Who else would like to see fewer golf carts?

Question

Not to seem crotchety, but I think carts are only good for elderly or handicapped. Hate it when I see some 250-lb guy in his early 30s driving a cary when he could use the exercise.

I don't think they really speed up play that much - sure you can drive a cart 200 yds faster than you can walk 200 yds, but huge amount of time is spent on greens and tee boxes, where the cart gives no advantage (in fact, on greens people have to park way off the green and then walk anyway).

Also, these things do a lot of damage to the course and it seems like my ball is always hitting the concrete paths and ricocheting into the OB.

Answer 1

dude . . .. carts are a significant source of income for the courses . . .. our walker rates would raise significantly if carts were done away with.  Keep our rates low . . .. keep the carts!!!!!

Answer 2

I just want to have the choice, that's all.

Answer 3

I am a caddie and I don't believe carts speed the pace of play for the average golfer at all.  More often than not, I am stuck behind a foursome on carts when the foursome I am a part of is walking.  I understand that carts are necessary for some older players and I respect that.  People should not be denied the right to play the game because of their age or disabilities.  I think that if someone is physically able to walk, they should.  Whether that means carrying/pulling their own bag or hiring a caddie to take care of the bag for them.

As for your ball hitting the path and bouncing OB, I think that's more of a personal battle on your part.

Answer 4

I agree. I actually hit one once because they didn't move it while they were going to the next tee. They were actually on the tee when I started the backswing. And they were a buch of lazy 30-40 year olds. They should walk the course no problem. If you can't walk 6,000yds at the least, golf is not your sport. Watching TV while drinking beer and eating chips is your sport. If it even is a sport.

Answer 5

I'm an octogenarian....& I ride today.  Not because I can't walk, I just can't carry the bag anymore, and I don't like the pull carts.  In this generation of golfing...and, I guess you are playing a public course, the golf business has changed dramatically from years past. Though the golf courses have seen somewhat of a decline in rounds now played per year, they are still significantly up from those early years of golfing.  Now, if you had your tee sheet filled up on a busy Saturday with all walking golfers,

I wonder how long a round of golf would take to complete 18 holes, and what if you also had a number of fivesomes playing which are allowed on some courses.   The average time to complete, as desired by most public golf courses, 18 holes is four hours. Local golf courses can, of course, make exceptions to this depending on certain circumstances. It would take too long here to explain, or debate, your dislike of golf carts on the course, so you might want to talk to the head golf professional at your course, explain your feeling about this and I'm sure he could explain to you why this is the way it is. And, of course...golf carts are not mandatory....this is an option, except on some courses where this is done. Exercise???  How did he get to be 250 pounds???

Answer 6

Walking is all good and well, but courses today are designed in such a way as to all but discourage walking (vast distances between holes, architecture not set up in a walking-friendly environment).  Many courses don't allow walking, which doesn't help matters either.

A lot of the older parkland style courses are walkable, but the newer tracks (and those built around housing developments) are near impossible to walk.

With that being said, unless it's ungodly hot and humid I prefer to walk.

Answer 7

i think that golf carts should be allowed on public courses but i perfer walking, it gives you a much better tempo. Anyway. I agree, I once played 18 holes in about 3.5 hrs (I got a 6 a.m. tee time) and I walked it, so carts obviously don't have a big effect on pace of play.

Answer 8

Being one of the octagenarians who still enjoys the game and who quit walking the course at 81 years, I take exception to the " the professional walker " who wants us off the course. Not only does he have one h**l of a nerve but we are probably subsidizing his golf. Carts have given us the opportunity to continue. Most of us are playing in the off time hours  and seldom clutter the course on weekends. So take heed on what you say for you give us our strokes and we will beat your butt.

Answer 9

I'd never want to stop older players, or players who have trouble walking, from using a cart. I'd also say that on a very hot humid day, a cart makes sense for others as well, but on a normal day most people can (and should) walk.

I actually prefer walking, it gives you time to plan your next shot as you are walking to your ball, and the game feels less rushed.

Answer 10

Yeah, carts are horrible.  Golf is a game where is was meant to walk.

If someone is either too old, or too out-of-shape, that they can't walk a 7,000 yard course, they shouldn't be playing golf.