USGA Walking Membership

[MGP]

After seeing an old thread dredged up on "What's in Erik's bag?", I noticed he had a USGA Walking Member bag tag. At the start of this year I have once again dedicated myself to walking when I play whenever possible. Since I'm a USGA member, I was curious how to get the tag and into the program. Rather than post the question here, I did a little research and found this information on the USGA website:

What is the USGA Walking Program?

The Walking Program, created in 1995 for USGA Members, was established to promote one of the traditions of the game. While each individual player has his or her own circumstances to consider when deciding whether to walk or ride, the Program's message is to encourage Members, who are able, to walk. Members who sign a Declaration will receive a walking bagtag for their golf bag. If you are a Member, you may request a Walking Member Declaration by calling 800-223-0041.

I'll be giving them a call tomorrow and signing up. I would encourage anyone else who can walk to do so if possible. Hopefully this information might be useful to others here as well.

[iacas]

I didn't know they were still available. Cool. I didn't have to know because, as you noted, I still have mine.

Perhaps we'll have to do a story on this. Thanks for doing a little research.

[Thrdroc]

I love to walk but i never really get the chance too. When 3 people all take a cart you sort of have to so you can just keep up.

[670forged]

Are you talking about the yellow bag tag they issued to walking members? I still have mine somewhere and now that I am walking again, it may be time to put it back on the bag. I only ride now when I am with my pro during playing lessons. I am a member of a country club and go out alone alot and always have the course to myself late morning and early afternoon. The experience of walking just can't be beat

Mike

[Ogg]

Thrdroc -

I have never had a problem keeping up when walking. I have played with plenty of walkers who are faster than guys with carts becasue they know how to play at a steady pace.

[BuckeyeGolf]

After seeing an old thread dredged up on "What's in Erik's bag?", I noticed he had a USGA Walking Member bag tag. At the start of this year I have once again dedicated myself to walking when I play whenever possible. Since I'm a USGA member, I was curious how to get the tag and into the program. Rather than post the question here, I did a little research and found this information on the USGA website:

You may enjoy signing on with The Walking Golfers Society as well. Check it out online.

[nevets88]

I love to walk but i never really get the chance too. When 3 people all take a cart you sort of have to so you can just keep up.

With 3 people, 2/1 or 1/1/1, I usually get asked if I want a ride. I appreciate people are being friendly and all, and I don't know if I speak for most walkers out there, I just want to walk, I like walking, even if it's hot and I'm sweaty. I politely decline, but after repeated asks, I eventually accept because I don't want to seem anti-social.

Any combination of long distances between holes, extremely hilly walks and being the last off the green, that's when I fall behind.

[MMouse]

Walking is so enjoyable and I don't find that you fall behind.
Yesterday was our club championship and out of my threesome the other two were in a cart. On more than one occasion I found myself waiting for them to take their shots. The group two groups behind us also had a mix of walkers and riders and had to continually wait for the group directly behind us, all of whom were riding.

[Boyder]

Since I got back into the game the past year I walk 99% of the time. I'm playing 4 to 5 rounds per week and this has helped me take off 30+ pounds. I love the exercise!

[billysandy]

It seems completely different in the UK. Literally everyone walks. I very rarely see anyone on a cart anywhere i go. I have only been in a cart once, and i hated it. It makes the pace of thinking too quick. I have walked every round other than that one. Our course has 6 carts, but i rarely see anyone ever use them - probably because they are expensive !!!!!!!!!!

[uttexas]

some courses here in the US try to force you to purchase a cart. They offer no price difference between cart and walking, and discourage you from walking by saying that the distances are too great between holes/or other excuse. Some courses declare themselves cart only.
Its as if some courses are designed with the golf cart, rather than the golfer in mind.

[Leftygolfer]

some courses here in the US try to force you to purchase a cart. They offer no price difference between cart and walking, and discourage you from walking by saying that the distances are too great between holes/or other excuse. Some courses declare themselves cart only.

I try to avoid those places. I have never found the pace of play any quicker if it is an all cart course.

[Brad_MB]

I know there's a lot of threads on walking right now, and I may have overlooked this. But my local course is a really long, really hilly course. Besides the high school golf team members, I have yet to see anyone walk. I really would like to start walking the course, and it is cheaper so it will start saving me a lot of money. The only reason I haven't started already is because I'm afraid I'll catch a lot of flak since I'm walking. My biggest weakness is that I worry about others too much when I play, and it hurts my game. Do you think I should just go ahead and break the norm and walk?

[imtomtomim]

I walk any chance I get, but the problem with playing with guys in carts is when they don't play ready golf and they wait for you before they hit. Walking is definitely the way to go. I just wish I had a roof over my push cart for some shade all the time.

[zeg]

I normally play a few small, inexpensive courses where walkers outnumber riders by a large margin (at least at the times I play), but I went out with a friend to a few nicer places in the area a few weeks ago. Three of the five places required carts---not just that it was the same price, but walking was not an option. Although we both normally walk, we were playing 90 holes in 4 days plus attending the US Open in the weekend those days sandwiched, so we didn't mind riding. (We were going to play 108, but that would have entailed playing 36 holes in a day after about 3 hours sleep so we bailed on one round).

Anyway, one of the courses that required carts made sense. I do not think it would be a pleasant experience on foot, due to extreme elevation changes. It basically meandered down into a valley, then back up and down the mountain to a peak, before a final tee shot to the valley ~100 feet below, then back up to the clubhouse. There was one uphill par 4 that was about 270 yards and I found it a challenge to get near the green in 3. It's about the only course I've seen where I think a walker would be far slower than a cart-rider.

For the other courses, were we not planning such a busy few days I might have been frustrated not being able to walk, but this one I didn't mind.

[BuckeyeGolf]

With 3 people, 2/1 or 1/1/1, I usually get asked if I want a ride. I appreciate people are being friendly and all, and I don't know if I speak for most walkers out there, I just want to walk, I like walking, even if it's hot and I'm sweaty. I politely decline, but after repeated asks, I eventually accept because I don't want to seem anti-social.

You are not anti-social by choosing to walk. The cart golfers can be considered anti-social because quite often a better discussion can be had among players strolling down the fairway as opposed to jumping in and out of carts. Regarding pace, I recommend that you maintain a heightened awareness to stay ahead of other players in your group. First of all, a cart can't go any faster than a person on foot if there are pairings in front of you. When the last ball is struck off the tee take an aggressive stride down the fairway. I'm talking seconds after the last tee shot is made, make a break for your ball. Maintain a brisk walking pace until you reach your next shot. When balls are spread out on the fairway, walk ahead without creating any visual interference to other players preparing for their next shot. Your mindset should be to find anyway possible to keep walking. When you reach the green to putt, place your bag in alignment with the next tee ground. This cuts down on zig zag walking after the group's putts have concluded. If you maintain a conscious effort to stay aggressive with your pace of play, you will often stay well ahead of the cart golfers. If there are two people in a cart, then you should easily keep pace because they are having to manage the placement of their cart between two balls in the fairway while you walk straight to your ball. Usually cart golf leads to poor club selection because the driver leaves the other player before they've had a chance to assess their next shot. You know the routine--- "I need a different club, can you come back with the cart. I have a 7 iron and I need an 8. What a mess cart golf is. It pains me to think about riding. Keep on walking. and ask the cart golfers to be social with you as you walk the fairways.

[rebby]

I love to walk but i never really get the chance too. When 3 people all take a cart you sort of have to so you can just keep up.

Every Tuesday (my league round), I'm in a group w/three carts. I'm the sole walker. I'll hop on a cart and ride to a drive or two during the course of the round but generally no more. You can keep up, you just have to hit the ball fewer times.

[soloredd]

You can keep up, you just have to hit the ball fewer times.

Love that quote.

Yesterday I played in a threesome and was the lone walker. Both guys had their own carts, for whatever reason. Seems like I was waiting for them a lot more than they for me. They were in the trees or duffed tee shots, whatever. I HATE riding in carts, it completely ruins my tempo and I don't get to enjoy the course. I am fortunate that 2 of my best friends that I play with the most love to walk as well so whenever we have buddy golf trips it's not a big deal. I've played a few courses where walking just did not seem possible. The Crossings in Carlsbad comes to mind. Some of the holes are very widely spread out.