Walking vs Riding

[Wicki]

I walk majority of my rounds.  Weather and time of day I am getting out on the course.  I play on a course that is actually easier to carry than use a push cart.  Prefer choice is walking me.  I even hate it when I have to ride for tournaments and my course!

[DymnDog]

Walking gives me

1.) More time to think about my next shot.

2.) An opportunity to talk to myself to keep my head in the game.

3.) More flexibility in my back and hips. I get achy and tight sooner when I use a cart. 

[Titleist87]

I can walk 9 if on a level course. Beyond that, I need to ride - health issues at 52. Sucks getting old. But if I can still play at 87, like my dad, I'm all for it.

[Randall Robbins]

After 2 hip replacements and disc surgery on my back, can't walk a course, but I will still walk to my ball wile a cart partner is hitting to get into a feel for the shot

[Bosox04]

I prefer walking, but am getting older, 68, and the heat really bothers me. Combined with the smoke from the Canadian fires, and it becomes a dangerous situation. I’m going to be riding until conditions improve.

[Jim N]

I much prefer walking with a push cart, both to get exercise and because I find I have better rhythm that way. I can't really carry my bags for a round anymore as it wears me out too much and screws up my back.

I hate having to grab a few clubs to deal with shots that have gone seriously astray, as invariably once I get to my ball I've found that I still don't have the right option. There are a couple of courses I play occasionally where I'll generally take a cart, simply because they are set up with a gap of a half mile or so between one green and the next tee box in at least one spot on the course.

FYI, I'm an extremely active 65 year old, and would like to keep it that way.

Edited July 19, 2023 by Jim N

[MadisonGolfbum]

Probably walk 80% of the time. Some events or courses require cart use, and sometimes in AZ it’s just too hot to walk, but otherwise I walk and use a push cart.


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[tdroma98]

Love walking anytime of the year.  I joined a club specifically because they allowed walking and the course was walking friendly.  There are some Florida courses which are a bit tough to walk, because of the distances between holes, going through a subdivision.  
Years ago I belonged to a men's league and I was the only one walking.  By the end of our league season we had 4 guys were "The Walkers".  Fun and good way to clear the head between shots, not to mention the exercise! 

Forgot to add - have the Bagoy Quad XL push cart.  Like the 4 wheels and having a brake system. Holds the bag nice.  

Edited July 19, 2023 by tdroma98

[gajrsports]

Always walking if someone is carrying my bag.  If not cart is a path of least resistance.

[vandyland]

Ah yes, the golf cart, pros and cons. Full disclosure, I am 39 years old and relatively fit outside of a surgically re-built ankle and I will only ride in a cart if I am required to do so, the course is built with long walks between holes (disconnected residential layouts is what I typically think of) or if the temperature is above 100 degrees. 

Pros:
Great if you have your kids with you and want to play a few quick holes before sunset
Allows people who are physically unable to walk 18 holes to still enjoy the game
Allow courses to be built into mountains with huge elevation changes and large distances between holes
Good to have if it starts pouring down rain so you can find shelter quickly
As a single you can probably play 18 hours in 1 hr and 30 minutes if no one is in front of you

Cons (excuse the rants):
Has steadily ruined walking culture at many clubs and courses, especially in the US
Allows golf bros to bring 24 beers onto a golf course which is rarely additive to anyone else's experience outside of the drunkards
Makes it nearly impossible to truly take in a great course and enjoyable round as you speed from shot to shot
In groups of 4, unless all golfers are really really good, it seems to rarely boost pace of play
Hurts the overall conditioning of many golf courses (in my opinion)
Makes golf more of a leisure activity than a "sport" if you aren't putting in the 3-5 mile walk
 

[vandyland]

2 hours ago, DGOhacker said:

Few years ago I converted a fat bike (now a fat e-bike) into my golf rig using Divnik golf bag carrier. 

Wow, I am surprised more people haven't liked/commented on this! Cool workaround. Did you have to ask permission at the course? Did they seem to care at all? 

[Richard Fahrney]

I walk my hilly course in north Georgia 4-5 days a week. That is 6.8 miles and a good cardio workout. If I hit a bad shot I walk off my attitude and get back to playing. Americans need to get off their fat a$$ and exercise more. We have over 650K heart attack deaths every year and 800k stroke deaths and physical damage to their bodies. Walk and play golf to live longer. 

[TitleistMike]

The When I was really young....in my 20s and before, my golf friends and I would laugh mock scorn cart people.....we would walk 18 27 36 in summer heat.

 

Now, in my 60s, in cooler weather I use a push cart. It is the right way to play.

 

Days like this week, 95 and up, probably play back to back days, I am using the riding cart.

 

A man has got to know his limitations  and, any course it is cart path only I might as well walk. 

[DGOhacker]

@vandyland

Regarding the bike.  Yes, before doing this I asked the course if it was OK.  They said treat it like a cart, don't ride up next to the greens, etc.  The last couple years, since it's an e-bike, I have to pay an annual cart path fee similar to what homeowners with their own cart would pay.  I don't have an issue with it since I probably save that much or more not using my car to go back and forth to the course.  

https://divnick.com/secure/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=78

This is where we got the bag carriers.  It acts as a kick stand when off the bike.  I find it best to use a smaller lightweight carry bag, as opposed to a bigger heavier cart bag.

[Richard Fahrney]

18 minutes ago, TitleistMike said:

The When I was really young....in my 20s and before, my golf friends and I would laugh mock scorn cart people.....we would walk 18 27 36 in summer heat.

 

Now, in my 60s, in cooler weather I use a push cart. It is the right way to play.

 

Days like this week, 95 and up, probably play back to back days, I am using the riding cart.

 

A man has got to know his limitations  and, any course it is cart path only I might as well walk. 

 

[Richard Fahrney]

I’m 73. Never too late to start. I don’t shame people who ride carts. I just see us getting fatter and sicker. Do it for your health. 

[tdc1]

In season in Michigan (April - October) I much prefer to walk with my push cart.  On days that are 85º+ when I start my round (and as a concession to my wife), I'll ride.  Ditto for unfamiliar courses and course that require riding.  Out of season (November - March) I walk with a small carry bag (1/2 set of clubs). 

As many others have said, walking or riding is a personal choice.  You do you.

[DoubleBogie33]

I have no problem with riders, but I prefer to walk.  Helps me calm my nerves and access my upcoming shot.  

[HotIce]

Walking 18 holes in 100 degree temperature can get you. Carry a lot of water. I started a round yesterday and was riding in a cart. Because of the 90 degree cut-in rule for driving the cart, I did a lot of walking. I started the round weighing 197, and by the time I finished I lost 6lbs. Take plenty of water and push cart if necessary. I am sure a lot will henge on how much shade/ trees are around - the course I played had  no shade.

[T McKinnon]

I love playing golf and love the walking aspect of playing/walking the green fairways amongst the trees.  My experience playing golf and scoring is better while walking vs riding.  However, some courses and situations require a cart.  Thus, sometimes I will ride a cart but 90% of the time I will walk.

[Bracedr]

I am definitely a walker, but will hop in a cart occasionally to be social or if it’s so hot and humid that walking is dangerous. Last year I walked on a particularly hot and humid day and got so dehydrated that I nearly passed out and had to go to an urgent care center for 2 bags of fluids. My bad, but I am now even more careful to start drinking water an hour before a round and at every opportunity during the round. I am also a calorie counter and appreciate being able to have a beer or two or a nice meal guilt-free. 

[Play18]

I am 57 years old and love to walk and carry my bag, but I will ride a cart if the weather is too hot. I'm lucky to play golf without physical limitations and not exhausted after the round. I bought a Motocaddy for my wife, and she loves it. I tried the Motocaddy, my BagBoy Quad XL, but I like carrying my bag from the practice area to the first tee without cart restrictions. If you enjoy walking and carrying your bag or using a push cart, keep doing it until you can't do it. It's great exercise, too. 

Golfers who ride are fine. But I don't understand the need for a big staff or 14-way bag with club covers. They are too heavy to carry from the car to the golf course.  

[EMacK1961]

I prefer to not use a cart. I walk whenever possible. Walking gives me an opportunity to "walk off" any bad shots, of which there are many, lol. I find that the pace of cart golf is just too fast and is disjointing to me. I have never really played my best while in a cart. 

The other reason I walk is physical. After 16 spinal surgeries, I find that pushing a cart is less painful in the long run to that of getting in and out of a tight golf cart. The twisting of getting in and out drives me crazy. Yes, I know, the golf shot involves twisting but it is around a single axis as opposed to a compound movement of bending/twisting into a cart all day.

[DrRob1963]

To misquote the great philosopher, René Descartes: "I golf, therefore I walk"!

Walking helps my fitness & wellbeing, my mental health, keeps my golf costs down, as well as keeping my golf scores down! I simply score better with a nice walk - looking at the lie of the land & green as well as the upcoming shot as I walk to my ball. I calm down better after a poor shot, and that walk helps me psyche up for the next shot.

[BruceBruce3215]

Walking for me is the way to go having your clubs right by you is important for me. Walking just 9 is good exercise. I also play with my kids 6 and 8 yrs old having them walk is very important I feel that they will get accustomed to the cart and want it every time and be lazy .

[rdocherty]

I used to prefer walking, but I bought a golf pass this summer that was <$300 for unlimited golf at 4 courses. The catch is you have to pay for the cart every round ($16/18 holes). Still a great deal and it’s already paid back. Because of this I’ve been taking a cart, and also I’m usually going early in the morning to get a quick 2 hour 18 round in before work. 
 

I walked the other day for the 2nd time all year and definitely feel sore from it. I did feel like I played a little better since I was not in a rush. 

[FallenSaber]

On 7/18/2023 at 8:46 AM, 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'm a walker most of the time. I use to be afraid of walking a course. I thought you'd have to be a very good golfer to walk a course, however, I have found that it is not necessary. I enjoy walking a course though I do live in San Diego and the course I most frequent is Torrey Pines North. I enjoy the exercise and the ability to talk to people. I've been going on as a single, (something I was also afraid to do until recent thinking only really good golfers played as a single) and found that it makes interacting with those around you easier. If you're riding, you tend to be limited to the person in the cart with you, I'd someone is riding with you.

[MattNJGolfer]

I don't have a push cart. I prefer to walk flatter courses. I'm also a fast player, so I will walk on weekends or holidays because it gives time for groups to clear ahead of you. If a cart is included in the green's fee, I'll take my coffee cup and cigar holders thank you very much!

[Senior Champ]

I definitely walk unless it's a scramble tournament where I need to retrieve the non-selected ball and to speed up play. Walking allows me to maintain my pace of play, warm me up during the cold winter/cooler mornings, loosens up my muscles and plan my next club selection/trajectory/landing spot. If it warm, I use a sun reflecting umbrella. I got a battery powered MGI Navigor AT 3 years ago and that has been a game changer! I put everything in a staff bag to I'm prepared for every weather condition, drinks, practice balls, etc. It's like having a caddy and it can pull me up steep hills so I'm never tired. Walking has definitely got me into shape, its more enjoyable and has save me money not renting a cart.

Senior Champ

[Skymark]

In my 40s and a military type (but not the type with broken knees). I enjoy using a Push cart and walking when I play. I’m faster (especially if it’s cart path only) when I walk, but I end up with 6.5-7.5 miles depending on the course and how bad I am that day. 

Either way I couldn’t stand much more than 18, but for now I only get a cart if I’m taking my kids out or if it’s a scramble