Do you ride or walk the course?

[kcgolfa1]

I walk. I played in High School which forced us to walk all courses, even mandatory cart courses. so I guess i'm just used to walking.

[ohiolefty]

I walk unless weather, course topography or my injured back won't allow it. I would say that if I play 100 rounds, I walk 85-90 of them. Play better when I walk and enjoy the overall experience more when I walk.

[Fourputt]

I would like to see anyone post evidence supporting their contention that "the game was meant to be walked".  Nothing in the rules says anything about it.  The rules tell you how to play the game, yet nowhere do they say you are supposed to walk.  The game was walked originally because it would have been impractical to ride a horse or a carriage, and that was the only other mode of transportation available in those days.  To me it's like saying let's tear up the freeways and go back to the horse and buggy because man wasn't meant to drive one of those infernal automobile contraptions.  And in that case, he certainly was never meant to fly!!!

If you want to walk and the facility allows it, then be my guest.  But don't act like that makes you a better person or a purer player because of it.  All  it means is that you have made a different choice than I have.  Nothing more - nothing less.

[trackster]

would you be ok with someone riding a dirtbike on the course?  How about driving a monster truck?  I don't think there is anything in the rules against those?  Golf was meant to be walked, and then some one got lazy and stared driving. Pros don't drive golf carts.  High school players don't use golf carts. College golfers dont use golf carts.

[Wallstreet]

I also walk because of high school golf.  Our home course was an Arnold Palmer course in Michigan that was mandatory carts.  It was such a long walk between some holes.

But I do ride when I play with certain friends that like to drink beer and golf.  Cause who wants to carry the beer, its just too much weight.....lol

[deasy55]

Golf: The only sport where the pro players walk and the fans run.

[keb]

I prefer walking and pushing my SunMountain push cart.  I think it leads to a faster paced round and I get some exercise to boot.

[deasy55]

I can't use a push cart. Too tiring for me. I find it much easier to carry my bag. I find it much quicker also. Myself and my father can play a round in under 3 hours if we both carry our bags.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by trackster

would you be ok with someone riding a dirtbike on the course?  How about driving a monster truck?  I don't think there is anything in the rules against those?  Golf was meant to be walked, and then some one got lazy and stared driving. Pros don't drive golf carts.  High school players don't use golf carts. College golfers dont use golf carts.

Because those are part of the conditions of those competitions.  Still has nothing to do with the rules.  The Champions Tour allows carts.  And most pros I know ( and I know and see quite a few in my job as starter) use carts when they play casually, and do the same in tournaments unless the conditions of the competition don't allow it.  I can't remember the last time I saw a pro from another course come to play ours and not take a cart.  The 3 pros who work at the course always ride when they play.

Your comments about bikes and trucks are irrelevant.  Such vehicles were never designed for golf.  Golf carts were so designed (thus the name ), and when used properly don't damage the course.  99% of the cart users I know and see use them as instructed.

[trackster]

No a guy saw a person using a cart to hall people around and saw it would work for hauling golf clubs, (ah i love google).  I have never seen a walker yelled at for walking anywhere on the course but i have seen people getting yelled at for driving where they don't belong.

[Steel]

I'm 50 and almost always walk, I don't care if its up the side of a mountain.  I walk a lot of courses people say are impossible, I just pace myself going up hill.  It absolutely amazes me how  many young guys cart, see it all the time.  I enjoy the stroll, gives me time to contemplate my next shot, or just contemplate life, better yet have a chat with your playing partners.  One thing most people don't realize, stay active, fit and alive!  Your legs are the bodies 2 biggest blood pumps next to your heart, you loose the use of your legs, your more than one foot closer to the grave!  not kidding!

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by trackster

No a guy saw a person using a cart to hall people around and saw it would work for hauling golf clubs, (ah i love google).  I have never seen a walker yelled at for walking anywhere on the course but i have seen people getting yelled at for driving where they don't belong.

Which says nothing really about the topic at hand.  You are simply prejudiced against riders, so no point anyone makes for it will penetrate your bias.

[wmiller]

You're the one trying to tie walking or riding to rules. Nobody else mentioned it.

Golf carts can ruin golf courses. At the very least, they are hard on the course, requiring extra cost/upkeep You can see the tracks/smashed grass all over the fairways. Worse when some idiot drives through a really wet area.

Fact: Several times a year here in Tucson, carts are not allowed on the grass. The fairways are in much better shape then.

Carts are excellent sources of money for the courses, so will never be banned. Too bad. Maybe if they banned carts, less people would play, and I could get back to my sub-3 hour round walking the course.

[Steel]

Go play Chambers Bay in Washington State, NO CART's, and its a tough walk!!!

[Carts]

I always walk, saves cash and I like the exercise. But I see no problem in using a cart.

[JMaC]

Walk 90% of the time...i seem to play better when I do.

[Grndslmhttr3]

I walk mostly because it's cheaper.

[schigara]

I used to only ride carts because I was a smoker. I quit smoking 18 months ago and now love to walk and walk whenever I can. I play better because I have time between shots to think and shake off any bad shots.

Also, just because you are in a cart does not mean you are faster than a walker. Me and my playing partner get held up by cart riders all the time. Walkers tend to play faster where riders tend to play slower but they do technically get to their ball faster but since most courses require a pair riding to use one cart, they ultimately play slower than a pair that are walking that get to their respective balls at the same time whereas the two in the cart, get to one ball, decide club, shoot and then travel to the other persons ball, decide club selection and shoot.

It is very rare that cart players play faster than me and my walking buddy. The biggest difference though is actual pace of play. Riding or walking, a considerate player will assess the basic distance and lie while enroute to the ball and will take just one partial or full practice swing, at most, and then fire and quickly place the club back in the bag and roll. He will not get to the ball, look around for 45 seconds for markers and then decide which club and then take 4 full power practice swings and then stab the club in the ground and go 10 feet or slice/hook out of bounds!

Courses in Memphis are very crowded during the weekends and when we are held up with slow play, 95% of the time, it's cart riders who know jack &*$%@ about etiquette. It is extremely rare to get held up by walkers.  Walkers tend not to be ignorant or rude like riders also. When held up by walkers, they are much more inclined to offer to let faster groups go by than riders.

Since we have gotten 98-100 ambient temps with 100-110 index temps, I have been getting the cart as I like to play 27-36 holes and am not a big fan of heat strokes.