Why are there so many push cart haters?

I recently asked a few golfing friends of mine about whether or not they have a push cart and what recomendations they had. I couldn't believe the ridicule and jokes made at my expense for wanting to get a new push cart.  Tons of comments questioning my manhood and making fun of me being an old guy (I'm 32).  I really don't understand this. I can think of a lot of reasons to use a push cart, and honestly I don't fully understand why anyone would EVER carry their bag.  For instance:

1. Pros don't carry their bags, why should I?
2. Carrying your bag is hard on your shoulders and back (which is very important for golf)
3. Carrying makes you watch the bag weight more closely and therefor have less stuff on you
4. Pushing allows you to walk (exercise)
5. Pushing is cheaper than paying for a cart
6. Pushing is more environmentally friendly than riding in a cart

I think the push cart companies should take a serious look at this bizarre attitude.  I mean if all these golfers some how think it's lame to carry, why not try and change the attitude.

For instance if I were ClicGear the front page of my site would say "5 Reasons not to carry your bag" and I'd point to some study (that I would pay for it necessary) that showed how people who don't carry, save strokes and have more energy.  I would also team up with the USGA and try and get carts allowed in all tournaments.  I mean the point of golf is to see who can get the ball into the hole fast enough, not to prove who can carry their bag around the course.

I don't honestly care what other people think about me, and I actually think it's nuts to carry your bag around if you don't have to.  However, I find it interesting that I seem to be in the minority.

So if you hate push carts, can you explain why?  Can you tell me why you believe I'm less of a golfer for using one?  Perhaps I don't fully understand the reasons behind those who don't like push carts.

I'm not familiar with anyone that shares the same attitude towards push carts as your friends.  I know guys that prefer to drive a cart than push one, but I don't know any that would rather carry their bag over pushing a cart.

I prefer pushing a cart to driving one because it's healthier and faster for me.  I also like having all my clubs right next to me in case I decide to switch clubs at the last minute.  Must be some macho thing I've not been exposed to yet.

I never seem to play golf with anyone who feels strongly either way when it comes to what other players do. They most likely don't really care whether someone walks and pushes, walks and pulls (pushing seems to hurt my back), walks and carries (the majority of my rounds), or rides, because in the end it's basically "walking" or "riding".

The average walker may make a personal decision to carry for a variety of reasons, but that's how they've always done it, and being able to go wherever you want on the course with all your gear, are probably the 2 main reasons. The walking part is the same whether pushing or carrying. As long as a player always plays the same way, any inherent advantages or disadvantages are likely accounted for in the handicap index.

There has been an informal study done on this - http://onpar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/a-little-scientific-research-for-all-those-19th-hole-debates/#more-2928

A real man has no need to play the Alpha Male game.

If someone questioned my manliness for using a push cart I'd probably ignore it to a point but then knowing how sarcastic I normally am I'd end up ripping into the guy with something akin to, "I was actually just thinking about what a hulking, ripped specimen of a man you are and how inferior I am next to you and your carry bag. I'm surprised you're not using clubs made of iron bars to hit lead balls around the course while gargling acid in your quest to be the alpha male of the golf course. Would you prefer me to take my girls clubs on my girly push cart and leave you to it, Spartacus?"

Fitness type guys will carry their own bag out of principle.     Old broke down mid life crisiser's like me are lucky to be walking the course at all, and it's the only exercise I get, so if I'm playing 9, I'll use a pull cart (18, I'll ride - the back can't take it).

Another issue - can't understand why push carts are WAY more popular than pull carts - myself, I've had both and much prefer pull carts (push carts are more stable, but feel like I'm pushing a baby carriage & am constantly lifting the front wheel to steer the thing).

Interesting.  I don't care for pull carts because I have to balance them and my arm is uncomfortable after a while pulling something from behind me.

Fitness guys carry their bags out of principle? What the. . . ?!?

Other than the OP's "friends" the only people being judged in this thread are those who choose to carry.

I see lots of seniors using trolleys, mostly to get excercise while golfing.  Just as many can no longer even walk 9 holes, so in my age group, just being able to push and walk is good and noone makes fun of a pusher.

I personally dont like push carts, and still carry.  I feel its a bit better excercise for me, doesnt bother my physically, and perhaps most of all, I can take shortcuts that I wouldnt be able to take with a push cart.  ie, can walk directly across a green or step over a low fence or ditch.  If I am lucky, eventually I will likely go to a push cart, but holding off as long as possible.

The reason is simple: pride.  Some people think that carts are for old people and it hurts their pride to not carry their bag.  I used to think the same way until I got smart and decided to stop straining my back my carrying my bag.

I don't hate them on principle, it's better than taking a golf cart, but I have had bad experiences with them. For one thing, I never had a problem carrying my bag unless I was sunburned. I think all healthy golfers should walk, and only use a push cart if they have trouble walking 18.

My buddy, who I love very much but annoys the crap out of me, no where more so than the golf course, uses one. First he tries to talk me into taking a cart, knowing I'm broke and this will double the cost of the round, also we agreed the week before not to use a cart, and regardless whether we're playing a 6500 yard course or 2700. After I vehemently refuse, he then busts out his beat up push cart, takes about half an hour to set up, and has to fix it every 3 strokes. He walks slowly as it is, and is out of shape, but we play even slower with the push cart since he always drags it through the mud and gets stuck on various obstacles. Also he keeps taking the cart onto greens and on some occasions into bunkers, despite my reminding him not to. And finally, he records his score on the cart's scorecard holder immediately, before vacating the green. He is an air counter as well, so it can take a moment.  Again, I love the bastard, get along great in other circumstances, but anything golf-related and I can't stand him lately.

I say that If you're too fat to walk 18, then walk 9. If you have injuries to the knee, etc, preventing you from walking, playing a full 18 holes probably won't help, cart or no. The bag weighs a few pounds, and is a bit bulky, but you control what goes into it.

i'm in good shape, and i have a push cart which i love using.  i wouldn't carry my clubs, if i forgot my push cart, i'd just drive.

Count me in the group that would rather walk 99% of the time. The exception would be social tournaments where there is a lotta drinky winkys going on, in which case I'll take a cart and a chauffeur if possible.

that sounds like my brother in laws. Double the price if I golf with them; first there is the 1-2 buckets of balls for warm up, then the cart. I suppose I could skip the buckets of balls but it seems anti-social. Maybe I should make a vow to hit the (free) putting green while they smack slice after slice into the stratosphere

As a bonus they are usually pretty wasted by the 10th so I got that going for me! That's when I start to amp up the betting! Although last time one of those f#@kers actually made an eagle from the fairway...as we say in Quebec, "Tabernack".

Here's another thought ... do the guys who carry, carry a full 14 club load ?      From what I've seen - carry bags are physically much smaller than most cart bags & I'm not sure if they're even designed to hold 14 clubs.    Even if I had a back that would allow me to carry my clubs, I wouldn't want to sacrifice carrying less than 14 clubs.      Curious, do the guys who carry, carry 14 clubs ?

The comments about your buddy had me laughing. Especially the 'air counter' comment. :-D Personally, I would never buy a pull cart because I feel they are too much of a pain to clean the wheels, break it down and put it into my trunk without trashing my car. Im pretty particular about keeping my things (car included) clean. And playing early morning rounds is already a pain keeping my golf shoes clean. Adding the need to clean grass, mud and sand off the wheels of a pull/push cart is one of the last things I want to worry about. And I'll add... Sometimes it takes 6hrs to finish a round of golf here in Socal. So when I'm done, I'm usually in a hurry to peel out of there and get home before I lose my golfing privileges from the wife!! Taking even 5 minutes to break down and clean that cart isn't something I can do.

For the record, I just got a carry bag for 30$ for the season, which weighs less than 4lbs and holds 14 clubs no problem, even with midsize grips. I could fit another 2 clubs in it, and have enough pocket space to fit just about everything; a sweater and umbrella, rain cover, and snack. The only drawback is that the pockets are less organized, but more compact and spread out.

However, last year I had a 30 year old golf bag, which was heavy as balls and hard to carry due to strapping. I carried anywhere from 14 to 11 clubs based on the course and what I wanted to hit. I just replaced my steel shafted woods from 1984, my old hybrid, and my older irons; I carried 5i and shorter, plus a driver during the end of the season. However, weight was never a factor, removing the temptation to hit the 3w, 5w, and hybrid that hooked off the planet was the primary reason. I generally just carried the thing by the handle, left it on the ground since it had no legs. I'm 22, my arms don't get tired regardless of how I carry. A stand bag with proper strapping, weighing less than the previous bag as well as having a lighter set, should remove any negatives from walking.

In the winter it is usually 13, but the rest of the year 14. I carry almost every round I play and think I rode maybe twice all of last year. I'm coming up on 44 and will continue until my game suffers and then will go to a nice push cart.