Am I wrong to use a push cart?

[Harp]

I'm 24 years old and have been golfing since I was 8. I've always walked and carried my own bag without a problem playing once or twice a week. I'm now in a position where I routinely play 27 holes a day 5-6 times a week plus time on the range and practice green. I always walk and carry and by the end of the week I'm definitely tired. My lower back hurts and my shoulders are far too tight. It doesn't prohibit me from swinging a club by any means, but it's noticeable pain. I have no reason to carry a bag. I don't need the added stress nor do I need the added exercise. My game should improve by using a push cart. I guess my pride is the only thing holding me back. I'm young and in good shape, but why make an impossible game even harder?

I recently ordered a new Clicgear 2.0 shipped for $170 and I'm ready to take some verbal abuse at the club. Hopefully my game can backup the decision. Just the fact that I'll be able to drink my tea in the morning, take my glove off, grab my putter, remove the headcover, etc. without putting things down, picking things up, and holding things in my mouth will be a bonus.

[BallStriker]

I'm now in a position where I routinely play 27 holes a day 5-6 times a week plus time on the range and practice green.

Wow, I'm jealous as hell....that is a nice "position" imo......BTW, you should use a push cart without a second thought -- this should be nobody's decison but your's (and you certainly don't need to apologize or justify your position to anyone).

[GJac10]

What's the issue again??? Do whatever you want. As long as you are not breaking any rules (tournament or event), I see no problem with a pull/push cart.

[shortys408]

carrying the bag on one shoulder all the time is bad for your back. Im only 22 and have had some serious back problems probably from having a heavy backpack in middle/high school.

[westcyderydin]

i have a pull cart that is probably 30 years old with white wheels that i just WD-40'd but was sqeaking like crazy as well. but its better than carrying the bag.

and i think you are golfing a little too much as well. 27 holes 5 or 6 days per week is pretty strenuous. 18 holes 5-6 times per week may be a little better on your back. especially if you are going to the range too.

[Titleist_ProV1x]

I'm 24 years old and have been golfing since I was 8. I've always walked and carried my own bag without a problem playing once or twice a week. I'm now in a position where I routinely play 27 holes a day 5-6 times a week plus time on the range and practice green. I always walk and carry and by the end of the week I'm definitely tired. My lower back hurts and my shoulders are far too tight. It doesn't prohibit me from swinging a club by any means, but it's noticeable pain. I have no reason to carry a bag. I don't need the added stress nor do I need the added exercise. My game should improve by using a push cart. I guess my pride is the only thing holding me back. I'm young and in good shape, but why make an impossible game even harder?

Absolutely not young man, use the cart, as your back is more important, and if the guys at the club have a problem with it, you send them my way, I'll set 'em straight!

edit, BTW I use the 2.0 and love IT!

[Shindig]

There was a time when guys wouldn't take a 2-iron out of their bag. Even if there was some club they needed in the bag and never hit it - dang it, you had to carry a 2-iron if you were a man. Floyd was laughed at for daring to play in the Masters with a 5-wood in his bag in its place. Then he won with that configuration. Now, very few sets even have it as an option.

In short, use the cart. I got mine when I was playing 36 once a week and 18 twice a week. It beats using a riding cart, and saves your back. It's the best thing, short of having a fantastic caddy; it's a lot cheaper than a caddy, too.

[wrx_junki]

The cart will definitely help. Now that you got the cart, its a good excuse to get a 14 way bag. If I had to play 27 holes, I'd need to be carrying a lot of food and water with me since I eat every 2-3 hours. The cart will allow you to carry them.

[killerduck]

I am 24, and a few years ago I went from a push-buggy to a carry bag.

I've always had trouble with my lower back, and the 'strain' of forcing a weight from somewhere around my hips was doing me no good. I know this might sound weird, but the handle on a push cart is fairly low, so steering and pushing naturally comes from the lower back.

I switched to the carry bag, moving the work from my lower to upper back. My back has become stronger, albeit with some tightness in the neck. And it makes getting around a hilly course SO much easier.

But at the end of the day, no matter how you transport your clubs, if you play regular golf, you'll probably need regular physio or chiropractic work done.

[hipcheck4u]

Don't do anything to jeopardize your back. I have a friend who had a slipped disc, went through 6 months of horrible pain, had surgery, missed 6 months of work while rehabing the back- a very tough ride. Screw anyone who gives you a hard time about using a push cart. Clicgear 2.0 kicks a**, by the way.

[CT207]

My doctor said I should get some exercise so, I stopped riding and began carrying / walking. That started to get tough on my back so I bought a Clicgear 2.0. and I get a lot of positive comments / thumbs up when I'm out with it.
OTOH, it may be due in part to everything being color matched.. LOL. Yellow Clicgear, black & yellow Cobra bag, headcovers, towel and Golf Pride DD2's.

I think you'll really enjoy the 2.0. I thought the 2.0 was so nice I bought one for my daughter.

[stebed]

I too always wanted to carry my bag. Although I am a bit older than you started getting back problems and feeling tired on the 17-18th. I changed to a push trolley and that made life easier and meant on hot days taking extra water / food wasn't an issue. I changed clubs last season and my new club is 7000 yards up hill from the 14th to the 18th and was really noticing how tired I was at the end of a round. Over Easter I bought a PowaKaddy Freeway 2 electric trolley and have had my best 2 rounds this season using it.

[Greg]

They have these things called golf carts, most are electric though a few are still gas powered, maybe youve heard of them. I seldom walk, i dont play golf for exercise, i work out independently of playing golf. I dont understand why anyone would even care if you had a pushcart, what a bunch of a**holes if they do. The only time i carry my bag is from the car down to the driving range, about a 100 yard walk each way and I wouldnt want to carry it any further, though its a cart stand bag so im sure its much heavier than some of the lighter bags out there. Around here, if you see someone walking they're the minority, everyone rides, it just makes everyone play faster. The only time I usually walk is at the local par 3 course because the holes are so short and you would have to do a lot of walking anyway as you cant drive the cart that close to the hole and i use a push cart, was using the one they provided but recently acquired one trading an old driver for it so i may use it the next time i go as they sometimes charge for using their push carts.

[Zeph]

If someone tease you about it, they will sure enough get bored and leave it be after a while. Just ignore them and do your thing.

[shades9323]

I'm 24 years old and have been golfing since I was 8. I've always walked and carried my own bag without a problem playing once or twice a week. I'm now in a position where I routinely play 27 holes a day 5-6 times a week plus time on the range and practice green. I always walk and carry and by the end of the week I'm definitely tired. My lower back hurts and my shoulders are far too tight. It doesn't prohibit me from swinging a club by any means, but it's noticeable pain. I have no reason to carry a bag. I don't need the added stress nor do I need the added exercise. My game should improve by using a push cart. I guess my pride is the only thing holding me back. I'm young and in good shape, but why make an impossible game even harder?

No, you are not wrong. Get the cart and take your punishment. It will all be in good fun.

What do you do at 24 to be able to play that much golf? Did you win the lottery? Invent something like google and sell it for a billion? Or are you a player for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

[Dave H]

I have a push cart. I love my push cart. Sometimes when I play golf with my buddies they give me a bit of grief before we start but by the 17th hole their backs are aching, their swings aren't as good and strangely enough, my cart starts getting envious glances. Use the cart without regret, your body in general will thank you.

[chilly]

Does anyone even bother questioning a guy's "toughness" on the golf course? Seriously, a bunch of guys walking around with one glove, in funny pants, hitting a little ball...and they're going to call someone a wimp for using a push cart?

Seriously though, I use a push cart, screw carrying the bag. I hate the up/down/up/down routine, wondering if the legs are going to kick out all the way, or if the bag will flop over on uneven ground. Then there's the fact that my shoulders would tighten up from carrying the bag, and carry bags are small, no way to easily carry water, etc.

Carts are great for a couple reasons beyond the obvious. You can get a cart bag so it's easier to haul gear, they have storage for things like wallets/keys that makes them more convenient, you can carry water, convenient place for the scorecard, and you can shove the cart towards the next hole when you're approaching the green so you save a bit of time not having to take the bag towards the next tee then back to the green.

[authentic_golfer]

I've never heard of anyone catching (or giving) flack for using a push cart. Next-best thing to having a caddie, I'd say.

Power to the pushers!

Best,
Sean