Who really walks all of the time?

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

1. I walk 100% of the time. I've never used a cart.
2. Carry 90%, pull 10% when in competitions (36 holes) or when it's very hot (over 25C for me).
3. Very much when it comes to pulling. In competitions, or when taking photographs, I find it is quicker to pull. When you carry, you need to leave the bag down, to getyour score card, pencil, water bottle etc. Pulling makes it easier and makes for quicker golf in my opinion.
4. Not a factor.
5. Not applicable.
6. Not applicable.
7. I wouldn't say hate, but I don't like them.
8. Not at all.
9. Not at all. I thinks it's a little like smoking. People thought it was good for us and it was the fashionable thing to do. I think people need to be educated on the benefits of walking
10. Is a path (gravel, small stones, tarmac, cement, etc.) that just runs from the tee to the start of the fairway a cart path or a walking path? If it has a kerb, does it cease to be a walking path?
 

[Jason Topp]

I can look up my history at my home course to check my choices over the last 12 months.  These statistics do not reflect choices at other locations but my guess is that the statistics would be similar except when mandated by different policies or the terrain of the course:

Here are my stats:

1. Who walks 100% of the time?  44 out of 53 rounds.  Of the cart rounds most are in the evening when trying to play 18 in 2 hours or due to preferences of other members of the group.  Some are the 2nd 18
2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it? Carried 34 times.  Caddy 9 times.
3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision?  It has a big influence on 36 hole days.  A smaller influence on very hot and humid 18 hole days
4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision?a lot
5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths?If needed for course conditioning.  At my club they are fairly limited because we do not get a ton of play
6. Supers, would you rather have wall to wall? paths only around greens/tees? none?n/a
7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden?not really
8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts?no but those who can walk are missing out on a good opportunity to burn calories and improve health
9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect? see above
10. Make up another question and answer it.

Do you consider a course that is easily walkable superior to one that is notI consider this factor a significant negative, especially at a location where terrain does not dictate carts.  I particularly detest housing courses that are not walkable because it is pretty easy to design a walkable housing course (Harbour Town for example)
Do you despise course policies that mandates carts even though the course is easily walkableyes
Do you avoid courses that mandate cartsOnly if everything else is equal which it never is

[Tom ORourke]

I am 59 years old. I have been a member at a short (3,000 yard) nine hole course in southern New Jersey for 20 years. I have taken a cart 5 times in 20 years. 2 of those were during a club championship weekend when it was 103 degrees, another was the finals the next year. Our course is old (1892) and short, and not much of a walk from green to tee. Almost all of my group (around 12 guys) walk all of the time. 90% carry, a few pull carts. We do not have a lot of cart paths. The club membership is fairly old so I see the need for guys who take a cart. No big deal. I am moving to Aiken, SC, and have joined a club down there that is at least as hilly as Augusta. Walking 18 is a bear. I tend to play 9 after work each day and carry but take a cart if I am playing 18 with a group of guys in carts. I will sometimes walk 18 but we have some long, uphill wlaks between holes. My wife may take a cart and give me a lift to the next hole rather than wait 10 minutes for me to show up on the tee. I will walk whenever possible. I love walking only courses.

[JNC Lyon]

1. Who walks 100% of the time?  Very few people walk 100% of the time--I try to walk as much as possible, but I might play six rounds/year in a cart.
2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it?  Carry, always.  Remember, taking a caddy counts as walking.
3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision?  Very little or not at all.
4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision?  Not that high, but most people I play with walk consistently.
5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths? No.
6. Supers, would you rather have wall to wall? paths only around greens/tees? none?
7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden?  YES.
8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts?  I'll put it this way golfers who ride all the time are a major burden to the game.  Nothing bums me out more than the consummate cart golfer.
9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect? Yeah, pretty much.
10. Make up another question and answer it.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Who really walks all of the time?   Golfers, as Players will not care and willing do their own thing.

Melvyn.

[JC Jones]

This thread is a bigger "mine is bigger than yours" thread than the one titled "whip it out; Top 25 courses played."

[Mike Hogan]

I walk 90 % of the time. Of my 50+ rounds I've been in a cart for 3.
I always carry my GCA bag!
I don't play if the dewpoint is above 65 or if it to hot to walk.
I play regularly with a twosome in a cart, I walk. We play in 3:15 min.
I don't like cart paths, love walking trails..
I don't care what others do. I laugh when I see young healthy folks riding in a cart. They don't know what they are missing.

What Do you like about walking? I  have found that I like cleaning my clubs and just strolling along.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Donal, I disagree strongly that pulling makes for quicker golf. All of the faffing with where you can bring the trolley around the greens etc potentially adds a lot of unnecessary time - and many people that lose a ball in the rough  end up running back to the bag to get a club then back again etc - it's a faff. Especially on a hilly course with lots of rough. PS - this doesn't apply to uber considerate golfers who get embarrassed by holding people up - but that is a rare enough breed.

Brian,

I agree that it depends on the golfer and in some situations, the trolley is a time waster, but in other situations, it's a time saver. I'm one of those players that worries about holding people up, and recently I played a number of rounds that were 4 1/2 hours, and it shocked me.

I usually carry a stand-up bag, but during competitions where I need to mark a card (after each hole because I can't always remember if my partner 2 or 3 putted a few holes back, or what I scored myself), drink water, etc., I feel the trolley is more efficient.

I bought a new set of irons last year and I really wanted to keep them in good condition, so I bought covers for the irons. They are a real pain. The worst situation for me is around the greens or when you're unsure of what iron to play. You take out one iron plus cover, and then the other iron plus cover. Around the greens, you might need to take two wedges and a putter; that's three head covers. With the push trolley, I just put the clubs in the bag and push the covers termporarily in the bottle holder of the trolley. I can then put the covers on the clubs as I walk. If I'm behind my playing partners at any time, I just run! It's not easy to run with a bag over your shoulders.

I just felt at times like an old futhering old eejit, especially in the rain (umbrella, wet gear, towel, wiping my glasses, etc.).  I also worry about the card falling out of my pocket, so the card holder (and ball holders; useful when you need to hit a provisional ball) on the trolley gives me peace of mind.

Maybe I'm just getting old.

[Steve Kline]

1. Who walks 100% of the time? Probably 95-98% of the time. I usually only ride if it is mandatory, if I'm playing with my wife and son (for various reasons they can't walk our course, or if I'm playing with my dad who doesn't walk anymore since going blind

2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it? 100% carry

3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision? not at all, although when it is raining I've found walking even better than riding. I've stopped carrying an umbrella and rain suit too - it's typically too hot where I live if I'm playing in the rain. With no shirt fibers I find just getting wet is better. The shirt dries fast and I don't have the hassle of all the gear. Plus rain gloves keep the club from slipping. In the winter I would never think about riding - too cold.

4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision? none

5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths? no

6. Supers, would you rather have wall to wall? paths only around greens/tees? none? N/A

7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden? yes, unless they are a natural path

8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts? no, I just feel sorry for them

9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect? no, but I feel even sorrier for these guys. I always think they must be really lazy and pathetic. Wait...I take it back. I despise anyone between the ages of 13-30 that is riding in cart on a walkable course on beautiful day.

10. Make up another question and answer it.

[Giles Payne]

1. Who walks 100% of the time? All the time
2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it? Carry except when very wet
3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision? as above
4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision? not at all
5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths? No - would rather they were not there.
6. Supers, would you rather have wall to wall? paths only around greens/tees? none? n/a
7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden? as above
8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts? No but I think that they are missing part of the point - I do not think that they should be allowed for competition golf - even the pros aren't allowed to use them
9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect? I don't despise them but I do think that they are missing out on a lot. I think that it is just plain lazy unless there are medical, physical or age reasons.
10. Make up another question and answer it. I think taking a cart actually reduces your engagement with both the course and your playing partners

[Ryan Farrow]

This thread is a bigger "mine is bigger than yours" thread than the one titled "whip it out; Top 25 courses played."

Hhaha... not exactly what I was going for... Actually a bit surprised... and the response to view ratio is off the charts.... I'm waiting until Jeff Brauer responds, or my boss, before I answer my own question. I don't think anyone has answered under 80%.

I would get crucified..... Plus I'm still waiting for the West to respond... still too early in the morning. We may see the numbers start to shift in favor of carts.    

[David Harshbarger]

1. Who walks 100% of the time? Me except when I don't.  Very little this year as my 10 and 6 year old wear out.
2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it? Carry
3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision? None
4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision? A lot, if it is a corporate outing with coworkers, I prefer the social experience.  In an ad hoc group, not at all.
5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths? Not really
6. Supers, would you rather have wall to wall? paths only around greens/tees? none?
7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden?
8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts?  No, but I think I enjoy a richer experience of golf.
9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect? no.
10. Make up another question and answer it.

[Dan Boerger]

1. Who walks 100% of the time? - 90% for me
2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it? - Caddie or carry, don't pull
3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision? LOTS - if I'm with clients or friend who are all taking a cart, I'll usually do same
4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision? See above
5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths? Often
6. Supers, would you rather have wall to wall? paths only around greens/tees? none?
7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden? If they are paved!
8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts? Angry question! Better they are playing then not.
9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect? I'm a big freedom of choice person.
10. Make up another question and answer it.

[Cory Lewis]

1. Who walks 100% of the time? I'm about 70/30 walking, because I play in pro-ams and with other club pros who refuse to walk

2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it? always carry

3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision? if I am starting in a downpour I might take a cart

4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision?  at this time my wife can only walk 18 a day, so if we are playing a 2nd round, we will ride

5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths?  I don't like cart paths

7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden? I only hate poorily designed cart paths that ruin strategy or architecture

8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts? No at all, although I will say I hate to see four 16 years olds in carts

9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect? No, most americans are lazy and we can't change that

10. Make up another question and answer it. Do carts help pace of play? Not necessirly if people don't know how to play ready golf!

[Sven Nilsen]

1. Who walks 100% of the time? - 95% of the time
2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it? - Carry, with the occasional caddy
3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision? Never regarding walking, sometimes regarding playing at all.
4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision? I will ride if others in the group insist on it, but will generally find myself walking stretches of the course regardless
5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths? Don't really care, but I do like the open look of no cart paths.
6. Supers, would you rather have wall to wall? paths only around greens/tees? none?
7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden? Depends which way my ball bounces when it hits one.
8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts? Despise, no.  But they do confuse me.  Part of golf is the exercise of the walk.
9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect? No I'm just a little more confused.
10. Make up another question and answer it.  Do riding in carts and consuming mass quantities of alcoholic beverages often go hand in hand on the golf course?   Yes.

[Brent Hutto]

Not only do I play better and enjoy the course more when I walk, I enjoy the extra exercise doing an activity that doesnt feel like exercise.

I'm always tempted to point out in these discussions that I never had set foot on a golf course until one day when I was 33 years old and decided to try it as a way to get some physical activity. So when it comes to carts, I'm hardly going to ride in a cart when my entire reason for taking up the game in the first place was to have something interesting to do while walking a few miles at a time.

[James Boon]

1. Who walks 100% of the time? In the last 4 years, I've walked every round I've played
2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it? Also in the last 4 years, I've carried every round I've played
3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision? Not at all, only the amount of stuff I've got in the bag I'm carrying, or I occasionally go down to a pencil bag in fine weather
4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision? None, as most times when I've walked alongside people in carts, on corporate days for instance, they've been so busy hacking about and faffing about putting clubs in the back (not a recent GCAer who was in a cart for health reasons) that I've caught up with them walking, and most of the time those are slow rounds so you get a chance to talk while waiting on the next tee
5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths? Not applicable
6. Supers, would you rather have wall to wall? paths only around greens/tees? none? Not applicable
7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden? Generally yes, but I'm used to some paths weaving through the heather, I just don't like the damn things all down the side of the fairway and between holes. You may as well use a Johnnie Cab from Total Recall?  
8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts? Each to their own, but when I see young people with no injuries doing it, I do tend to form an instant stereotype of them...  
9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect? As above
10. Make up another question and answer it...

The last time I had a cart was at Golden Horseshoe in Virginia while on holiday in the States, as I'm pretty sure it was included in the price. I was on my own, but my dad was with me, so I put my clubs on the back, but walked the course and he drove the buggy because of his dodgy hip. Thinking about it, I think of the 6 rounds I've played in the States and 3 in Portugal, I've only once not had a buggy and that was at Colonial Country Club? Resort golf suck!  

I've taken a ride on a buggy between holes when caddying (one was provided at Gleneagles PGA Centenary between 2 and 3) or several times to get to the first tee when a distance away or to a tee further out on the course. But from hitting my first shot to picking the ball out of the last hole, its just not something I like doing as it spoils the rhythm of the round and my appreciation of the architecture, its setting and the wildlife around the course.

Having said all that, I remember when I was a kid that buggys were such a novelty here in the UK, we used them quite a bit for a while, until the novelty disappeared...

I also think trolleys don't really help, as Brian mentions above.

Cheers,

James

[Stewart Abramson]

1. Who walks 100% of the time? Not me -

2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it? I use a 3-wheel trolley about 90% of the time at home and ride a cart the other 10%. I ride when it is etremely hot or when I have a guest who wants to ride, or if I am very tired. My home club is approx 1/3 riding carts, 1/3 trolleys and 1/3 bag carriers. I travel a lot and ride a cart about half the time when I travel in the U.S. and walk 100% of the time in the U.K.. I ride when I travel mostly because that is what my playing partners do or the course doesn't offer trolleys

3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision? Weather is a significant factor when it is extreme

4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision? Not a factor at home, except that I will always defer to a guest who wants to ride; Significant factor when I travel.

5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths? Not if they come into play.

7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden? _ If they are hidden and not in play I don't care


I don't think there is a significant difference in pace of play between carrying and pulling.  Pre-shot routines, failure to play "ready goilf" and lack of focus are the primary causes of slow play, not trolleys. I also think two riders in a cart is bad for pace of play. They tend to go to player A's ball and then to player B's ball only after Player A has  taken his shot and never think of having player B take a couple of clubs and walking to player B's ball to prepare for a shot while Player A is at his ball. To balme slow play on trolleys is misguided.

[Jud_T]

1. Who walks 100% of the time?
Nope

2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it?
Either with caddy or pullcart. rarely carry

3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision?
a lot. love walking but not when it's hot and humid.

4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision?
not much

5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths?
no

6. Supers, would you rather have wall to wall? paths only around greens/tees? none?

7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden?  
ok if well hidden and made of more natural material

8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts?
nope

9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect?
nope.  where else are they going to put their case of beer, cigars, cell phones, gps, ball-retriever, radio, 6 layers of clothing and spare Depends?  

10. Do you think guys who carry 54 holes a day in 90 degree heat and 100% humidity are nuts?  
Yup

[Tim Bert]

1. Who walks 100% of the time? Not me

2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it?  Usually carry. The only time I really use trolleys is at Bandon, every 2 or 3 years.

3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision?  I have generally moved the direction of just not playing in extreme heat (90F plus) but depending upon the company and the course I may still choose to play on occasion and I would probably ride if the group was riding. I also try to be practical - here's an example: I really wanted to play nine holes at Kingsley one morning this July and a hard thunderstorm system was headed in. No one else was playing the course and it would have been an inconvenience to the club to have to come fund me and fetch me when the storm hit, so I took a cart. Seemed like a fair compromise since they were letting me head out at all given the circumstances.

4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision?  Some.  I dont mind walking if others are riding but if my primary motivation for a particular round of golf is to catch up with a friend that only rides and I don't see that person regularly then I will ride.  I will also compromise if playing many holes and the rest of the group doesn't want to walk the entire day - for instance in June we played 54 one day. I walked 36 and rode 18 because that is what the rest of the group wanted to do.  

5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths?  I don't really understand this.  Why would I be glad there are cart paths?  I will use them if they are there and I am instructed to do so, but I don't generally have an emotional feeling about their existence.

6. Supers, would you rather have wall to wall? paths only around greens/tees? none?  Not a Super

7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden?  Don't really care. Prefer they don't exist but again I am not too emotional about them

8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts?  No. I learned the game in a cart because those that taught me to play rode in a cart and that's what golf was.  A good number of the public courses in our city required carts during weekends and during most of the summer. Over time I learned an appreciation for golf courses, rather than the game itself, and I also discovered the joys of walking. I now walk whenever I can but I may not have been introduced to this great game or discovered my love for walking a golf course if it weren't for carts. I dint understand why more people don't walk but I don't despise anyone for riding.

9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect?  No

10. Make up another question and answer it.  What is your favorite Radiohead song?  It changes frequently.

[Joe Bausch]

1. Who walks 100% of the time?  Not me.  But probably way over 50% of the time I walk.

2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it?  Carry.  Although the more I see those fancy push carts I think I might just give one of them a spin, uhhh, push.

3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision?  Very little.

4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision?  It can.  If it is some close friends I have not seen in a while that don't like to walk, I may ride.

5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths?  Don't matter.

7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden?  Don't like them, but I begrudgingly admit are a necessary evil.

8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts?  No.

9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect? No, but it does make me wonder why they made the choice they did.  What is simply b/c they are available?  See below.

10. Would a golf course suffer if no carts were allowed and only walking and pull carts were?  Recently I played one of the most bare-bone courses ever:  Clayton Park.  It is a little 9-hole 'executive-like' course.  No carts allowed.  It was hotter than Hades the day I was there and it was packed.  Young and old, male and female, some more fit than others.  And everyone was walking and carrying or had rented a pull cart.  They have no choice there and, I think, they love the game and can do w/o the motorized cart.

[Mike Nuzzo]

I prefer to walk and carry a light bag
Most of my rounds have been in a cart for the last 12 months - very few rounds
And those rounds have been because of the group or person I was playing with
Cart paths unseen are much better than those seen
Only 1 time have I ever really scratched my head at riders  - 2 young professional dudes playing an empty Chicago Golf Club on a perfect early afternoon

If you had to play Cypress Point in a cart to play would you?  Of course.

*The heat doesn't affect my walking decisions here in Houston

[Guy Nicholson]

1. Who walks 100% of the time? I ride only when there's a specific reason.
2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it? Usually carry, unless I'm especially tired.
3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision? Very little to none.
4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision? Some. Occasionally, group dynamics can provide that specific reason to ride.
5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths? Only between tees.
6. Supers, would you rather have wall to wall? paths only around greens/tees? none?
7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden? Don't hate, just prefer a course without.
8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts? No, but I don't hesitate to evangelize a little. A lot of my late-30s friends automatically ride and I often push them to get out of the cart.
9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect? No, but I might respect them a little less.  
10. Make up another question and answer it. What has really helped this year? TRUE golf shoes. My feet have never felt better after walking.

[Craig Disher]

1. Who walks 100% of the time?
 Me - 100% unless forced into a cart by a club's no-walk policy.
2. When you walk, do you carry your bag or pull it?
 Carry although I would use a pull cart if raining.
3. How much of a factor does weather influence your decision?
 N/A
4. How much of a factor does your playing group influence your decision?
 Not at all.
5. When you decide not to walk, are you glad there are cart paths?
 N/A
7. Do you still hate cart paths, even if they are really well hidden?
 If "hidden" means "out of the line of play", then I have no problem with them.
8. In general, do you despise golfers who ride in carts?
 Despise is too strong; I'm irritated by the use of carts on a sliding scale defined by the age and fitness of the golfer
9. Do you despise golfers who ride when the course is easily walk-able and the weather is perfect?
 See 8.
10. Make up another question and answer it.

[John_Cullum]

I recall playing in a GCA event one time, and there was a guy a group or two ahead of me who always held himself out as a walker 100% of the time. He spent about 2/3 of his time that day standing on the back of his fellow competitors' cart