Walking for 1st time in 15 years

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by tristanhilton85

Some of us have no choice... pretty much all the courses around me require you to ride.

I guess that comment wouldn't apply to you then?!?

[Chief Broom]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

When I started there were guys who carried, guys who rode, and old people who pulled (they didn't push in my day). When I can no summon the strength to carry a 4 pound golf bag and 10 pounds of equipment, I'll retire. But like you said, whatever floats your boat.

As a walker (probably 98% of the time I play) I used to always make it a point to carry my bag.  Walking is exercise and carrying is even more, and since I figured getting exercise doing something I love was a no brainer enhancing that by carrying was more better.  Carry bags being what they are today carrying is better than ever, but this past summer changed my mind for good!  Here in SE US it got hot, as hot as I've ever seen it in my 44 years.  To combat the heat I paired my bag down as much as possible.  I was carrying 4 balls (10 balls= 1lb), a handful of tees, 10 clubs, and a towel.  I hit the water coolers instead of carrying water.  But it was still miserable.  So one hot day at the turn I saw where someone had used one of the carts my club has for rent and left it outside (one of those big "rickshaw" jalopies).  I threw my bag on the cart and was off.  This cart had a place for a sand bottle so I was sanding all of my divots.  I picked up a glass of ice water at the turn and the cart had a swivel holder for that.  When I pased the coolers I topped off the ice water and always had a cold beverage right at hand.  It ocurred to me as I was effortlessly pushing my gear around the course that with this set up I wouldn't have to pair down my stuff and could in fact bring all my stuff.  Even stuff I might hardly ever use (umbrella, rain jacket, tape, bandaids, training aids, etc.) I could throw in my bag on the off chance that I might need it.  That was it.  The next day I was in a local golf shop and picked up my Clicgear cart and I consider that right up there with all the good money I've spent on the game.

[dbuck]

I haven't walked in years except for 9 holes once last year.

In the deep south where I live, the peak season is usually 95 degrees and 95% humidity, so pretty much everyone rides. Funny how we have a large % of obesisty. Hmm.  I play a lot of scrambles also during the peak, so that means riding as well.

I am trying to commit myself to walking some this year though, at least when playing alone in the spring and fall.  I have a buddy that walks and usually just plays nine. He has invited me a couple times and I am thinking that might be a good way to ease into it.  At first I will use a pull cart, but if it works out I may pick up a walking bag and do the carrying deal.  When I did walk I liked that way better. I am overweight but not obese.  I could use the exercise.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Chief Broom

. . . Here in SE US it got hot, as hot as I've ever seen it in my 44 years . . .

I can't comment on that, being from Alberta. I suspect the heat and humidity would have put me in the hospital before I got to the course.

[bkoguy07]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I can't comment on that, being from Alberta. I suspect the heat and humidity would have put me in the hospital before I got to the course.

Yeah it can be pretty intense.. I don't know really anyone but this one group that walks.  They only walk in spring and fall.   Its  actually pretty dangerous to play in that heat in general.  I played this summer (road) in 100 degree easy and 100% humidity i was the only one on the course.  Ran out of water by hole 3.. coolers were empty got a huge headache and quit lol

[jetsknicks1]

Originally Posted by tristanhilton85

Some of us have no choice... pretty much all the courses around me require you to ride.

I think that's a big part of it as well. Most of the courses I play on don't allow walkers.

[Chief Broom]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I can't comment on that, being from Alberta. I suspect the heat and humidity would have put me in the hospital before I got to the course.

This past summer we had about 40-50 days where it was over 100 degrees (F), and like I said I had to pair things down to the bare essentials.  I'm in pretty good shape.  I work out a couple of times a week and I'm pretty slim (6' 165lbs), that and being from the south (long line of Georgia "crackers") means I'm acclimated to it, but the extreme conditions this year made it apparent to me the strain of carrying my gear.  When I went to the push cart I was much fresher throughout my round and I could bring all kinds of stuff I wouldn't consider carrying even when the temps were mild (e.g. a sand bottle for divots).  I say to each their own, I enjoy riding in a cart, but that strikes me as making golf marginally more active than watching TV, so I walk (that and I'm also cheap and prefer saving the cart fees).  But what I found is that modern push carts have elevated walking to the same level of convenience as riding but with the physical benefits.  I'd recommend to anyone considering walking to give all the options a try to find the one that best works for them.  Carrying has it's benefits (no detours around greens, obstacles, etc. in fact pushing the cart up steep inclines is harder than walking the same incline with your gear on your back, it's going down where the push cart is effortless and the bag on your back is still there), so I understand the desire to play like that, but some folks are quick to dismiss one way simply because of the way it's perceived.  I'd never given using a push cart any thought until I did out of desperation and low and behold it really changed my mind about how a little thing can add a lot to your enjoyment of the round.

[Chief Broom]

One last thing regarding the joys of a modern pushcart:

It's flat out the driest way you can play in the rain.  Push carts now come with a mount on the handle for your umberella (and you can even splugre on a swivel mount that raises the umberella higher and allows you to angle it to better match conditions).  This mount holds your umbrella over you and your bag without requiring you to do anything.  In fact the only times you have to get wet/rained on are when you're standing on the tee box and the green.  Otherwise you push your cart right up to your ball and it just about covers you when hitting your shot.  Couple this arraingment with a decent rain shirt (I bought a Footjoy Dryjoys Tour edition 3/4 sleeve rainshirt) and your stay almost completely dry.  Some might think riding in a cart would be better, but you'll find in a cart the rain blows in as you're riding around and your seat stays wet so unless you're wearing quality rain pants the seat of your pants get soaked and stay soaked.  I have rain pants but I've never felt the need to don them because of the rain (cold is a different matter though) since my umbrella keeps me dry and my rain shirt keeps what water hits my back off of me.  Before I got my current setup if it was raining I stayed away from the course.  Now I don't think twice about playing in the rain.  Lightening storms though are another matter...

[jetsknicks1]

Originally Posted by Chief Broom

One last thing regarding the joys of a modern pushcart:

It's flat out the driest way you can play in the rain.  Push carts now come with a mount on the handle for your umberella (and you can even splugre on a swivel mount that raises the umberella higher and allows you to angle it to better match conditions).  This mount holds your umbrella over you and your bag without requiring you to do anything.  In fact the only times you have to get wet/rained on are when you're standing on the tee box and the green.  Otherwise you push your cart right up to your ball and it just about covers you when hitting your shot.  Couple this arraingment with a decent rain shirt (I bought a Footjoy Dryjoys Tour edition 3/4 sleeve rainshirt) and your stay almost completely dry.  Some might think riding in a cart would be better, but you'll find in a cart the rain blows in as you're riding around and your seat stays wet so unless you're wearing quality rain pants the seat of your pants get soaked and stay soaked.  I have rain pants but I've never felt the need to don them because of the rain (cold is a different matter though) since my umbrella keeps me dry and my rain shirt keeps what water hits my back off of me.  Before I got my current setup if it was raining I stayed away from the course.  Now I don't think twice about playing in the rain.  Lightening storms though are another matter...

LOL. Lightening is defly a different matter all together. I'm looking forward to walking again. My buddy may not be able to play but I've already decided that I'm going to play and walk regardless.

[The Recreational Golfer]

I think the OP wanted to know how to get in shape to walk 18 comfortably after not having done it for a long time.

I would suggest walking every day for a mile or two, just to get the body used to the demands of walking.

The hard part about walking around a course is not the distance walked, because it's generally less than four miles, including walks from green to tee, but being on your feet for 4+ hours. That's what you have to get used to, and there isn't much of a way to get in shape for doing that other than, well, doing that.

[Harmonious]

After carrying a bag, I have gone the Clicgear route, as have many of my friends.  It holds just about everything you might need: umbrella, large drink, divot mix, and it allows me to have a larger bag with easier access to clubs, balls, etc.  When I first moved to Florida, I wondered whether I would melt in the Summer.  The first year was pretty bad, but now it's no big deal to walk 18.  Just plan on a lot of sweat, so keep drinking water.  The really great part of walking, aside from improving my thinking process, is that I can really enjoy just being on the course.  I'm not jumping in and out of a cart, so I can check out the wildlife (no, not the beer cart girls) and just enjoy being outside.  I lost 10 pounds the first year, and have absolutely no problem keeping it off.  Start off slow, then in no time, 18 holes will be a breeze.

[jetsknicks1]

Originally Posted by The Recreational Golfer

I think the OP wanted to know how to get in shape to walk 18 comfortably after not having done it for a long time.

I would suggest walking every day for a mile or two, just to get the body used to the demands of walking.

The hard part about walking around a course is not the distance walked, because it's generally less than four miles, including walks from green to tee, but being on your feet for 4+ hours. That's what you have to get used to, and there isn't much of a way to get in shape for doing that other than, well, doing that.

Yea, that's my main concern. It's not like I'm 50lbs overweight or anything, but because of some faulty knees, I haven't been able to play sports or do any real exercise in quite a while.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Walk the front nine and ride the back nine for a while.

Play some solo rounds that you can finish in 3 hours.

These can help you ease into it.

Add on daily life habits of taking stairs instead of an elevator if it's just a couple of flights.

Walk if the trip is only a few blocks.

Find ways to be on your feet more every day than you are now.

As I see it, whether you walk or ride isn't important. Having the ability to walk 18 holes is.

[Suge206]

Clicgear is the only way to go.  Carrying your stuff around seems silly once you get used to the 3.0 cart.  I send it down big hills all the time by itself and it never tips.  you can carry beers or drinks and 14 clubs and like 2 dozen balls and umbrella and whatever else you can think of and it just pushes along with next to no resistance.

[keb]

I have a SunMountain Speed Cart and love it.  Get some exercise and pushing the cart doesn't adversely effect my game.

[jetsknicks1]

So I walked my first 18 in 15 years on Sunday and I really enjoyed it but it's obvious that it'll take some getting used to. I felt fine on the front side but I really started feeling it midway through the back nine. I was feeling pretty gassed the last 4 holes and I ended up shooting 6 shots worse on the back.

If I plan on walking more it's also obvious that I'll need to buy my own push cart. The push carts the course provided were very basic 2 wheel models that left a good bit to be desired. I saw a bunch of guys using some nice looking 3 wheel models that seemd to be alot better. All in all I enjoyed walking, being able to slow down & enjoy the surroundings really added another dimension to the round.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Here's another thing.

Make sure you stay hydrated. Bring some water and have a few sips on each tee.

Stay nourished, too. Bring some energy food like trail mix or energy bars and have a few bites on every third or fourth tee.

[jmanbooyaa]

Originally Posted by jetsknicks1

So I walked my first 18 in 15 years on Sunday and I really enjoyed it but it's obvious that it'll take some getting used to. I felt fine on the front side but I really started feeling it midway through the back nine. I was feeling pretty gassed the last 4 holes and I ended up shooting 6 shots worse on the back.

If I plan on walking more it's also obvious that I'll need to buy my own push cart. The push carts the course provided were very basic 2 wheel models that left a good bit to be desired. I saw a bunch of guys using some nice looking 3 wheel models that seemd to be alot better. All in all I enjoyed walking, being able to slow down & enjoy the surroundings really added another dimension to the round.

That's cool you enjoyed the walk. I am a walker myself and after about 2 months of carrying I bought a push cart. I love it takes pressure off your back easy access to drink, tees, balls, scorecard. I am a big fan and highly recommend them.