Brainwashing by golf courses

**uttexas** · December 17, 2008

I'm sure that this has been brought up before, but here goes:
We are being brainwashed by golf courses to depend on golf carts. I used to use golf carts very infrequently (+100*f, constant drizzle, cold + wind), but I have been conditioned to think that using a golf cart is OK. And it's not.

A PGA golf professional would be DQd if they played a round using a motorized cart. I was once under the impression that you could not post a score for your handicap if you used a cart (found out I was wrong on this)
I understand that there are exceptions, and golf carts allow people to play golf who couldn't without one.

There are now courses that are cart only on weekends or cart 100% of the time. That's right, walking 18 holes is banned at some courses. There are courses in the Hill Country of Texas that are set up to make walking 18 holes near impossible.

Certainly, golf carts may speed up play and some may argue improve course conditions. But I believe, the primary reason cart use is encouraged is financial. There is the cost of renting a cart. Now there is a bag drop cart boy. Drink holders in the cart enable more beverage purchases. Courses have sneakily installed GPS units in carts to give cart users an advantage over the walking golfer. The golf course owners have taken away one of the deepest bonds in golf, the golfer and his caddy.

Enough is enough. We should declare June 1st as walk only day. No motorized golf carts rented or used on June 1st (unless needed for health reasons). Ramifications of June 1st national walking day. Those "cart only" courses will have fewer customers, beverage sales down, increased renting of push/pull carts, decreased sales of super heavy pro bag.

Sincerely,

uttexas

**RocktimusPryme** · December 17, 2008

My stance on carts is this (health issues aside)

1. If they course is busy. Meaning most of the groups are 3 or 4 somes. You should be required to walk. Walking in foursomes helps with pace of play so much, because everyone can approch their shot individuallly. You dont have to go find your partners ball wait for him to hit and then go find yours. Not only that but even if the group ahead is slow, by the time you walk to your ball you shouldnt have long to wait.

2. If the course is cartpath only you should be required to walk. Period. Either make people walk, or let them drive on the holes.

3. If the course isnt busy, and a single or a twosome can fly around in seperate carts uninhibited by groups in front of them. by all means take a cart.

I enjoy walking, or at least having the choice to walk. Which you dont out here (see my signature) But there are definetely times when I would prefer to ride

Such as this morning Its cold so there was nobody on the courses here will around 10am. I hit the course at 8am, and was back in bed by 1030am. I was a single with nobody in front of me and a cart so I flew around. But If Im in a foursome on a normal day with a foursome in front of me. I think everybody should walk.

Edit: as an added note there are a few albeit not many courses Ive played where I simply wouldnt walk, as it would make the round impossible to enjoy. Wolf Creek in Mequite comes to mind.

zubady · December 17, 2008

Went to a local muni about a year ago, early Sunday morning. Was told I had to rent a cart or wait until after noon or I could not play. I left. Could not get ahold of the course manager for like a month. Had to go to the mayor of the city to get a response. Answer: the course golf committee, made up of "avid" golfers made the rule. This course is very flat and very short. Course is financially insolvent and must get a supplement to its budget from other city agencies to remain open. I told both the mayor and the course manager that adopting a rule that is counter to the basic element of a sport is wrong. The referred back to those avid golfers who know better. The same misinformed golfers who think carts speed up play. That's a whole other issue with many courses. The course groupies who get into the business of the course and drive away customers. The course treats them differently because they are viewed as loyal customers, where they are driving away a potentially wider base of players. It is incredible to watch.

**PiKapp23** · December 17, 2008

I admit I usually ride, partially for health (I have bad knees and an arthritic foot) and partially just because I like it. For me a cart makes the round more fun becaue it slows the pace down. Walking always throws my tempo off. I will walk on flat courses, but still use a pull cart.

Obviously courses require carts for financial reasons. They are constantly looking for any sort of revenue they can get (hence why some courses do not allow pull/push carts). As for pace of play being improved, I'm not so sure. It depends on how the course is laid out and the player. Further, I do not see how they could improve course conditions. I almost think carts may end up costing courses as much as they earn because of people taking them places they shouldn't, not to mention the cost of maintaining cart paths.

I have read recently where some courses are considering going to 1 person carts to help speed up play (so everyone can go straight to their ball). I do think this would improve pace on most courses, but I think courses would have to charge even more for them.

One other note on the cart thing as 'uttexas' alluded to. Many courses are now being designed and routed in such a way that carts are almost required. A couple of my regular courses have very long walks between greens and tee boxes, not to mention very steep slopes and ravines that require long walks to get around them. I'm talking up to 1/4 mile or more for a couple holes between those courses, and many other courses are almost as bad. The way some courses are laid out, if you did walk the round would take 7 hours because of long walks and people having to wait so long for players to get to their ball (not to mention when they do get to it they are so tired they may not be able to hit it).

**traviswise** · December 17, 2008

My CC doesn't require carts and I would say 70% of the members walk it. If I do ride and I have a partner I make them get a seperate cart so they can go find their ball at the same time b/c that is wasteful. If they charge me $16/for 18 and him $16/for 18 then we should both get a cart.

**Ben** · December 17, 2008

Enough is enough. We should declare June 1st as walk only day. No motorized golf carts rented or used on June 1st (unless needed for health reasons). Ramifications of June 1st national walking day. Those "cart only" courses will have fewer customers, beverage sales down, increased renting of push/pull carts, decreased sales of super heavy pro bag.

I like the idea of a "walk only day". Not so much to stick it to these courses. But just an eye-opener for those who normally ride so they may find out just how not so difficult it may be to walk their normal course. We have guys in their late 60s at my club that walk everyday, and our course is mildly hilly. I think this would be a good idea to de-lazify Americans.

There certainly are courses out there that pose a hard time for a walker, intentionally or not. Mostly walks between greens to tees. And you are right, it is bogus.

**nevets88** · December 17, 2008

uttexas, I wish something could be done on the carts only policies and mindset as well. It would be nice to able to walk on courses like Barton Creek.. I've never played there, but I assume they don't allow walking. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

**wachesawgolfer** · December 17, 2008

Unfortunately, so many newer courses are much too long between holes to allow walking. Older courses built when everyone walked, you stepped off a green and the next tee was right there. I think courses of the future should be built so players can walk if they want to. You would never finish walking half a mile to the next tee after each hole.

**smith5606** · December 17, 2008

The idea that walking slows down play is a real non-starter. My buddy and I played last Friday on a 7000+ yd., residential muni with several long walks between green and tee. I am in my late 50's with an artificial knee and neuropathy in my feet. Finished in less than 3.5 hours (no joke). Would have finished quicker but the rough was ferocious.

Cart golf is symptomatic of deeper problems with the sport. I understand that there are many people whose physical condition precludes them from walking. That said, this doesn't include the healthy 20-40 somethings that I see, feet proped up, drinking a beer, parking the stupid cart 10 feet from the green, and trampling the roughs down. This is what golf has evolved into? No wonder people say that golfers aren't athletes.

Charge me more if you have to. I'd willingly pay more to play a course designed for golfers - not sluggards. Bandon Dunes can survive without the infernal things. Other premium courses could also.

**denver_nuggs_15** · December 17, 2008

I understand why people don't want to walk. They're lazy or have health problems. That's fine with me.
Here's where I'm lost: Everyone wants to be like the pros. They play pro equipment, dress like pros, want to learn from professionals' teachers (Pelz, etc.), and, finally, want to be as good as the pros. Ok. So why not walk LIKE THE PROS? They're the best in the world and people try to copy them (equipment, swing, etc.) but don't want to walk like they do. Go figure.

newtothegame · December 17, 2008

I just started golfing in July of this year and I really do prefer to walk. When I started I was using a borrowed cart bag from my fiances uncle. I choose to walk everytime.....unless it's cold out. Last sunday I played and it was 40 degrees and windy. We have cart covers and heaters for the winter. It's nice then. I did read somewhere (I believe golf digest) that a group from sweden did a study about golfers who walked. The generally live an average of 5 yrs more than people who ride. I think this bodes well for me then

**Ben** · December 17, 2008

The idea that walking slows down play is a real non-starter. My buddy and I played last Friday on a 7000+ yd., residential muni with several long walks between green and tee. I am in my late 50's with an artificial knee and neuropathy in my feet. Finished in less than 3.5 hours (no joke). Would have finished quicker but the rough was ferocious.

Dang! That is something else. Keep it up. Myself being 32 now, It's guys like you and Vijay and Kenny Perry that give me inspiration and hope for a long and successful career in golf.

Cart golf is symptomatic of deeper problems with the sport. I understand that there are many people whose physical condition precludes them from walking. That said, this doesn't include the healthy 20-40 somethings that I see, feet proped up, drinking a beer, parking the stupid cart 10 feet from the green, and trampling the roughs down. This is what golf has evolved into? No wonder people say that golfers aren't athletes.

Interesting points. Cart golf is kinda pathetic when you put it into those terms. I do admit that I use carts. But I also play a course that is usually wide open when I play. My golf nemesis and I take a cart so we can battle on as many holes as possible in a day. If we know we're only getting in 18, we'll walk.

**uttexas** · December 18, 2008

uttexas, I wish something could be done on the carts only policies and mindset as well. It would be nice to able to walk on courses like Barton Creek.. I've never played there, but I assume they don't allow walking. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Ahhh, you bring up something sinister that irks me to the extreme. There are golf courses that demand motorized carts 100% with the exception being that if there is a Nationwide/Canadian tour/Futures tour event, the players walk the course with their caddy. This is outright discrimination.

June 1st International walking day.

**smith5606** · December 18, 2008

I have joked that the next big thing may be a golf cart rental business. It would consist of a series of asphalt paths winding through a large field. People could rent carts and spend three or four hours driving them randomly around to their hearts content. There would be beer stops and outhouses along the way. The beer stops would be "manned" by off-duty Hooters waitresses and the outhouses would have pay toilettes. Halfway through, there would be a hot dog stand and maybe a station to recharge cell phones. People could tell themselves that they had a wonderful day, the beer girls would get great tips, and the best tee-times on our golf courses wouldn't be wasted on people who don't really care whether they play or not.

**uttexas** · December 18, 2008

PS, just called Barton Creek, they allow walking (but don't recommend it) at all their courses. The Palmer Course (off site) is easiest to walk. Of the onsite courses, The Crenshaw course is easiest to walk.

June 1st International Walking Day (IWD)

**nevets88** · December 18, 2008

Ah, so BC allows walking. Thanks for the heads up.

That brings up another thing that irks me.

So you get to walk on a course where everyone dang else is taking a cart. Alot of the times you are catching up to people between holes because of the distance from green to tee. Feh!

Also, some people just can't comprehend you like walking and keep insisting you hop on. Being the agreeable person I am and not wanting to offend, I jump on and I'm in a dang cart. Not the end of the world, but I just want to walk.

I also think many people can't comprehend how physically fit people can be. Walking a hilly 18 on a hot day is hard, but try running 40 miles a week (marathoners run twice that) or cycling a hard 100 miles back to back days. Now that is hard work.

**MiniMoe** · December 18, 2008

I played a US Open qualifier a few years ago at Spanish Oaks CC near Austin, Tx. and friend of mine caddied for me. After the round he almost kicked my arse because of the hills valleys. Literally when playing an uphill par 4, from the tee, we walked down hill through a valley and back up just to get the the fairway. Pace of play guidelines for walking was over 4 1/2 hrs - and that gave us very little time to actually hit the ball. Hardest walking course I have ever been on. On that course, carts are almost a must.

**MiniMoe** · December 18, 2008

on a different note. Many of the guys that like to ride do so because golf is their escape from life for 5 hrs. Like a little vacation. I don't know about you, but when I'm on vacation, I do not want to exercise. I want to hang around with my friends, have some adult beverages, and goof off a little bit.

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Brainwashing by golf courses

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