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JNC Lyon

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Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« on: February 14, 2012, 10:43:59 PM »
Comment on the following statement: "every golf course is walkable."

Folks hike the entire Appalachian Trial every year.  If that's possible, then is there a single golf course in the world that is un-walkable?
"That's why Oscar can't see that!" - Philip E. "Timmy" Thomas

Jason Walker

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2012, 10:46:40 PM »
I will answer the question you ask--no, there is not a single course in the world that is un-walkable.

Start a new thread--"Practically speaking, is every course walkable?"


Joe Bentham

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2012, 10:49:03 PM »
no...not every course is walkable for the purposes of playing golf. 

Mac Plumart

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2012, 10:49:47 PM »
Actually I had this very conversation over dinner at Musgrove Mill and again over lunch at Palmetto Hall.  

Technically, most, if not all, golf courses are walkable.  I just wouldn't want to walk some of them as it would be more of a death march than enjoyable exercise.
Sportsman/Adventure loving golfer.

Bill Gayne

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2012, 10:50:17 PM »
And every lost ball is findable.

Mark Saltzman

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2012, 10:51:03 PM »
John,

Sure, every course is walkable for someone in reasonable shape.  But, the test I use is whether or not walking would add to, or detract from, my enjoyment of the round.  I prefer walking, but unlike some on here, I don't hate riding.

If a golf course is on very hilly terrain, I'll probably walk it as long as walks between holes are reasonably short and I don't have to go way out of the way to walk around hazards.  Long walks between holes and walks around hazards disconnect me from the golf course, which is a big part of the reason I was walking to begin with.

Tiger_Bernhardt

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2012, 10:53:35 PM »
Yes but not everybody will walk them.

William_G

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2012, 10:55:49 PM »
yes, whether you like it or not
It's all about the golf!

Chris DeNigris

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2012, 10:58:35 PM »
Reminds me of Steven Wright- "Everywhere is walking distance- if you have the time."

Don_Mahaffey

Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2012, 11:09:14 PM »
Ventana Canyon - Canyon course might be a challenge at 2 pm on a clear August day.

Mike Sweeney

Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2012, 11:12:58 PM »
Comment on the following statement: "every golf course is walkable."

Folks hike the entire Appalachian Trial every year.  If that's possible, then is there a single golf course in the world that is un-walkable?

Can't walk this course:

JNC Lyon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2012, 11:15:22 PM »
Corollary to my theory: most people who complain that a course is unwalkable may or may not be a wuss.

I'll give an example of a course that most people would consider unwalkable where walking, for me, greatly enhanced the experience: Morgan Hill in Easton, PA.  K-Harris and I played it last April.  Before the round, Kyle says, "should we walk or take cart?"  After waffling for a bit, we decided we should walk, despite the fact that the course is through a housing development with a couple hundred feet of elevation change.  Man, that walk was a blast!  It was really a golfing adventure, an outdoor sport in the 19th century sportsman's sense of the word.  My favorite part was the hike from the catcher's mitt 12th green (right across the street from the Black Cat fireworks store) up to the 15th tee.  With the clubs on my back, I felt like I was on a hike in New Hampshire.  It was an experience that I'd never had before on a golf course, but it was great.  If we had decided to ride that day, on a course many would proclaim "unwalkable," we would have been robbed of a rich golfing experience.
"That's why Oscar can't see that!" - Philip E. "Timmy" Thomas

JNC Lyon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2012, 11:16:40 PM »
Comment on the following statement: "every golf course is walkable."

Folks hike the entire Appalachian Trial every year.  If that's possible, then is there a single golf course in the world that is un-walkable?

Can't walk this course:


New question: is every course walkable/swimmable?
"That's why Oscar can't see that!" - Philip E. "Timmy" Thomas

Andy Stamm

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2012, 11:24:38 PM »
I've never seen a course that I wouldn't walk. But I've not played a few because the weren't walkable, which is to say they wouldn't allow me to walk. So in that (very important) sense, they're not all walkable.

David_Tepper

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2012, 11:30:35 PM »
Anyone played Tehama in Carmel Valley, CA? One could certainly walk it, but I can't imagine anyone who would want to.

Andy Troeger

Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #15 on: February 14, 2012, 11:39:03 PM »
Of what I've seen, the toughest walk would have to be Ironbridge in Colorado. Its got 4 walks that have to be around a mile each between holes, and two of those are up/down the same path through a canyon up/down a mountain. I asked in the pro shop if anyone had ever walked it and they said yes, multiple times. I asked if it was walked by the same folks I saw biking up mountains in Colorado and they again said yes.

So yeah, every course is walkable.

I understand when people call courses like Sanctuary unwalkable--it would be pretty impractical just because of the time element. But it always amazes me a bit when the most dedicated walkers complain about courses that are NOT that tough of walks. If you're complaining about Bandon Trails or Chambers Bay, then yes, I mean you.

One of the more fun walks I had last year was at Pikewood National. Cool combination of golf and hiking--not easy, but worth it!

Bill Satterfield

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #16 on: February 15, 2012, 01:22:21 AM »
Andy, I totally agree with you in regards to Sanctuary and Ironbridge.  I'd throw Wolf Creek in Mesquite in that same category as Sanctuary.

Sean_A

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #17 on: February 15, 2012, 05:13:43 AM »
It must be remembered that golf is about hitting shots, not hiking hill and dale.  To me, the game should be enhanced when on foot.  Once there are long enough walks to break up the flow of hitting shots than something is wrong.   So it doesn't really matter that every course is walkable.  One may as well say that we all must die - not an insightful comment.

Ciao
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Melvyn Morrow

Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #18 on: February 15, 2012, 06:25:05 AM »

It Matter, it most certainly matters

Any course that calls its self a golf course or is defined as a Golf Course should be walkable to hold the honour of having such a distinguish title ‘Golf Course’ after its name.

Melvyn Morrow

Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #19 on: February 15, 2012, 07:19:42 AM »

Piss poor designs – these are theme park jokes that should not be taken seriously when referring to golf. This is the mindless stupid moronic view of a designers that does not understand the game and has lost it totally.


More sickening, some clubs considered them good enough to build, showing how far from reality the game has travelled in the minds so clearly tempted by the Devil. A precursor to judgement day or what modern designers still are considering? I hope the designers got more than 30 pieces of silver for their betrayal of duty care for the game.


Joel Zuckerman

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #20 on: February 15, 2012, 08:36:47 AM »
Silver Tip outside of Calgary pushes the boundary for sure.  I recall there was at least one cart ride that must have been 6 or 8 minutes....the walk to that next tee would have been at least 3 times that.

PCCraig

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #21 on: February 15, 2012, 08:45:45 AM »
Yes..barring floating islands...every golf course could be walked. Issues arise though with very long walks in between holes such as at Harbor Shores in Michigan. The walk isn't hard, it's just that due to land constraints it would take you 15 min to walk to the next hole in a couple cases. I was the only person in my group that tried to walk, but for those I ended up hoping in a cart as to not slow down the entire group.
H.P.S.

Melvyn Morrow

Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #22 on: February 15, 2012, 08:56:47 AM »

Perhaps the alternative view point would be is everyone walked which designer or owner would be mad to expect his customers to walk such long distances between Holes as I believe we are talking about playing golf. Perhaps it might encourage clients to consider the potential of the land before jumping in cart first. Perhaps even his clients may want to get back to playing golf instead of cart ball.

Then perhaps golf is not the important issue at all to these people.

Tom ORourke

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Re: Every Golf Course Is Walkable
« Reply #23 on: February 15, 2012, 09:04:12 AM »
I walk whenever possible and have walked some very hilly courses. The holes are never a problem. My issue is a course like the LPGA down in Daytona Beach. When they played an event there the players were carted between some of the holes because of the long, long distances between greens and tees. Trump Philly has a few hikes and I have played more than a few courses with long drives. Kiawah from 9 green to 10 tee is another. I can walk almost any course and stay up with the guys in carts, but I get played through between holes when the group behind me finishes and goes flying by when I have a 7 minute walk to the next tee.

Jud_T

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Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak