"Walking Preferred" Golf Courses

[Rudder]

I rarely walk Unless it's winter golf. There's a few courses I play where walking would literally be a pain in the a$$.

[The Tin Man]

The Muni's where I live charge more for riding carts, so you could say they encourage walking?

The absolute slowest players are the "chat groups" - everybody taps the ball to one location so as not to disrupt the conversation. They use pull carts.

I walk....it hurts.....I sit on the bench waiting to T-off, and walk some more.  (Pull cart)

[visiondr]

I love walking, but if I must ride to play a great course, I will not refuse.

Walking, to me, is part of the spirit of the game. I'll never knock those who cannot, for whatever reason, walk 18 holes. But, even on the hilliest of courses, I prefer to hoof it. Then again, I think backpacking in the high country is fun. So, I've never met a golf course I can't handle.

[Gas Hawg]

My game suffers tremendously when I ride.  I guess I don't have the focus in a cart as I do walking.  I also tend to think my next shot through as I walk to the ball so I think I lose some prep time in the cart...  I would definitely play all walking courses if they were out there.  Luckily all the courses I play here in NW Ohio allow walking.

[FowlPlay]

There are courses that don't allow walking? I always thought it was just another option. I can see the pace of play issue with walkers on a busy course though.

[ghalfaire]

There are courses that don't permit walking around Phoenix.  Usually because of the terrain, weather and course layout no one would walk anyway.  There are also a few that will allow you to walk but there isn't a savings in green fees for not using a cart.  So unless you just like to walk is doesn't make sense on these courses.

Originally Posted by FowlPlay

There are courses that don't allow walking? I always thought it was just another option. I can see the pace of play issue with walkers on a busy course though.

[sacm3bill]

Originally Posted by ghalfaire

Quote:

Originally Posted by FowlPlay

There are courses that don't allow walking? I always thought it was just another option. I can see the pace of play issue with walkers on a busy course though.

There are courses that don't permit walking around Phoenix.  Usually because of the terrain, weather and course layout no one would walk anyway.  There are also a few that will allow you to walk but there isn't a savings in green fees for not using a cart.  So unless you just like to walk is doesn't make sense on these courses.

There's at least one here in the Sacramento area that doesn't allow walking. Nothing about the terrain, climate, or layout would prevent it being walkable, but it is part of a retirement community - they probably have so few walkers that they can force you to pay for a cart without losing too much business.

[Caphenning]

I do both depending on mood, and I don't think that would really effect my decision. I was a course marshal at Sheppard AFB for a season and it was kinda funny because often times the people with the carts needed to let the walkers play through. It appears time wise a golf cart is worth about 4 strokes a hole lol....

[Damnyank]

Hi,

I play in France and the Cart or "Voiturette" is the exception and not the rule.  Everyone walks except for the old folks and the overweight (some coincidence that last one) and if you are in a tournament, you need a doctor's excuse to ride.

[McGolf-Doggie]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeGolf

I would submit to you that cart golf is not necessarily a faster pace of play. The efficiency of walking direct to your ball with your clubs at your side more than offsets the inefficiency of cart driving logistics. If a scratch golfer is by himself in a cart, and the walker is a high handicapper, then the walker would be a slower-paced player. I don't think age is an issue. Maybe as part of the management approach the course starters could remind the players to play "ready golf" and walk with "purpose".

"Ready golf" done properly can shave off buckets of time. There are other variables, such as how many practice swings and how long a player takes to go through his pre-shot routine that can enormously affect speed.

And yes, sometimes I've also witnessed a walker easily keep up with a cart in some situations.

Sometimes, although but my preference is to walk, I like to have the option to have a cart for shelter and a quick "get out of Dodge" if the weather turns thunderstormy, or if the asthma is kicking up, or if the course is super hilly and it's hot (and my 50 yr old bod says it's too beat up from other sports.).  I mostly play 9 holes for time reasons, so I'm walking 95 percent of the time. My local 18-hole course makes carts mandatory on weekends, so you're automatically going to pay extra, too. I wonder if a course wants to lose that added revenue option, unless of course, they are just breaking even on carts?

[droyhull]

I was introduced to golf before the invention of the electric golf cart that you could ride on the course.  I played all my life walking on the course, carrying my clubs.  It is hard to imagine golf without walking to my ball and having all my clubs there.  I would love courses that are 'walking preferred'.  These courses might also support the service of caddies.  This way you could still walk without having to carry your clubs.

Golf is a good lifetime sport and is most enjoyable to me when I carry my clubs and walk.

[droyhull]

I have found that the pace of play becomes an issue when you are playing behind beginners.

Most of them are utilizing an electric cart, to 'make things easier'.  If you love the sport,  track your ball and try to make par,

you won't be slowing down play.

[ec31chen]

I will.Walking is the integrated part of the game.

[Spyder]

Originally Posted by droyhull

I have found that the pace of play becomes an issue when you are playing behind beginners.

Most of them are utilizing an electric cart, to 'make things easier'.  If you love the sport,  track your ball and try to make par,

you won't be slowing down play.

I'm sorry but this is pretty generic. I mean that is almost like saying, "If you try to get a hole in one on every Par 3, the hole would never take more than 5 minutes". lol Of course the over all goal for most of us is to make par, but that has nothing to do with the speed of play. There are literally hundreds of factors that equate to slow play, but "trying for par" is surely not a solution or a cause. I don't really remember seeing any slow players say out loud "Hey don't mind us, we're just trying to exceed the limit here".

[BuckeyeGolf]

After talking to a number of golfers over the years, it appears that our European friends hold dear the privilege to walk. I would say that there may be a resurgence in the interest of walking here in the U.S. when you consider architects such as Tom Doak and Coore & Crenshaw are gaining considerable notoriety for their walk-able golf course designs. Let's hope the tradition of walking is preserved for this great game!

[colin007]

I like to walk. I've always felt that it was an integral part of the game.

[mcanadiens]

My buddies insist on riding, but I'll walk any other time.

Here's why:

1) A motor cart around here  is $12-14 on top of greens fees on average.

2) I need the exercise.

3) Walking helps me calm down and collect my thoughts.

4) On a much lesser note, I'd prefer fewer cart tracks through the fairway.

[Ernest Jones]

My buddies insist on riding, but I'll walk any other time.

Here's why:

1) A motor cart around here  is $12-14 on top of greens fees on average.

2) I need the exercise.

3) Walking helps me calm down and collect my thoughts.

4) On a much lesser note, I'd prefer fewer cart tracks through the fairway.

My absolute number 1 reason for preferring to walk: I like having my all clubs with me when facing a shot, not just the one club I grabbed before my partner took off to look for his ball. I also agree with all your reasons.