Walking, Riding and your Handicap

Does it affect your official handicap if you walk or ride?  My gut says no but I think maybe it should.  Wonder what the stats are for an average players scores, walking vs. riding?  Do most people score better when they ride? I'm  thinking of having my opponents should have to walk if I am walking or there possibly should be strokes given. Speaks to the Casey (can't remember the last name) case when he wanted to ride on tour because of his leg.  Whats anyone think??

For me there are both pros and cons.

When I am walking I have the time to relax and thinking about my next shot on the walk to my ball. When I am walking I can tell how hard the ground is, things I don't see because I'm taking a look at the scenery. However; when I am walking - I don't use a pull/push cart - and the bag eventually starts to make my back tighten up which effects my swing tremendously by hole 14-15.

When I am riding, I do not get the fatigue that comes with carrying my bag around. The cart lets me have my cell phone for my golf GPS to sit in the little holder and I can get a good reading without the hassle of bringing in and putting away my phone. Some of the cons of riding, for me, are that I do not have the time to focus on my next shot and that I feel rushed because everyone is speeding along.

These are the reasons I like golfing with my dad. I can walk and let him drive my bag around and I have a place to sit in between holes.

if your capable at all , for your own good, you should walk. you dont need to carry. pull carts are the perfect compromise. i tell everyone i meet... 'its a short trip from riding one of those carts around the golf course , to riding one of them around wal-mart. and i dont want to be one of THOSE  people. " as far as a pacing issue, any real tourny is gonna take 4.5 hrs. when slow playing casually you should adjust your game accordingly. i dont even walk up to my ball until im ready to start my shot routine, that way, every shot is the same from the routine pt of view. im a 5 handicap and play 5 days a  week.          on a side note, im emberassed to live in a state that rewards obesity with handicap plates. texas. where fat gets you better parking. long live neengland sensibility

What about trying to get strokes from your "riding" opponent?  I think they have an advantage by riding that should be compensated for by x number of strokes.  I don't know how many that is but what do you think of the concept?

I think it's nonsense, but don't let that stop your unwavering train of thought.

I think that riding does help your scores because you arent as fatigued from walking.  Its much the same as using a push/pull cart instead of carrying your clubs.

Right now, I play better when I ride, but I am working on that. I don't consider my self obese for my height, but I am about 30 over and out of shape. I walked 9 twice last week and really enjoyed it but got tired. I plan to keep doing that a couple times a week and work up to 18. In the summer heat though, it would have to be early morning or late afternoon. I am carrying right now and using about a half set. When I first started as a kid, I had a pull cart, but can't seem to get in to that right now. It does have advantages, I could carry a full set and other fluff and food/water, but I don't like the feel as much.  Honestly, if I could get a caddy for the same price of a cart, I might walk all the time. Most of my fatigue comes from dealing with the equipment, the walk itself is not that bad.

I used to walk exclusively, now I ride exclusively.  My handicap still stays within the same range it has for the last 20 years.  When I walked I'd have sworn that riding was detrimental to one's score.  That proves to be an untruth.  I reality, it's just what you are used to doing.  It's just as easy to control your pace when riding as it is when walking.  Just don't drive to your ball immediately if you aren't going to be hitting right away.  Or drive to it, sort of get your plan in mind, then back off until it's time to play, then approach, and follow your routine.  It's really no different from walking except that you don't get as tired on the back 9.

I prefer to walk, and often play better when I do.  Carts are great for hilly or expansive courses, but can often be distracting for quite a few reasons.  Walking provides solitude, and the opportunity to think about your next shot and consider options as your approach your ball.

walking is the way I go. helps me relax. I can walk and think of my next shot. when I do ride, I feel rushed and don't play like I would if I had some time between shots. riding can also upset you since you will get to your next shot within a few seconds and have to wait there for the people to get off the green or whatever. I used to ride all the time when I worked at a golf course since it was free. but, now I walk and love it. much better for me.

I play so much better when I walk.  I think its because I don't feel as rushed and I can cool off after a bad shot and my body kind of forgets the "bad shot". Plus it is so much more enjoyable to walk that is how the game started and I like to keep it that way.  I personally hate it when I see young guys like myself (21) or those who are capable ride and complain if they have to walk.  Plus I hate hearing the carts rev up on the next fairway over when I'm trying to hit especially if the driver is bad and there is a lot of stopping and starting.  Walking also allows me to warm up faster and I am usually warm by the 3rd hole when compared to riding it is usually the 7th.

Is this a joke? People in carts getting strokes added? Come on.

Maybe the people walking should ride a cart if they care that much.

If you are fatigued after walking 18 holes enough to really damage your round, that is your own fault. Get fit, or ride. Don't punish people riding carts because they choose to.

That said, walking/riding doesn't make a difference to my rounds, not that I have noticed. If it did effect it, it may be 2 shots, which isn't enough to notice for an 11 handicap....let alone a scratch

I third these sentiments.  I like the general feeling of strolling through the course, and I also like the time to think about my shot, and I feel like I'm sort of more in tune with the course when I'm walking.  And I mostly play courses that aren't wide open.  Riding up to my ball and waiting 3-5 minutes for the space in front to clear really kills my rhythm.  If I need to spend five minutes between shots, I feel I keep my rhythm better spending 20 seconds packing my club and maybe tee, then a few minutes walking and thinking about my shot, then getting to the ball and assessing lie and exact approach angle and whatnot, then just taking that last minute before it's clear to take a few extra practice or just loosening up swings.

Riding in a cart is nothing like walking with a push/pull cart.  You may be more fatigued if you carry your clubs, but walking 5 miles under any circumstance is not the same as riding 5 miles. Especially the last 3-4 holes.

I find my highest scores are always when I'm forced to ride (my younger brother (and I'm only 31) refuses to walk).  I just can't quite get my head in the game when I'm riding, everything just feels far too rushed.  Like most of the others have mentioned, I use the time I'm walking to think about my next shot and just relax and enjoy the great outdoors.

There's only 2 courses I play where I will only ride, one is a course with massive hikes between long holes, the other is so hilly I'm surprised grass is able to grow.

I play best when I walk rather than ride.  I'm more relaxed and I can think about my next shot as I'm approaching my ball.  Plus, I don't have to ride with someone who might go on and on about their last shot or have to go driving all over getting to their errant shots.

I walk about 85% of the time, but I don't see a problem with riding once in a while.  I'm 25, I would feel pathetic if I walked all the time.  I usually only play 9 holes at a time so when I go 18 I usually take a cart(for the sake of time).  I don't have all day and courses around here usually aren't too crowded, so taking a cart allows me to squeeze in a full 18 after work on occasion....