dibb said:

I'd like to get people's opinions on walking vs riding. This is obviously a broad topic, considering there are a lot of factors like weather, walking ability, etc. Just wanted to see everyone's take on it. I play with a Saturday group where i would say 80% of the people walk with a push cart, and I think most of them do it for exercise given their age and life style outside the course. But being a younger member of the group and living in South Texas, I don't find it enjoyable to walk in 100* weather especially if I'm carrying my bag. All thoughts are much appreciated!

You CAN NOT worrying about what others are doing in your group. Golf is about playing your game from shot to shot so if you like riding then ride or if you want to walk then get to stepping

[Middler]

I like to walk with an electric cart, but I only walk once of the three times a week I play on Mondays with about half the guys walking. But I don’t walk if the temps are above 90F, so mostly I walk Sept thru May.

We travel on Wednesdays, and most of those courses aren’t suitable for walking - long distance between holes and/or terrain.

I play senior league on Fridays, although there are a few walkers it’s discouraged. Walking in a foursome with three guys in riding carts isn’t much fun.

Do what you want, not sure what other random strangers think matters. 

I am 69 yo, so I'm glad I'm still able to walk 18. More than half my cohorts can't or don't walk. And there's a 78 yo old in our group who walks with a push cart every round three times a week. His HI is lower than mine too. He's my idol...

[ChiefMikeOfficer]

I walk whenever possible. Just feels better to me - stay looser, play better, and get some exercise in the process. Exercise is also my excuse to take days off of work to play - somehow telling the wife "I'm going to use a vacation day and ride around in a cart" doesn't go over as well as "gonna walk 5 miles with 25lb on my back". I also don't buy the perception that you play faster in a cart - it's definitely true if you have a solo cart, but when paired up, it completely depends on cartner dynamic. 

I also carry. Always have. Not against the push carts, just haven't made that leap yet, and still feel good carrying the bag. 

[funkyjudge]

18 hours ago, Dibb said:

I'd like to get people's opinions on walking vs riding. This is obviously a broad topic, considering there are a lot of factors like weather, walking ability, etc. Just wanted to see everyone's take on it. I play with a Saturday group where i would say 80% of the people walk with a push cart, and I think most of them do it for exercise given their age and life style outside the course. But being a younger member of the group and living in South Texas, I don't find it enjoyable to walk in 100* weather especially if I'm carrying my bag. All thoughts are much appreciated!

I am 74 years old and walk when I play golf at least 90 to 95% of the time.  The only exceptions are when the temperature is above 95* F. with high humidity and a threat of thundershowers or if riding carts are mandatory at the golf course I am playing.  I enjoy my round and play better golf when I walk between shots and I also walk for the fitness benefits of doing so.

[oldguy819]

At 70 years old, I ride. But in my youth, I walked using a pull cart. The key to using a riding cart is "etiquette" and "speed".  NEVER drive up on a golfer who's addressing or hitting his ball. If you cartmate's ball is one side of the fairway opposite yours, Park in the middle and walk to both. Take 2 or 3 clubs if necessary if you're unsure of distance.  Learn to carry your yardage assistant.  This B.S. of sitting in the cart waiting for you mate to hit before driving 40 feet to yours because the range finder is in the cart or you're uncertain of distance.   Well.  You should be CRUCIFIED!  Strong language to be sure but with the chatter about "pace of play" It is only common sense. The beauty of a riding cart is 2 fold. 1. If you're next to each other where ever that may be, PERFECT. But if you're on both ends of the earth, Drop your mate at his ball (the one hitting first) then drive to yours meeting somewhere in the middle on the way to your next shots. 

Co-mon.  You can walk a little

[jolter1]

Since my late 50's, now 70, I have enjoyed the use of a cart. For me golf was never a means to get excercise, as I do a daily morning workout. What is really fun about using a cart is when I get a sunrise tee time during the week and I am a single. Gosh how much fun it is to play with a continuous rhythm and in under two hours.

[Darkgod87]

I’m a member of the push cart mafia. However here in AZ the hot days and certain course layouts definitely make me ride half the year. 

[Q22Golf]

I grew up playing and so walking. Because of the heat and other weather, I said I would never go back. I always thought cart would make it faster and in some ways I guess it does. But now as I get older, I am interested in walking again, for things like exercise and I can see how it may be quicker than a cart when the two in the cart aren’t playing “cart golf.” Ha. Soon I will be ditching my cart bag for a standing bag again and try it out! 

[BlackjackMWV]

I've always preferred walking and play bette when I walk but a few years ago had some medical issues wish required the use of a cart and my game went down hill fast.  I had surgery in the spring to correct the problem and have been getting back into walking and feel much better about my game, hitting in the 80s for the first time in years.  So yes, I prefer to walk and even carry sometimes.

[IceIce]

Golf is a walking game. Unless the golf course has ridiculous distances between the green and next tee box, a walking group should always speed up play.  I’ll add one caveat; if a foursome knows how to play in carts, they can at times play as quickly or a bit faster.  However so few people know how to play in carts. Walking gives a player the time to consider their next shot before getting to the ball and it’s also better for their health. 

[Jeremy26]

I don't play unless I ride. Walking a course never even crosses my mind. 

[MattF]

I'm a walker and have been for the last 5 years since I got my membership at my course. I push right now but am contemplating getting either a set of Alphard e-wheels or a Batcaddy. If I play elsewhere, depending on the course and who I'm playing with, I'll ride.

[Wmyoungiv]

11 hours ago, russtopherb said:

I prefer to walk and have a push cart. There is one course I play a lot where a cart is the better way due to how hilly and spread out the course is. I can walk 9 there but 18 pretty much calls for a cart. 

That’s really where it lands for me. From my design background, I hated carts and the result of them, cart paths. Just changes the visuals of the hole. From the play stand point, I think we hit on the slowness of carts with ready play not being completed by most cart golfers. I like to walk and carry for the “ruck” exercise. It also connects me more with the outside and gives me time to think. Now I have walked a course in Charleston that had such big transitions between holes, it was a lot. There were some holes that could fit another par 4 or 5 in between them.

[cojobro77]

As stated in your original post, depending on weather/temp/majority group vote/or how I am feeling that day determines whether I ride or walk. If the majority of the group I am golfing with wants to walk then I bring my push cart and same goes for riding. I actually enjoy walking, weather/temp permitting, and I find I shoot better given the time it takes to get to my next shot gives me time to think about how I want to play the next shot and also time to remedy a previous bad shot if applicable. Overall I'd have to say I'm 50/50 on the walk/ride preference.

[Punster46]

Walking 

I play 2-3 times per week with a group of retired guys.
The oldest is 79 the youngest around 65. We start at 7 a.m. They call us the Dewsweepers.

We all walk, and can usually play 18 holes in 3 1/4 to 3 3/4 hours

A couple of us have electric carts but the rest have push carts, one even carries his clubs.
 

[BigSissy]

Some slight arthritis in my back makes walking a must for me as it keeps my back muscles loose.  I play in Western Washington so heat and humidity are not as much of an issue as in other parts of the country.  I used to push a cart, then went to an electric cart, now am having a blast using an eBike.

Edited July 19, 2023 by BigSissy

[BobBC78]

I always walk when playing 9-holes and ride when playing 18-holes. Played 18 yesterday, with a cart, and when I checked the step counter on my Shot Scope X5 watch after the round was surprised that I had actual walked around 7,700 steps. Leaving aside  whether this result was completely accurate, clearly when riding, I still was a lot.