Do you carry your bag in America?

[noob]

Quick question for you all.. Do courses in America ban buggy and trolleys in Winter at all? If they do, do you think casual golfers still play (having to walk and carrying their own bag)?

I came from Asia and started golf there. Over there, you are farthest removed from having to carrying your bag. By that I mean I always had a caddy playing golf. I don't even clean my clubs, rake any bunkers or even reach for my own drink... left alone carrying my own bag. Talking about being spoiled :)

Now that I live in England, it's a different story. At first I would only golf driving buggy despite being laughed at by my older friends. Then they talked me into walking with them with a power trolley so we can talk so I did that. But one day in Winter, trolley is off limit as well and the only way I can play at this course (it's a European Tour course and is private, very well maintained) is by walking. The thought of calling it  altogether that day has crossed my mind. But in the end I thought I should be able to carry my bag if those guys who are not as fit as me can! Turns out it's actually fine. It was all in my head. I now walk twice a week carrying my own bag. Even if there is free power caddy I'd probably still carry :)

[treebound]

Probably depends upon the course and the current conditions. Some courses require golfcars and functionally ban walking, other courses encourage walking.  Sometimes carts (or trolleys) are requested to stay on the cart path.  So, basic answer is "it depends upon the course".

[cubdog]

Complicated question because the US is so large with many different climates.

If we're only talking about courses with similar winter conditions that you might experience it's still complicated. Some courses shut down completely in the winter although fewer than before I think. Others will be open but no carts, or buggies,  just walking with push carts.

One course I used to play in Denver would actually plow their fairways during the winter in order to stay open.

So I'm not sure there is a stock answer anyone can give you. I'm sure others will chime in with their insight.

[jbishop15]

No bans for where I play. Carts, pull carts, walking; its up to the person what they want to do.

[dkolo]

I've only heard of one golf course in the US that bans push carts, and that's Erin Hills, which is a US Open venue. I'm sure it's also the case elsewhere, but that's literally the only course I know that bans carts. Usually, even if they don't allow riding carts, they'll allow push carts (Bethpage Black is like this). As for seasonal, in my experiences courses restrict riding carts based on temperature or moisture more than season. I've never seen any temporary restriction on push carts.

Also, the trolley / buggy thing always throws me whenever Brits call them that. They're all carts to us here, haha

[jsgolfer]

I don't think I've seen a course ban walking, but some of the newer courses have such long walks between holes, I don't think a walker could keep up.

Now a lot of places will still charge you the cart fee whether you walk or not if it's included in their fee.

[rehmwa]

  cubdog said:

Complicated question because the US is so large with many different climates.

nonsense, we're all exactly the same.....exactly the same

I suspect at some point a jobs program will be implemented such that the government will pay for caddies for everyone.  Or,,,,if we don't hire caddies, we'll have to pay a tax fee.

[tristanhilton85]

Most courses that I've encountered leave it up to the player whether they want to walk or ride. I played on Saturday with @mvmac , @Bechambo , and @Golfingdad our bags, but there were plenty that were in golf carts or using a push cart. There are some courses around me that don't allow walking at all, mainly because the courses aren't set up well for it (lots of space from green to tee), and one, that allows walking but not push carts as they had issues with people pushing them over the greens.

[dkolo]

  rehmwa said:

nonsense, we're all exactly the same.....exactly the same I suspect at some point a jobs program will be implemented such that the government will pay for caddies for everyone.  Or,,,,if we don't hire caddies, we'll have to pay a tax fee.

If you like your caddie, you can keep him.

[Patch]

I use to carry my own bag until it became too small. With all the other stuff I now carry, I went to larger, staff bag, and a trolley for 90% of my rounds. The other 10% is for carts, and a caddy as the needs arise.  There have been some times when using a motorized cart that it was "cart path only" .  I have golfed all over America, some places in Canada, Mexico, Scotland, and England. However  the course supervisor wants to tote my bag, I'm all for it.

Right now for a couple of more weeks I will be using a cart due to a recent knee tune up. After that, I will be walking, and pushing my Clicgear trolley as much as possible. Might even upgrade that to a remote controlled, motorized version later this year. I am finding electric models have a pre, and post round weight issue.

[DrvFrShow]

One local course. Green Fees: $30. Their daily "special": Green Fees + hot dog & drink at 9 + cart $34. If you walk and get the hot dog & drink it's $40. So they're discouraging exercise. This is America.

[dkolo]

  DrvFrShow said:

One local course. Green Fees: $30. Their daily "special": Green Fees + hot dog & drink at 9 + cart $34. If you walk and get the hot dog & drink it's $40. So they're discouraging exercise. This is America.

Yeah, with Golfnow hot deals, at least in the past, it was cheaper most times to ride than to buy just the greens fee at the course.

[NJpatbee]

Many upscale public courses in the NY Metro area require motorized carts (trolleys) for morning tee times and encourage them all the time since they need the revenue.  I prefer the cart with my tempermental back and will always at least take a push cart.  I do have a 2600 yard executive course (5 par 3's, 3 par 4's, and 1 par 5) for which I always walk but do not carry.  I guess the most precise answer is what was said above - "it depends".

[rkim291968]

  dkolo said:

I've only heard of one golf course in the US that bans push carts, and that's Erin Hills, which is a US Open venue. I'm sure it's also the case elsewhere, but that's literally the only course I know that bans carts. Usually, even if they don't allow riding carts, they'll allow push carts (Bethpage Black is like this). As for seasonal, in my experiences courses restrict riding carts based on temperature or moisture more than season. I've never seen any temporary restriction on push carts.

Also, the trolley / buggy thing always throws me whenever Brits call them that. They're all carts to us here, haha

I know courses in CA which requires customers to rent cart on weekends.   Walking (with or without pull/push cart) is not allowed for those hours.

Newer courses are difficult to walk b/c of distance between holes.   Many new courses are built to squeeze in a lot of houses in between holes.

[dkolo]

  rkim291968 said:

I know courses in CA which requires customers to rent cart on weekends.   Walking (with or without pull/push cart) is not allowed for those hours. Newer courses are difficult to walk b/c of distance between holes.   Many new courses are built to squeeze in a lot of houses in between holes.

Fair enough. When I said banning pushcarts, I was thinking in terms of mandating carrying or caddies as opposed to any riding or pushcarting. That makes sense though, what you said.

[cubdog]

  rehmwa said:

nonsense, we're all exactly the same.....exactly the same

I suspect at some point a jobs program will be implemented such that the government will pay for caddies for everyone.  Or,,,,if we don't hire caddies, we'll have to pay a tax fee.

All exactly the same? How do you figure the US has only one climate?

[rehmwa]

  cubdog said:

All exactly the same? How do you figure the US has only one climate?

ahhhh, are you familiar with wry cynicism?

(I was agreeing with you, in fact, I'd posit that the OP question isn't really valid at all other than as a bid for a gross generalization, in any country.  However, it is always a good conversational effort to attempt to compare and contrast 'typical' habits between cultures of at least similar population size or geographical size.  So to your point, I'd say that climate may have some bearing on it, but I doubt it's even close to the top pareto item for ride vs walk vs carry.  I applaud the OPs international travel, desire to classify typical americans, and the high end, classy golf courses and friends which he enjoys.)

[Yukari]

I've played many rounds in Asia during my business trips and I know exactly what you mean by not having to do anything besides swing the club. But in the US, I always carry my clubs unless carts are included in the green fees. I prefer walking but some courses are not set up for walking - too far of a distance between the green and the next tee box.