To Walk or To Drive, That Is the Question

 

I grew up playing golf however I could. If I could get in a round with someone in a cart, I jumped at the opportunity. If I had to walk because I only had enough time or money for 9 holes, I threw my bag on my back and took a hike. It never mattered to me whether I had to ride or walk, I was just happy being out on the course playing golf. When it comes down to it, that’s my honest opinion when it comes to this topic: it doesn’t matter, I just want to play golf. However, there are some pros and cons to both walking and riding that I want to point out. Who knows, you may be dead-set on one way of playing golf and decide to give the other a try. 

Let’s start with riding because it seems like that is the more popular way people play. I’ll be honest if I get the chance to ride, I usually do. Especially when I’m playing with other people it’s just easier and more convenient for everyone. A few pros of the cart are that it helps with the pace of play (as long as the rules aren’t cart path only), which seems to always be one of the biggest issues in the world of golf, there is more storage for gear, drinks, snacks, etc., and it saves energy so you can focus on your game. The cons for the cart are that they obviously cost more (seems like way too much if you ask me), and they can actually make the pace so fast that you don’t have a chance to think about your shot before you are there playing it. Now, obviously, these aren’t necessarily major issues or advantages of using a cart, and I’m not expecting any of them to either persuade you to start exclusively golfing with a cart or to give it up and never use one again. They are just things I think about and things to consider when deciding to use a cart or not.

Now, let’s talk about walking because it is my favorite way to play golf. I absolutely love walking, and I would do it exclusively if I didn’t play with other people occasionally who don’t like to walk! I think walking is getting more popular, though, so let’s take a look at a couple of pros and cons. For pros, walking is obviously better for your health because it’s great exercise. Whether you’re carrying your bag or you have a push cart like me, getting all those steps in, even for just 9 holes, is great cardio. Another pro, in my opinion, is that you have more time to think about your shots as you’re walking up to them. Having those few extra seconds to make your game plan could be the difference between a well-thought-out shot and a rushed one. Some cons of walking are also pretty obvious. If you are really out of shape, it can actually hurt your game to walk because you will be out of breath and not in the proper state physically to hit each shot. It also takes longer to walk a round of golf than to ride it, even if you basically jog between shots like I do. Regardless, it is a fun way to play golf and I’m glad more people are doing it. 

Whether you decide to ride your round or walk your round, the reality is that the most important thing is that you have fun playing your round. That’s the whole reason you’re on the course in the first place, right? I’m not advocating for you to ride or walk, and I don’t think you should read this blog and “pick a side,” necessarily. I just hope that you’ve maybe been given a few things to think about so that maybe you decide to try something new for your next round. You might find an awesome new way to play golf that you’ve never tried before!