What's the Hottest You'd Walk 18?

[jsgolfer]

I just walked 9 holes last week and it was 97 degrees and mighty humid.

[Piz]

I don't like walking more than 9 in any circumstance.  Played 18 yesterday, with a cart, and was soaked when we got through.  Now, if they rented horses...

[No Mulligans]

I prefer walking and walk probably about 90% of my rounds.  However, above 85 degrees I'm riding.

[Yukari]

3 hours ago, DeadMan said:

I've walked in high 90s in Colorado no problem. We rarely get humidity here, though. I'd walk in temperatures up to about 100 in Colorado. But if it's over about 40% humidity, drop that down to about 85 before I'd take a cart. Dry heat doesn't bother me too much. Humidity just drains me.

Ditto for me.

When I was living in PA (near King of Prussia), I walked when it was in mid 90's with 60-70% humidity, but I would be useless the rest of the day.

Now that I am so use to dry heat, I doubt I can do that again.

[Valleygolfer]

2 hours ago, GolfLug said:

I walk with my push cart in up to mid 90s. The push cart has an umbrella holder which I use in summer if it is not too windy to pull the umbrella off the holder strap. Makes a big difference.  

This. Since I moved up North my tolerance is tested. I played in 100+ with high humidity and very little water (not planned) and only made it through 9 holes... The umbrella is a big difference though.

[billchao]

I usually play in the mornings, so even on a day when the high is in the upper 90's, I'm off the course before it peaks. I'm used to working outside in the heat though so walking wouldn't bother me too much. I wear a headband that wicks away sweat from my eyes, carry an extra towel just for my face, and load up a 40oz insulated bottle full of ice and water which I refill on the course. It's all about being properly prepared.

[BamaWade]

I walk ~95% of my rounds.  Most courses here in my area of Alabama have plenty of rolling hills, so during summer when the heat is up (and it's nearly always very humid), it gets tough.  With typical heat/humidity levels, for me, 95F is pushing it (heat indexes would be 100+) to walk/carry, and probably my absolute max.  If we get a rare dry airmass to come through, then 95F isn't all that bad, and you get much more relief in the shade.
We have plenty of water on my home course, and tons of tall trees, so shade is around.  But the "air you can wear", added to the constant up and down of the hills will absolutely zap you.  I keep a towel in my car to spread over the seat for my drive home, as I look nearly as if I fell into a pond post-round.  Even drinking a little at every water station, I go home and make my way through 4-5 large cups of ice water...takes me most, if not all, of the evening to get my hydration level back up.

[kpaulhus]

Last Thursday I carried my bag on Streamsong Red in Florida. I was dripping on the floor the entire lunch after the round. Thought I was going to die of heat exhaustion. (not really) but it was the hottest I've ever been. It was 90* with 78% humidity. I couldn't keep my hands dry for the life of me. 

[BamaWade]

37 minutes ago, kpaulhus said:

I couldn't keep my hands dry for the life of me.

Yeah, I know this feeling.  In mid-summer, I have 3 gloves on my bag, and rotate through them every hole or so just so they don't completely saturate.  Also, can't play in my glasses...have to go with the contacts.  Else, between the drips of sweat from my hair and steaming up, I'd need wipers on the lenses.

[WUTiger]

Back about 2000, I was living out in Oklahoma. It was a day in early June, and the temperature was 95*F. 

I walked 27 holes that day, but had to take a cart for the final 9 to make 36 holes. Heat was not really the problem. It was a dry day, and we had a light, cool breeze coming out of the Rockies up in Colorado.

What did me in was the hard, concrete-like clay soil I was walking on. It bruised the soles of my feet so bad I was starting to limp and feel achy. (I was carrying my own bag and wearing golf shoes).

[JonMA1]

I'll walk in the 90's but it does kick my butt.

[shanksalot]

When I was younger I never thought of the weather I just went out and played. Now that I am in my mid 70's once it gets over 85* sunny and no breeze I am done. 

[boogielicious]

16 hours ago, Piz said:

I don't like walking more than 9 in any circumstance.  Played 18 yesterday, with a cart, and was soaked when we got through.  Now, if they rented horses...

Polo Golf!!!

[mcanadiens]

Regardless of weather, my walk decision depends on the course and my company. Playing solo, I usually walk. I'll consider alternatives once it gets over 90 degrees (and its always a humid 90 in SW Ohio).

If my heart is set on a regulation course, I'll probably ride. As often, I'll walk Kittyhawk's 18-hole executive course, the Falcon. Challenging enough course, but I can get a round in a couple of hours if the traffic is good and avoid the cart fee.

[David in FL]

My perspective is a little different.  I don't walk any more regardless of temperature.  However, there are bucket-list courses that I'd like to play that require walking.  If I were able to get on one of them, even if it was extremely hot, I'd take a caddie and go for it.

So on one hand, I never walk, but on the other hand, I wouldn't not walk solely because of the heat.  

[bkuehn1952]

On 7/26/2017 at 4:06 PM, kpaulhus said:

Last Thursday I carried my bag on Streamsong Red in Florida...

Hey, that's what a caddie is supposed to do! 

(says the guy who still has $0.25 left from the first dollar he made)

[Denny Bang Bang]

Just over 100 and dry out here, and 90s and humid in the northeast... would not do either again.  My upper walking threshold is mid-80s in dry heat, and high 70s in the humid climates.  That's why I typically play early in the morning (I prefer walking)

[sjduffers]

In Northern California, with relatively low humidity (in the 20-40%), I can manage to walk with a push cart up to 95F, even with some hills, but those really kick my butt.

Flat courses are a no brainer but on hilly ones, I really have to think about it, having nearly collapsed once on an elevated 18th green: it was a good thing that I had partners with a cart to drive me back to the club house and get me some cold towels on my head. It was a close call...