by John Mitscha
Just saw your column on Walking the Course and want to say:
1) "Everybody rides" because that's what's encouraged and courses are designed that make walking unrealistic(greens and next tee 100-200 yds. apart, up steep hills, etc).
2) I've played golf since 1960, always walked (until new course design and mandatory cart rules. Now, I play much less often and find it EXTREMELY IRRITATING to HAVE to take a cart AND stay on path or 90 degrees to fairways! Then you have to take 3-4 clubs because you don't know what lie you have, or distance to green, or if you should play short of trouble, etc. "Golf decisions" can't be made properly, for the convenience of the course designer and cart rental concession. I don't think St. Andrews or Carnoustie feels this is true golf! Also, the important benefit of better health is lost. This is especially important for a nation with a severe obesity problem, and a wave of aging baby-boomers coming which has even larger ramifications to our health system costs.
3)Ben Crenshaw's designing of an exclusive course to be walked is a nice idea, but isn't going to change the golf world--it's one course, and nothing can be derived from one small group that plays there. Only if this idea is promoted and adopted on new public courses, would it be beneficial, to reach enough people.

by NEF
Maybe you are like Sheryl Crow because the voices you listen to are in your head. Many of my friends do walk. However, I am not physically capable of wlking 9 or 18 holes. You seem to forget that a lot of us are limited in that manner. As to 9 holes, the only way playing 9 holes is acceptable to anyone in my golf group is if it follows a full 18.
As courses get longer and terrain becomes more difficult to negotiate, wlaking becomes less of a realistic option. Its a great idea, and I would love to do it. I can't and neither can most in my age group above 40. At 57 I can afford to play any course. I feel excluded by those courses whose chest pounding shouts walking is the only legitimate way to play. I've already had to give up tennis, biking, hiking and other sports that I loved. I don't need to be berated for not walking a course as well.

by JM
NEF--
I'm totally with you regarding not walking if you physically can't. A cart is a blessing to get around that issue. My comments are regarding the REQUIREMENT to take a cart, stay on paths, etc.
--JM

by Mark
If the course was built for walking, then why offer carts at all??? Well I will tell you why, it's all about the $$$$$. How much were the carts? $20 per person? $30 per person?
Also, have you looked at Americans lately? We are fat and lazy. Why walk when you can ride? Where would you put your supersized drink?
The money and the culture play a much bigger role in this than 10-20 years ago.
And yes, I walk 90% of my rounds and only take a cart when they are "mandatory"

by Ken Boerger
I enjoyed your article on walking the course. I am 57 and only take a motorized cart when the players in the group I am playing with are using them. Walking allows me time to think through my bad shots and get ready for the next one, and it allows me to enjoy the wonderful God and man-made beauty surrounding me on the course. Sad to say, however, many of the new courses, especially those being designed around housing developments, make walking more difficult because of the distance between green and the next tee. But, the exercise is great, the scenery breathtaking, and the game played at a much more cerebral pace than when you are on a motorized cart.
Ken from Cleveland, OH

by russludeke
You're right: most people say what they hope will make them look good. But when the rubber hits the road, or the fairway, they're in a cart.
People are often dishonest and lazy, golfers included - not a surprise, is it?
Signed: A walker who's given up on courses where carts are mandatory.

by Mark Pickering
Courses should always offer the option to walk. I'm 43, in good shape, playing to an 8 handicap, and love challenging, well maintained courses. Unfortunately some nicer courses do not allow or promote walking - is this revenue based? I keep up (or beat) cart golf all the time, especially in "cart-only" conditions! My game is much sharper when I walk, and if I'm going to spend 4 hours of leisure time, I'm going to get some health benefit as well. Let golf be played in the more traditional way - walk when you can!!

by John Usher
What in the world are you talking about in your May 2 article on "Walking and Playing Nine Holes"? "Everyone rides"? Not in my world they don't. I'm 60 and played 100 rounds last year and walked at least 75. A couple of those rounds were at Bethpage Black where there are no riding carts. Bless them! The only time I commit to ride is when I play on vacation and I'm doing 36 a day. I even walked 36 one day. My buddies and I walk 18 every Saturday morning because we can (on Suffolk County courses-bless them too). Do the courses you surveyed discount fees for walkers? If they don't, then might as well take the cart in case you sprain something. If the cart jockeys prefer to ride, who cares. I just hope they let me through when I catch them.
Talk to some real golfers for your next diatribe,
John Usher
Patchogue, NY

by Scott
We belonged to a Conrty Club for many years and enjoyed walking very much. We moved to a new course a few years ago and the course, because of the layout, precludes walking. We are now thinking about changing courses again because, since we can't walk, we have gain weight and lost endurance. I am 61 and my wife is 58. We walk when ever we can when we go out of town. I think the people that don't want to walk are those that don't think they can. There is also the cost thing. Many courses now have one fee that includes the cart. There is no discount for walking. There should be. I even think that course should encourge walking and supply the motorized caddies or at the very least a means to get between very long holes, give discounts for walking and actually encourage people to enjoy the game the way it was intended.

by Don Matzkin
My buddy & I joined our nearby (Lewes, DE) public course this year, allowing us greater flexibility in how we choose to play. And, lately, we have chosen to walk 9 holes and have enjoyed it immensely. I am 66 and he is 63 and walking 18 holes, especially in the heat of the summer, can be exhausting. Yet, riding in a cart just doesn't do it for us. Half the reason for my taking up the game in my fifties was the exercise and enjoyment from walking in a (usually) beautiful environment.
I admit that I felt some sense of defeat when we first opted for playing nine, attributing the guilt-laden decision to circumstances not allowing enough time to play the full 18. Now we realize that with an early AM start, we can enjoyably play nine walking and still have the energy left for a full day of other activities.
The best of both worlds.

by Rick Farmer
I'm 57, and enjoy walking a round at every opportunity. Fortunately, I play at a course with a good caddie program, because after carrying my clubs for about 13 holes, my back stiffens up. I have used a motor caddie and it is nthe next best thing to a caddie. I always thought the electric motor caddies would be an ideal solution for all the resort/upscale courses that require golfers to ride, so I applaud We-Ko-Pa's program. I think they just need to promote the idea with their customers and with other courses, and eventually some of the golfers will try it and like it. Hopefully, some momentum will be generated and those of us who don't like to ride motorized couches around the course will have a healthier alternative.

by Andy
One of the reasons I personally don't like to play nine are the draconian rules that force you to post every score. Even though you're supposed to post nine, everyone knows it's not an accurate measure of one's ability. How many times have we all heard "The tale of two nines". Combine two front nine scores of 36 and you're a scratch golfer. It leaves out the part about shooting 46 on the back...

by Wayne Anderson
At Superstition Mountain Golf Club in S.E. Phoenix, at least half of our male members walk. We usually play 18 holes on one or the other of our two Nicholas designed courses. They were designed to be able to walk, and many of us bought property there because they were walkable courses.
Regarding nine holes I will sometimes play nine. But - being a member, and retired, and having unlimited opportunity to play golf makes a big difference. My sons who have busy schedules, want to play eighteen holes on the infrequent times they get to play.
Wayne

by Mike Scanlan
I play better golf when I walk, but I also like someone else to deal with my clubs. If that means on a cart or my son caddying for me, it will be a perfect round.

by Steve Rosenoff
I walked nine last evening and I will walk nine again Thursday evening. I will also walk eighteen on Saturday. I am 51 years old, have macular degeneration, and a bad heart -- but I walk because I love to do so. I also carry my clubs. I would rather die doing what I love in the way I love to do it than go sitting in a chair in front of a computer.