One of my biggest pet peeves is when people say walking is slow. Slow play is a sticking point for all those who preach that golf is a dying game. Some even say walking golfers are killing golf!
Um..no. Pump the brakes on that E-Z-Go which you have worn a permanent butt print into.
Couple of Facts:
1. Golf is Slow…and that's OK. It is a time consuming activity. Outside of hitting a few balls at the range, golf takes about 2:15 for 9-holes and 4:30 for 18-holes. I know people who can walk 18-holes in an hour and many who can ride 18-holes in 6 (hours).
2. Golf is Expensive. Not to mention requiring people to take carts at peak times makes it more expensive. Have you seen the cost of kids clothes these days? I just paid $40 bucks for a pair of Nike's my daughter will wear for 37 minutes (they are pretty fresh though). Many can't afford to pay an additional $15-30 every time they play so the DON'T (PLAY).
3. Carts are Revenue Drivers. Yes, golf carts can be an "important" part of a club or courses revenue stream. Those places that force you to take a cart at peak times will lie to you and say it's for pace of play. It's actually for important revenue which offsets the cost of the carts, cart storage, cart maintenance, cart staff, and the Head Pro's gambling debt. A course can't rationalize owning or leasing 70+ carts just for outings if they only go out once in a while during the other days of the week. They MUST require carts to offset the expenses.
So when did this all happen? Who knows! What I do know is I like to golf and I like to walk while playing. It's great exercise, it smooths out the pace of the round (no more hit, drive, wait, hit, drive, wait), and it allows me to take in the amazing landscape that is a golf course.
Could a club or course go walking only and buck the Golf Cart Regime?! Well, Bandon Dunes is walking only and I think they are doing OK. Pretty sure you have to book your tee times a year in advance right now.
If you already are a walking golfer…keep walking. If you haven't walked since you were a junior or maybe ever….TRY IT! I guarantee you will love it.
Couple of Facts:
1. Golf is Slow…and that's OK. It is a time consuming activity. Outside of hitting a few balls at the range, golf takes about 2:15 for 9-holes and 4:30 for 18-holes. I know people who can walk 18-holes in an hour and many who can ride 18-holes in 6 (hours).
2. Golf is Expensive. Not to mention requiring people to take carts at peak times makes it more expensive. Have you seen the cost of kids clothes these days? I just paid $40 bucks for a pair of Nike's my daughter will wear for 37 minutes (they are pretty fresh though). Many can't afford to pay an additional $15-30 every time they play so the DON'T (PLAY).
3. Carts are Revenue Drivers. Yes, golf carts can be an "important" part of a club or courses revenue stream. Those places that force you to take a cart at peak times will lie to you and say it's for pace of play. It's actually for important revenue which offsets the cost of the carts, cart storage, cart maintenance, cart staff, and the Head Pro's gambling debt. A course can't rationalize owning or leasing 70+ carts just for outings if they only go out once in a while during the other days of the week. They MUST require carts to offset the expenses.
So when did this all happen? Who knows! What I do know is I like to golf and I like to walk while playing. It's great exercise, it smooths out the pace of the round (no more hit, drive, wait, hit, drive, wait), and it allows me to take in the amazing landscape that is a golf course.
Could a club or course go walking only and buck the Golf Cart Regime?! Well, Bandon Dunes is walking only and I think they are doing OK. Pretty sure you have to book your tee times a year in advance right now.
If you already are a walking golfer…keep walking. If you haven't walked since you were a junior or maybe ever….TRY IT! I guarantee you will love it.
I couldn't agree with you more on this. My goal last year was to work up to walking 18. I did not quite make it (took a cart from the pro shop to the putting green a few times), but I am hoping to loop walking more than once this year. Also hoping to pass along the love of a long walk ruined to the next generation. Not to mention it is great exercise.
ReplyDelete- JRL