When they was younger, Things One and Two were convinced that there were two kinds of golf. They called it “Standing Golf” and “Walking Golf.” Standing golf was the range. He liked that one because I’d give them a club and let them whack away. And Walking Golf was the course. They liked that too, because I’d hit a shot and then the two would run at top speed to find it.
Notice, however, that there was no “Riding Golf” in the equation. I’m sure they would have liked to ride a cart, but unless I’m playing in dangerous heat, or with someone who has a physical ailment, I’m a walking golfer. I’ll even trek across courses that the pro tells me are “unwalkable.” (In fact, I haven’t yet met one of those—not even in the hills of West Virginia and Maryland.). And as for those courses that forbid walking—for the most part, I just don’t play there.
Walking is good for your health, and good for your golf. And to their great credit Marriott resorts are getting on board. A recent press release says that in an alliance with Bag Boy, top Mariott golf resorts now will offer resort golfers the chance to push their clubs with one of those fancy three wheeled carts.
Kudos to Marriott. Lets hope it’s a trend at courses nationwide.
Press release follows the jump:
Marriott Golf “PUSHES” Golfers To WALK FOR HEALTH… And The Environment
First-Of-Its-Kind Alliance With Push Cart Leader, BAG BOY, Provides Golfers At
10 Leading U.S. Resorts With Unique Walking Program Designed To Promote
Healthy Golf & Environmental Consciousness
ORLANDO, Fla., April 28, 2010…Marriott Golf is getting “pushy” with golfers at some of the country’s leading resort destinations. Reinforcing Marriott International’s commitment to healthy living, Marriott Golf, one of the world’s premier golf operators, today announced a first-of-its-kind alliance with The Bag Boy Company—the No.1 name in golf cart innovation, to create Walk For Health, a program designed to promote the health benefits associated with walking the golf course. Starting today, the Walk For Health program will be launched at leading Marriott Golf resort destinations in the U.S., whereby each participating property will be outfitted with Bag Boy’s innovative and popular three-wheel push carts, providing resort golfers with a fun and healthy way to navigate the course, as well as support environmental consciousness.
“This partnership directly supports Marriott International’s unwavering commitment to promote wellness and healthy living, as the health and exercise benefits of walking and pushing your clubs around a golf course are immeasurable,” said William Nault, Vice President, Marriott Golf. “We anticipate a very positive response from our resort golfers for this Walk For Health initiative, and our intention is to roll out the program at more Marriott Golf properties throughout the year.”
As part of the Walk For Health program, a fleet of Bag Boy’s lightweight, eco-friendly Express Auto walking carts will be available for guest play at participating resort destinations, including: Camelback Inn, A JW Marriott Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa, Palm Desert, Calif.; JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, Phoenix, Ariz.; JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, Tucson, Ariz.; Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Miami, Fla.; Marriott’s Grande Vista Resort, Orlando, Fla.; Grande Pines Golf Club, Orlando, Fla.; Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Naples, Fla.; Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort, Oak Brook, Ill and The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, Tucson, Ariz.
Walking is a tradition of the game, and recent studies by medical experts reveal that by pushing clubs around a golf course, a golfer will burn more than 1,400 calories compared to riding in a cart where that same golfer would burn approximately 800 calories. Innovative technology and advanced features have redefined the walking cart market, as three-wheel push carts have become a trendy, fun and health conscious alternative to riding in a cart and/or carrying a bag. Thus, golfers at some of Marriott Golf’s premier resorts will now have access to a fleet of user-friendly, three-wheel walking carts that are ergonomically correct and equipped with an assortment of features, enabling all golfers to seamlessly maneuver the cart on all terrains and in all weather conditions.
“Research shows that golfers who walk and push their clubs burn more calories than when they ride in a cart, and they are also less prone to lower back, shoulder, and ankle injuries than golfers who carry their clubs,” said Craig Ramsbottom, President, The Bag Boy Company. “Our innovative walking carts are not like the pull carts of yesteryear, as they are ergonomically correct and easy to maneuver so golfers that visit a Marriott resort can now experience a cool, fun and healthy way to navigate the course.”
Each participating property in the Walk For Health program also holds the distinction of being a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, which indicates that Marriott Golf has gone to the greatest lengths possible to protect the environment by enhancing precious natural areas and wildlife habitats. This effort is part of a systemwide commitment by Marriott International, Inc. (MAR:NYSE) to promote environmental stewardship. The new Walk For Health program further enables golfers to support environmental consciousness while enjoying nature and a good walk on a spectacular golf course.
Nault added, “Pushing a Bag Boy walking cart around the course will enable golfers to truly appreciate the natural beauty of these venues.”
About Marriott Golf
Marriott Golf manages 58 golf courses at 42 locations in 12 countries, offering more than 1,000 holes of championship golf. Marriott has been managing golf operations since 1970 and is one of the world’s premier golf operators. Marriott provides golf management and consulting services to a variety of operational environments including resort, private club, daily fee, golf school and franchises. For more information, visit http://www.marriottgolf.com. Click here for Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) company information.
About Bag Boy
Founded in 1946, Bag Boy has become one of the most respected brands in golf by building a reputation for unmatched quality, unbelievable durability and unsurpassed innovation and design. Bag Boy designs, manufactures and distributes a full line of innovative golf bags, push carts, travel covers and accessories designed for a golfer’s on-course convenience and comfort. For more information about Bag Boy products, visit http://www.bagboy.com.
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Most of my group rides. It’s funny, when I started playing with this group 3-4 years ago, there were some diehards who would never ride. Seems most of those are now riding. Cooler weather brings out more push carts, and when we play the short course that brings out more push carts too.
I find it hilarious when I play with one friend (not in my regular group) – he whines about walking, yet he runs a few miles a day, works out every day, and his BMI is in my dream range. But as much as he hates walking, what he would hate more would be for me to walk while he rides. I just wish he would be happy with doing what he wants to do and not worry about me.
The Golf Blogger is spot on when describing golf as a walking game. “Cart Mandatory” courses are not typically on my list of courses to play, either.
Walking’s great; I do it when I can.
It’s the problem of taking 3 hours for 9 holes that bugs me (I have one-and-a-half functioning legs).
Clearly, people with physical difficulties should take a cart. Golf is too much fun to deny to someone who simply has trouble getting around.
I exercise a lot; I’m a pretty serious runner. I don’t have a problem with walking, and I generally walk to save the cost of the cart. But for me, it’s simply more relaxing to take a cart, and if money wasn’t an issue, I would take it almost every time.
I do wish it was more normal for NCAA and high school players to take pull-carts (it is legal in tourneys). I know that it does take a little stress off the shoulders and back, especially at the end of the round.
Don’t get me wrong – I enjoy walking. It attunes you to “the course”. But I try to walk on the days when no one else is out there due to conditions. It’s gotten so I tend to play better when the weather is lousy.
The neat thing is that the clubhouse will either send someone out periodically to check on me, or alert the maintenance crew.
Well, I am trying to decide what I am going to do tomorrow. Probably 45 rounds since I rededicated to walking during the rains of November, and about 8 riding. (not counting a few practice rounds where I rode, like Wednesday night when I had an hour to play 9 holes on the longest 9 at the club, I played in this order 13,14,16,17,11,18,12,15,10)—Plus tomorrow may be rainy, which would normally be a strong factor to wanting to walk (cart path only is the WORST!)- but it could lightning which has to factor, and then my right knee is going silly the last couple days – which I would like to strengthen it, but I am also afraid of tweaking it worse.
What I may do is switch from push cart & cartbag to a carry bag and then just make sure I get in a group with someone who has an empty seat in their cart – just in case.
Some one listen， some one know