by Trent
I can tell you why people dont walk here in the eastern Canadian region, and at the few courses I have played in the Carolina's....4 hour rounds of golf.
Now, I am not for a 6 hour round of golf, but the only people benefitting from sub 4 hr and 30 minute rounds are the golf courses themselves. It is not a hard calculation: more rounds + more$.
I introduced my wife to golf a few years ago, and I dont mind telling you, it was not her bouncing shots from rough to rough that was annoying, it was the constant presence of a marshal, mentioning about time, speed, etc that drove me nuts.
On our first visit to a public links, our playin time was 5 hours, on a cart. fairly reasonable I thought for a driving range graduate, and I thought it was all going quite well.
Not quite, when at the 3rd hole we were already receiving the wrath of the marshal and his wrist watch.
Now, when we play the local course, we walk and can usually finish within 4 hr 45 min avg.
..and it never fails, there is a group of 3 or 4 behind us. Avg golfers who hit about 220 off the tee, drive the ball into us, drive up on carts as we are addressing our shots and lock up the brakes, make noise etc.
My wife, hits about 160-180 and I hit about 260 -280 so I wait for the group ahead to get out of range, and already I can see the steam coming out of the ears and noses of the 4 raging bulls behind us.
Now it is great to say, let them play through, but if I let each and every group that gets within spitting distance of us pass through, I won't get my own game played, and contrary to belief, I pay to play too!!
Then, as they take 5 practice swings on the tee, line up their putts only after their partner has holed out, picked the ball out of the hole, and actually exited the green, and they are careening off to the next hole at 40 mph. You can hear them complaining about the speed of play.
Maybe if the marshalls were more diligent about showing some of these golfers, time saving tips around the tee and green, the game could be enjoyed by all
One more point that I would hasten to remind everyone, we were all beginners at one point and we all took more than 4 hours and 10 min to play 18.
If you want to see more people walking around golf courses, lighten up on the 4 hour 10 min rounds of golf (not 6 hour either) and let people enjoy a little!!!!!!!
Oh and for those who want to spend just 3-4 hours at the gol course, hit a bucket of balls, play 9, have a cold one, and go home.

by dan
I enjoy walking and the exercise it provides and if you'd seen my game, even if I play 9, it's like walking 18.
I enjoy playing 18 and walking except for when the front 9 is flat and the back 9 you need to be half mtn. goat. That is the only time that I prefer a cart...

by Tim
I much prefer walking. I play better when I walk. I enjoy the course more when I walk. And what a lot of people don't understand is that you can play faster walking, especially when carts are limited to the path. No waiting for Joe six-pack to sit in the cart next to his buddy as he hits. "Traditional Carts" what an oxi-moron!!! The passionate walkers are out there, we are just playing the muni courses and hidden gems through non-resort America. Perhaps you don't see us at the fancy courses and resorts b/c when we are with a group of riders, its easier just to go along with your buddies. Walkers tend to me more easy going and will ing to play nione, or ride if it is social thing to do. Bu if I do ride, I constantly tell my cart partner, "go ahead to your ball, I'll walk to mine."

by Jon Davis
I am one of those ornery old guys (^) almost) and I walk every chance I get. I would love to find more courses designed for walking and enjoying the game rather than snaking thru miles of real estate. I play at River Pines in Alpharetta at least once a week. They have a great walking facility and they will let you go 9, 18 or even a 9 hole par three. During the summer months I will often catch an afternoon when I can get out of the office and be on the course by 6pm and gratefully play 9.
I wish more peole felt thsi way about this wonderful game.

by Bob Evans
At 72, I much prefer walking for 9 holes unless the course, like Hale's Location in No.Conway, NH, has not only many hills but 100's of yards between green and tee. Walking not only gives me just enough exercise but helps me preserve perspectives, and prepare myself for subsequent shots, which there seem to be more of these days. For 18, I find I pretty much have to ride or the feet and legs just give out. Ain't aging grand??

by Eb Preuninger
After 4 PM on a Friday or Saturday is a great time to play 9 holes. Very few players are on the course and you can usually play two balls, competing against yourself or playing a best ball match with a golfing buddy. Walking, even 9, is a little more of a challenge on a mountain course!

by BIll Shipman
I suspect the cost of playing was the same with or without a cart, and was likely quite a high fee.Its difficult to pay for something and not use it.
Also, the time golfers would more likely walk is not when they are at a high-end 'destination' course, but playing their own course. My private club here in Mass. always has more walkers than riders.
The same is true for nine holes. That is for a late afternoon or early morning before or after work round, not at a high-end Crenshaw course.

by Ian
"Traditional carts"...it say in the article. Since when have carts been traditional.
In the UK you will find more courses WITHOUT carts than with them!
get yourself a motorised trolley (Powakaddy are excellent!) and walk! Especially where a 90 degree rule exists! its much better for your golf and your health!

by Donald Mow
I am an American living in Beijing China now. Moved here five years ago. Played fifty years of golf in U.S. and during the last fifteen, I was riding carts most of the time. My club in Westchester NY has caddies, but they cost more than carts. When we play at resorts, we always rode carts. It was required. Now fastward to Beijing. I didn't play golf during the first two years because I didn't know anyone. Two years later, I found a group of expats on the internet that plays weekly. China has some very nices courses. Beijing area has more than 30 courses now. Most were built within the last 10 years. Two years ago, only few course have carts. So I was forced to walk. It was really difficult for a 72 year old guy. Now, after two years of walking, I am completely transformed. I look forward to playing and walking and feel terrific after 18 holes. Sometime I play and walk two days in a row. More and more clubs are having carts now, but I don't ride anymore.
Their caddies makes walking easy. The green fees include a caddy, but we give them tips. Expats are more generous than the locals. We give Y50 of their currency, which is $6.50. Y50 is the money a construction worker gets per DAY!
Another side effect of walking. My beer belly disappeared, and I never even drank beer.

by John
I guess I don't play a lot of championship-length courses where it might be expected to use a cart. I play shorter courses in the Toronto area and also on visits to my brother in San Diego. I almost always walk the course. I also play quite a few nine-hole rounds. I love walking for the exercise and being able to size up my next shot. Plus, I hate paying for a cart.
I don't agree with the point made by another reader that those in carts are maddened by having to wait behind walkers. I am not convinced that carts quicken the pace of play. Golfers often have to walk from the cart path to the ball which takes time. Then they spend extra time sizing up the shot.

by John S.
Why is it that Chris's comments and editorials are mostly negative? The world is negative enough. Change your attitude about golf or I will just start deleting your site. I walk every Saturday at an upscale public course. I get no discounts for not using the cart. I do it for the pleasure of the game. I know of many people who share my passion for the game played in this manner. I don't know where you got your information, but my guess is you're trying to provoke a controversy and you are misinformed. Mission accomplished with this reader. I'm provoked.

by Samuel Cleto
Yes, I would prefer walking when golfing. There are courses designed for
walking, like Augusta. But most resorts
golf are now designed to promote riding
carts at exhorbitant rates.
Besides, even if they (resorts) allow
walking, they mix walkers and riders...
can you imagine 2 foursome waiting
enraged behind a walking two-some?
Walking only allowed from 6:00 AM to 12:00 noon, should be posted. And don't tell
me we are hipocritical as a priest with a mistress.

by JM
The comment about people thinking golf isn't really "golf" if you play only 9 holes--since so much can happen on the "other" nine. I agree-- it's like bowling 5 frames. Tiger felt a lot better about his round after completing 18 holes than if he had stopped at 9-- 40-30=70 in the '97 Masters...

by Michael Vegis
We have walking only on The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort until noon and it's a big hit. Players can carry their own bag or take a caddie. There's no "Caddie Fee," only a tip (suggested $65/bag). Players wanting to ride can play after noon. Seems to be working great.

by Ed B
Funny you should mention We-Ko-Pa Sagauro - our group played there two weeks ago. Neither the tour operator (Meridian) nor the pro shop folks mentioned a walking option, though we did see some walkers (wonder if they paid the full $130?). We definitely noticed the green-to-next tee distance. We also definitely noticed that the carts were restricted to paths. Same effort, different direction.
As long as the course and related businesses benefit economically from carts, it's hard to see a time when walking is more of an option, especially in resort areas.