What are the benefits of walking?

[Quest]

Over the last number of years I have fallen into the habit of always taking a cart. It became so normal for me that the thought of walking never crossed my mind.

Over the winter my wife said we should start walking the course. I thought back to when I used walk and thought about some of the great times I had.

We bought a couple of Clic Gear carts and have walked about 8 rounds so far this year. It is great!! I had forgot about all of the benefits to walking not to mention the exercise. Having all your clubs close by at all times is great. If I decide when I am up at the green that I would rather hit my 9 iron for a bump and run as opposed to my sand wedge, it isn't a problem. I would probably not opt to hit that shot if I had to walk back to the cart to get the 9 iron.

I was walking down the 17th hole on Friday evening passing by the pond and I saw a muskrat swimming and it was nice to watch. In a cart I have blown by that pond many times not even taking a second glance at it.

I find myself to be more focused on my game. While I am walking to my ball, I am already seeing and planning my next shot and not having to sit and watch my playing partner go through their whole routine.

How about everyone else that walks....what do you find the benefits of walking to be?

[davepratt]

I began walking where possible about 5 years ago after riding for at least 20 years. For anyone who claims it's not exercise, I say buloney. I've played tracks that have uphill climbs on the last few holes and you're good and spent when you finish. Another benefit is that on a crowded day, you're not constantly standing over every shot for 5 minutes because the groups in front are all walking. I will admit that on a course that's a tough walk, my game does suffer especially on the final 1/2 dozen holes.
By the way, what's up with the twosome on the cart who expects every foursome to let them through even when they are on pace with the rest of the course? One more thing. When a course has the cart path only rule and paths on one side only, walk the damn course! It's faster.

[Kace]

Obviously there's the benefit of exercise, but that's pretty much a given.

On top of that, if you're playing in a foursome of friends, it's nice to be able to walk off the tee box together and still continue your conversations. So there's the sociable aspect.

The largest benefit for me though, as you mentioned is the mental preperation for your next shot. You get an extra minute or so of mentally picturing your shot and doing a mental pre-shot routine while still walking to your ball.

The only bonus that I really see from carts are on courses that have long distances between holes.

Plus, you never have "cart path only" or "90-degree" cart rules when you walk.

[Anthony]

Problem is that so many of the good courses in the Toronto area are cart only.... Very few allow walking and places like LMG or those where there are discounts include cart.

Good walking courses are a minimum of 40 minute drive from Yonge/401.....

I do love to walk too and the best time last year was twilight @ Osprey Valley and again it is a major trek.....

[alien270]

I love to walk as much as i can
#1 the calories burned while walking and carrying
is over 2000 calories for a 200lb man

#2 i think i play better as i think harder

#3 awesome exercise

things i dont like is my knee hurts after the rds and the constant popping of advils. and icing the knee and shins

[t_dog_lxi]

I don't walk courses, except at the start of the season when carts aren't an option. But I don know that my game suffers from walking, like Pratt said in the last 1/2 doz or so holes. By then I am just beat down from all the walking. Maybe after I have been riding my bike to work for a while, I will have a little more stamina to walk a course. The nezt problem will be convincing my golf partner to walk :rolleyes: .

But as for staying on topic, when I have walked.

1. Health/exercise.
2. More relaxing pace during the round. (Except for last few holes.)
3. Notice your surroundings more.

[ontario]

I find that I lose balls when I ride. I'm used to walking straight to my ball. In a cart, you're taking a roundabout route, sometimes with a stop for your partner. I sometimes forget where the ball is, especially if it's in the rough (which is too often).

[Spottswoode]

I walk and carry my bag 99% of the time I play golf, it's great exercise. It definitely builds a good set of strong legs.

[rpangman]

One course that my wife and I play at has 27 holes. We often use a cart for the first 18 and then walk the other 9. We can do this in 4.5 hours. We get the best of both worlds, lots of golf and exercise too.

[simar]

I think I play better when I walk, mostly because I warm up / loosen up faster.

[dks_34]

I would much rather walk than take a cart. I find a relax more when I walk and I love the exercise.

[Bellyhungry]

I walk so that I could use that as a excuse to skip going to the gym, and not feel guilty.

The only problem with walking is that it does not keep the heart rate at the 80% zone.

[JEBS]

I love to walk as much as i can
#1 the calories burned while walking and carrying
is over 2000 calories for a 200lb man

#2 i think i play better as i think harder

#3 awesome exercise

things i dont like is my knee hurts after the rds and the constant popping of advils. and icing the knee and shins

Is there an actual stat for this ?? I try to tell my wife that golf is actually a form of excercise (especially walking Blue Springs or Glencairn ) but she still thinks it is as much excercise as going to get the mail. Please let me justify my addiction !!!

[ontario]

I walk so that I could use that as a excuse to skip going to the gym, and not feel guilty.

The only problem with walking is that it does not keep the heart rate at the 80% zone.

You could run. I did that once at an empty course in Ottawa. I played 18 holes, alone, in 1hour 10minutes. Shot an 86 which is decent for me.

[rbaker]

I played over 200 rounds last year at Clublink and took a cart 4 times. Twice for a scramble, once for a customer, once at GlenAbbey because they forced me.

The only downside to walking is you can tire and it will cause you some strokes. Also when carts are behind you they race up on you.

The benifits all mentioned in previous posts far outweighs any of these negatives.

Its simply god excersise and better economically.

RB

[guitarman]

Also when carts are behind you they race up on you.

RB

I've neverhad a problem keeping ahead of carts, while walking. I find in most cases that people who use carts are actually slower than walkers.

[rbaker]

Often, it depends though. Some of these courses the walks from green to tee are huge, and it causes the walkers to slow down.

RB

I've neverhad a problem keeping ahead of carts, while walking. I find in most cases that people who use carts are actually slower than walkers.

[Anthony]

You could run. I did that once at an empty course in Ottawa. I played 18 holes, alone, in 1hour 10minutes. Shot an 86 which is decent for me.

Did you carry your bag or have a pull cart? I'd love to do the same, but if the course was empty I'd play at least two balls and certainly enjoy it.

Often, it depends though. Some of these courses the walks from green to tee are huge, and it causes the walkers to slow down.

RB

Glen Abbey yes (as far as Clublink goes).... In addition many of these cart only courses are definitely built knowing that fact and the walks between holes can be a trek. Lionhead Legends and Angus Glen are examples. I did walk Angus Glen on a 90 degree day for charity and must admit I was feeling it after 16.... St. Andrews Valley is a tough walk too....

[jamesduncan]

You can use this link to get a rough calculation based on your body weight;

http://www.healthdiscovery.net/links/calculators/calorie_calculator.htm

hope that helps!

[Pingeye2_fan]

Kind of a funny story, playing with my buddy a few years ago, cart paths only that day.
cart path on the extreme left side, he hits his ball way off to the right, looked like it had to be almost a 100 yds from the cart, he grabs two wedges gets to his ball, next thing I see is him running back to the cart because he grabbed two of my wedges.
We were both playing copper Eye 2's.
Funny thing was when he got to his ball and had left handed wedges in his hand. You think he might have noticed on the way over.:rofl:

[JEBS]

You can use this link to get a rough calculation based on your body weight;

http://www.healthdiscovery.net/links/calculators/calorie_calculator.htm

hope that helps!

Thanks !!

I also find that while walking I get a better feel for the course, it helps me judge the distance with my shots as well as I appreciate the design of the course more when I walk.