Walk Or Ride?
Warmer weather finally visited The Caveman this week, and while it probably won’t last at least I know Spring is still comin’ sometime soon! I even took a long walk around The Cave with no destination in mind, just enjoyed being outside without a coat!
But as it always happens, pretty soon my mind was back to thinkin’ about golf. And now I gotta know: do you prefer to walk or ride when you play golf?
Me? I’m a walker all the way. You know I’m all about bargains and paying for a cart seems like an added expense I can do without. Plus I feel like I have more time between shots to enjoy the course and think about my next shot while I’m walkin’ up to my ball.
But I can understand why you cart-riders ride, too. It’s hard to beat blastin’ beside a fairway with an ice-cold “cola” in your hand, your buddy by your side, and a stiff breeze to cool you down even more.
Walk or ride, I think every golfer will agree with me that the tricked-out golf carts at Bad Ass Golf Carts and Unique Golf Cars are pretty sweet! Which one would you want, or do you have a custom order you’d get if money were no object? I wonder if they could set me up with a Flintstones-style golf cart!
~ Scratch
BONUS: Anytime you’re driving a golf cart, tricked out or rental, dont use it like this guy!
I’m a walker first but it’s hard to find golfing buddies these days that are willing. I feel I play better and have a better mental side to my game when I walk. I won’t call it a Zen thing, but your connected closer to the game when you walk. There is time to evaluate the last shot and prepare for the next one. When I ride there are distractions like; where to I park the cart? where is my riding partner? Things that you don’t have to worry about when your walking down the middle of a beautiful fairway.
Carts have made the game convenient and some have been pushed to believe that you can play faster. If there were statistics kept, I bet it would prove differently. I have had foursomes sigh when they see my buddy and I heading down the first fairway with our bags on our backs. We get the last laugh when the next time we see them we are five or six holes ahead of them.
Non-golfers believe that golf can’t be an athletic sport since you ride a cart to play. My own doctor laughed when she asked what kind of exercise I did and I told her I played golf three of four times a week. It might not be running five miles on a treadmill, but I challenge her to walk 18 holes carrying her own bag and then tell me it wasn’t exercise. I’m not saying that walking has to be for everyone, but if you can play 18 holes with a cart, you could definitely walk nine.
Most public courses frown upon walkers because of the loss in revenue of the cart rental. My own course manager has made sneered comments when we arrive to walk our round. Some courses won’t even let you out until the afternoon. They make plenty of course modification for the carts but you very rarely see them made for the walkers (I.E. Bridges, paths, etc..).
I know we are the chosen few! One day I will trade in my stand bag for a push cart but I hope to be walking until I cannot play this great game any longer.
I’LL WALK ANYTIME THE WEATHER IS BETWEEN 40 AND 80. EVERYTHING ELSE IS TO HOT OR TO COLD. PLUS IF I AM PLAYING WITH 2 OTHER GOLFERS RIDING, IT IS VERY TOUGH TO KEEP UP ONCE THEY HIT AND TAKE OFF UP THE FAIRWAY. BUT I LOVE TO WALK WITH MY PUSH CART.
I love to walk! I am approaching 50 and even though I gave in to a push cart about 2 years ago (it is nice not having the lower back pain) I still get out 4-5 times a week and walk my local course. It has plenty of hills and I really enjoy the work out. I have a reputation (this is a good thing) as being the fastest walker they have ever seen and get harrased about it on a regular bases. Yes, I eat this up!! Most of the regulars simply let me play through, inc the cart riders. Those who do not know me quickly feel my stares and let me play through. Don’t get me wrong I still enjoy my time with my buds taking a cart and playing for honor but on a day to day basis I love getting out and playing the game the way God intended!!
I have always enjoyed hiking and when I was younger spending many days, weeks and even months on trails. I also really enjoyed long distance cycling. No, I not a jock, in fact I am pusing 225 lbs at 6′ but really enjoy walking and golf gives me a purpose to my walk. I still walk with my chocolate lab 3-5 miles several times a week but nothing is better than being the course when no one else is out there and enjoying the great outdoors!!!
Walk on fellow golfers and enjoy the game!!!