Why Would Anyone Want to Carry Their Bag?

[sean_miller]

theres one "links style" mound on one hole of one of my courses that i wouldnt take my cart on to. but im not giving up the convenience and benefits of the cart for the rest of the round for that one spot on the course.

I can think of a couple courses where a cart is okay too - I have no problem taking one there (especially if it's included in the greens fee and everyone else in the group has one).

[golfro]

why do people ever carry around backpacks on their backs...?

why don't they just carry those bags with wheels on it...and roll it around?

Btw. I carry my bag because thats how I always played golf growing up. During high school, I always carried. When my dad rode the cart, I carried and walked. It's just how I was trained and how I like it now.
I don't see the point of rolling your push cart around...

I don't go hiking with a damn shopping cart with my tent in it. It's pointless. If you know how to carry and stand properly with the right posture, it really isn't that wearing on your back or shoulders. And once you're used to it, its nothing.

[slabm7]

I always walk and carry, I like the exercise and the extra time between shots. I find when riding all you do is hit the ball and then drive up to it and wait for people to get off the green anyway. And I can usually find enough balls when walking that I don't have to buy any throughout the year. The only time I will ride is if I am playing 36 that day and I will walk the first 18 and ride the second 18. Also some courses make you ride for time reasons. Also if the average course is 6400 yards that is almost 4 miles walking if you stay in a straight line which I rarely do so I will probably walk 10 miles per 18!

[gloomis29]

I walk #1 because I'm cheap, I can walk 18 holes for under $20 at many courses around me, if I used a cart then thats another $12-18....so walking for $16 rather than riding for $28 makes sense...plus my wife can't harass me about spending tons of money on greens fees..plus I play much better when I walk, I take my time between shots, have time to "forget" a bad shot or think about my next shot, etc.

Unless you are playing for money, golf is not just about your score, its about being outdoors, enjoying nature, and NOT being at work! I'm a fairly competitive person but I don't buy that carrying your bag costs you strokes. Its no different than shooting free throws in the 4th quarter of a basketball game, you're going to be tired, you have to be mentally tough enough to get the job done, not make excuses!!

Now that being said, if you have a medical condition, arthritis, etc, I would never look down on you for riding, being in the medical field I would not want anyone to be miserable playing golf because they felt guilty riding in a cart.

With that being said, if I play in a 4some and everyone else rides, or if we have coupons for a 4some to get carts cheaper, etc, I will ride. I have played several nice courses where you had to ride and I understand that policy but any course that has the 90 degree rule, its pointless to ride if you are the average golfer, I would play much faster being able to walk straight to my ball.

[Fourputt]

I like to play the game as it was meant to be played. I carry my bag when I play. It's not that tough unless you have a large bucket of range balls in a pocket you forgot about...

Who says it was "meant to be played" by carrying? What era are you referring to? The 1600's? 1700's? the 1900's? The game has evolved with technological evolution and how it's "meant to be played" has changed right along with that. I could say that what you do is probably not even close to how it's "meant to be played" because you don't have hickory shafts in your clubs. You don't use a feathery. You probably don't even know what a 'brassie" is. And yes, for some people it is tough to carry a bag.

Your contention is just as silly as the one the OP put forth.

I have played carrying/pulling/pushing. I play the same with all of them. No stokes left out there. Of course, I am probably in better shape than you...

I shot my best 18 holes ever (1 over par 73) while carrying my bag....22 years ago. I shot my best 9 holes ever (3 under par 33) 8 months ago while riding in a motorized cart. In between I've played a LOT of golf and shot good and bad scores, using all three forms of locomotion. Anybody want to try and draw a conclusion from that??? I certainly can't, and I was there.

Ultimately it makes no damn difference how you get around the course. Do what turns your crank, but do it with proper etiquette and concern for the course and for your fellow players. And just have fun.

[DarkPrince]

Personally, I walk/carry pretty much any time I possibly can. If a friend/playing partner of mine offers to give me a rid on a nice day, I'll usually decline just because I feel I enjoy the weather more when walking, but I will gladly accept a short ride when the tee boxes are ungodly far apart. Now when it's a busy day out and I'm matched up with a group of 3 who have carts, I'll usually wait until the 2nd or 3rd hole when I'm out of sight to hop in and tie up my bag for the sake of speed of play. As an interesting point though, while playing cold weather I am much warmer wearing less layers while walking and carrying than I am when I ride with more layers and a waterproof/windproof jacket on. I don't know if its just the walking itself that generates heat, but give me an under armor cold gear shirt, a polo, some cold weather leggings, and my Nike golf pants and I look/feel more comfortable out there than the guys in winter jackets, stocking caps and leather gloves driving around on the carts, even if the ground is soggy like early spring/late fall.

Again, this is just my experience :)

[Rochester]

I use a pushcart to reduce the likelihood of re-injuring my back. I ruptured two discs and few years back, and I have chronic problems with it. I prefer walking to riding in a cart. I will never ride unless everyone else in the foursome is. Some of you were asking for a reference.. here's a pretty good one:

--There was virtually no difference in calories burned between carrying (721) and using a push cart (718) -- a surprising result to many, who figured it would take more work to push the cart.

--Players in Wolkodoff's tests scored best when using push carts and playing with a caddie. Their nine-hole averages (40 with push cart, 42 with caddie) were better than when riding in the motor cart (43).

But the benefit of walking didn't outweigh the stress of looping the bag on and off your shoulder 40 or 50 times and lugging it around the course over the span of two hours. The average scores for the walk-and-carry rounds was 45.

The above was from an article on the PGA website: http://www.pga.com/2008/news/industr....ap/index.html

[Fourputt]

Now when it's a busy day out and I'm matched up with a group of 3 who have carts, I'll usually wait until the 2nd or 3rd hole when I'm out of sight to hop in and tie up my bag for the sake of speed of play.

And you don't see anything wrong with that???

The course I work at has a way of knowing how many in a group have paid for a riding cart, and if you try an underhanded stunt like that you will be given the choice of paying for the time in the cart (9 hole fee if caught on the front 9, 18 hole fee if caught on the back 9) or being escorted off the course without a refund. What you describe is theft.

[sean_miller]

I use a pushcart to reduce the likelihood of re-injuring my back. I ruptured two discs and few years back, and I have chronic problems with it. I prefer walking to riding in a cart. I will never ride unless everyone else in the foursome is. Some of you were asking for a reference.. here's a pretty good one:

So what you're basically saying is that if I can get my stroke average down to 77 (in my dreams), then getting a pull cart will put me in scratch territory? That's gonna be so cool!!!

[shades9323]

So what you're basically saying is that if I can get my stroke average down to 77 (in my dreams), then getting a pull cart will put me in scratch territory? That's gonna be so cool!!!

Ummmm no, it only works that way with push carts. Do you think if I have seperate push carts for my woods and irons, I could shave 20 strokes off my game?

[Rochester]

I am saying nothing... except that I use a pushcart, actually, on the advice of my physical therapist (who is also a golfer).

Reducing your score through the use of a pushcart would be the contention of Neil Wolkodoff, director of the Rose Center for Health and Sports Sciences in Denver. It was his study... not mine. Read the link. If I wanted to carry my clubs, I wouldn't care what effect it had on my score. However, this study supports the idea that carrying clubs is not better exercise, nor a reason for lower scores. Your mileage may vary

[zeg]

Back problems - I keep my bag very light, sometimes I carry 13, but all I have in my bag is water, balls and tees basically. I've noticed some people really keep alot of stuff in their bags, they feel so much heavier than mine.

I keep mine light as well, at least now that I dug out an old backpack to keep my chipping practice balls in. That saves about 10 pounds. So I've got 14 clubs, half a dozen balls, a pack of tees, and usually a jacket just in case. And if I'm playing 18, a Nalgene bottle of water and some Clif bars. Oh, and my new rule book

My bag isn't super light, but it's not heavy enough I worry about it. I don't find myself ever wishing for other equipment out there. I guess if I didn't live in Southern California, I might occasionally want an umbrella and rain gear..... For your back, be sure you use both straps of the carry bag. Using just one will definitely do a number. I didn't used to use both because the bag chatter got out of hand, but I've found I can carry almost indefinitely without getting sore if I use both. I usually drape my towel through the clubs and hold the end to cut down on the chatter and insulate the iron heads from one another.

[XMScott]

I gave my pull cart to a friend.

The two places i play are very walkable. My bag isnt heavy and its a pretty good workout......... well when i play other places it is.
No issue carrying my bag.

[colin007]

I am saying nothing... except that I use a pushcart, actually, on the advice of my physical therapist (who is also a golfer).

thanks for finding that, theres another one out there that i had read also, i actually think it was in Golf Digest at some point in the past 2 years or so.

[colin007]

I walk #1 because I'm cheap, I can walk 18 holes for under $20 at many courses around me, if I used a cart then thats another $12-18....so walking for $16 rather than riding for $28 makes sense...plus my wife can't harass me about spending tons of money on greens fees..plus I play much better when I walk, I take my time between shots, have time to "forget" a bad shot or think about my next shot, etc.

um, riding isnt really a factor in this thread. the topic is about walking and pushing a cart VS walking and carrying the bag.

[senorchipotle]

besides, its been shown to cost you strokes by the time you get to the end of your round.

really? where is this study?

[colin007]

really? where is this study?

http://www.pga.com/2008/news/industr....ap/index.html results are towards the bottom.

[killerduck]

One reason I've carried my bag for the last few years is setup and mess. I put on my shoes, and take my bag out of the car and that's it! When I had a buggy it was a pain to load it up, set it up, clean the boot of mud and dirt from the wheels. I enjoy carrying my clubs for other reasons, too.

But alas this week has been torture on my back. Not from golf, but from sleeping. I haven't played in a week!!

So, I'm gonna get one of these. I've used many buggies before, but these are SIMPLY THE BEST THING EVER!