I am just delighted that Matt decided to walk the par 3. What I don’t know is whether he had to pay or not after the round. I know Matt from a long ago Ambush.
I am just delighted that Matt decided to walk the par 3. What I don’t know is whether he had to pay or not after the round. I know Matt from a long ago Ambush.
A party cart for a par 3 course? Good grief, whatever happened to our legs?
Oh, I see, it’s for our beer and speakers. What nonsense.
There was a time when I could run through the mountains with a full backpack. At almost 70, I can't do that anymore. In the same vein, I have a hard time carrying my bag or even using a pull cart on a longer course. On shorter courses, I still prefer to walk. I enjoy being OUT and the total golfing experience. There just needs to be a balance.
Walking is faster. It makes the game more enjoyable. Allows the player to get much needed exercise.
Now, I will add one wrinkle. Let me use a pull cart.
Some courses ban them. They insist that if a player walks, they must carry. Horse hockey. This isn't the 1800's.,
I carry accessories such as rain gear, towels, some snacks( bananas, primarily) so my bag is above average weight.
When using a conventional motorized cart many golfers are "married " to the vehicle. So much wasted time. There is the player that insists on being driven to their ball. Then there is the player that brings so much "crap" out on to the course, you'd think they were going on a two week vacation. Using carts on walkable courses is a major consumer of time.
One other issue. Course managements MUST cater to those who can play but find walking difficult. So the option of a motorized cart should always be available
I am over 70, with hammer and claw toes, and the arthritis has weakened my legs. I can't walk, but with a cart I am able to play 3 times a week, usually under 3 & 1/2 hours.
I learned the game as a walker, and I play better when I walk. In the last decade I've been trapped into riding by different circumstances (getting matched up into groups with 3 riders, courses that have restricted walking tee times, and some designs - a disastrous idea - that are meant to discourage walking. As I turn 59 in April, I have made it a personal goal to walk more rounds this year than ride. It is better for my game, my state-of-mind, and my health. Maybe I'm just OG, or old fashioned, but I don't need music, or more than one beverage to carry around. I also feel that walking actually allows me to see the course from a designers point of view, which you can't do while riding down a cartpath. Additionally, I truly despise course operators who will still charge a cart fee, even if I choose to walk. That practice is part of the reason why people who may want to walk, will decide to ride, "Since I'm paying for it anyway". There is a special place in Hell for course operators who use that "Same price, walk or ride" policy. I truly enjoyed playing golf in Scotland in 2002 and not seeing any carts on the course. Finally, there are too many riders that slow the pace of play by not knowing the best way to utilize a cart.
Unfortunately, motorized carts have become a major source of revenue for golf course owners. Hence the cart or walk, same price concept
It's also a bit of elitism as well as these particular course managers believe that those who walk are just cheapskates that walk just to avoid paying cart fee.
That's nonsense. Some of us like to walk
Ken, I completely agree.
I can't understand it when I see athletic people in their teens and 20's riding. There is a place for riding, but it is far too common in the U.S. Get some exercise!
Our foursome can't get out to play until 3pm or after (twilight rate). We use carts in order to finish before dark.
I have worked as a "ranger" for many years at courses where walking was NOT allowed. Carts do speed up play except when the carts were confined to the paths. Walking is great for young or healthy golfers. However, at many of the resort courses you have more retirees because the young are still working. The course takes in considerable revenue from carts, the margin is huge.! They prefer carts if profit is a factor. The major problem is not using a cart properly and particularly driving the cart where it should not be taken. Damage to the course is greater with carts because people don't care. Next time on the course watch where carts are parked around tees and greens. The majority pull at least 2 wheels off the path. The grass is always damaged. Golf rounds are down at most courses,and many have closed. Eliminating carts would reduce more play.
On courses that are walkable, or courses where the cart paths are farther from the center of the fairways, use of carts uses up more time.
I have experimented with this myself.
I walked and rode the same course, and to make it as scientific as possible, I used rounds where the conditions were the same. And I used rounds where I shot similar scores.
In each instance, the round I walked took significantly less time.
I am a 75 year old golfer having been playing for 45 years in former years mainly in the U.K. and Spain, where walking the course with a trolley , manual and these days electric. Is the norm. Even in Spain and Portugal where the temperatures often equal those found in Florida..
I moved my golfing home to Florida some 12 years ago and was initially appalled at the lack of walking courses., with most not even allowing the option of walking. Presumably due to lack of revenue gleaned from renting out carts..I always thought that ridding meant you missed out many of the pleasures of walking the course, taking time to study your next shot while approaching your ball. I would debate that ridding leads to faster rounds. In my experience it does not.. Bernie Osborne, Naples.