Unless you are physically unable, I think a strong argument can be made that you will play better golf when walking.
Aside from anecdotal evidence—every golfer in my circle of friends insists they play better on the hoof—there’s also scientific proof: A 2008 study by the Rose Center for Health and Sports Sciences in Denver found that players scored best when using push carts or playing with a caddie. Nine hole averages in the study averaged 40 with a push cart, 42 with a caddie, and 43 when riding.
That’s a six stroke difference over 18 holes. Here’s the potential: if you’re consistently shooting mid-90s when riding, you could regularly break into the 80s while walking.
I’ve got a number of unproven theories about why walking encourages better play. First, the constant physical activity—stretching the legs, swinging the arms and breathing deeply—will help to keep the muscles warm and loose. That’s just the prescription for better golf.
Second, a walking regimen can put you on the way to weight loss and physical fitness. Take a look at the best players the world right now. It’s not your father’s PGA Tour. Fitness is a part of nearly every player’s winning strategy. Walking eighteen holes over four hours can burn up to 1,800 calories and is the equivalent of 45 minutes of aerobics. Do that a couple times a week and you’ll be well on your way to turning things around.
Walking keeps you in the flow of the game. While walking, you move smoothly from shot to shot, taking in the distances as you go. There’s time to shake off the last shot, and start planning for the next. I count down club distances as I approach the ball to keep myself focused. 200 yards, 3 wood, five wood, seven wood, six iron, five … right down to where I arrive at the ball.
The cart, on the other hand—especially with a partner—is a series of disconnected stops and starts, with the interruption of another player’s shots in between. In a cart, you can never get a true feel for the course’s distances.
Walking gives you a lot of information about course conditions that you’ll never glean whizzing about in a cart. You’ll feel the direction and strength of the breezes. Your feet will sense the conditions—not only hard and soft, but also how it changes across the holes. That kind of information is invaluable and you can’t get it in a cart.
Then there’s the less logical. I’ve got this rather mystical idea that walking keeps me “connected” to the land. I just have a better feel for a course on foot. And I am a lot happier when I can take the time to drink in the sunshine, breezes and scenery.
Of course, there’s a final caveat to all of this. If you’re hopelessly out of shape, walking at first could actually hurt your game. When you cross your personal anaerobic threshold, the buildup of lactic acid will make your muscles burn and cause a deterioration of the fine muscle skills. That’s a recipe for bad swings and the yips.
So if you haven’t been walking, build up to it. Try walking three holes while your partner drives. Then six, then nine. You’ll be crusing through eighteen before you know it.
About This Series:
In 1960, the average golf score was 100. Forty years later, in spite of all the innovations in clubs, balls and instruction, the average golf score is … still 100. In fact, only 20 percent of all golfers will ever break that mark.
Here’s the problem: Even with all the improvements, the one thing we haven’t been able to improve is the golf intelligence of the players. Most hackers—and more than a few better players—just play dumb golf. So here’s part one of a series on playing smarter golf. I’ve been collecting mental game golf tips for years in a series of notebooks, on my palm pilot and in various computer files. They’ve helped my game. I know they’ll help yours
This tip is an excerpt from The Five Inch Course: Thinking Your Way To Better Golf
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I love walking! And, I’ll do it whenever I can. In fact, this last Saturday it was a round in the rain on foot.
I definitely agree with walking resulting in better scores as my best scores have been on foot. And forget about golf getting me into shape, I’m actually motivated to stay in shape so I can golf better!
Finally, when I’m feeling sorry for myself after a bad round, I can always have a Big Mac/slice of cheesecake/giant chocolate bar/insert your favorite here and not worry about the calories so much since I just walked at least 5 miles I wouldn’t have.
One other aspect which you don’t mention, which is true for me – in addition to saving $15 on the cart, I generally save in golfballs, either the time required to find them, or in lost balls.
My vision is good for about 180 or so in good conditions, but I almost always know how the ball left the club and tracked. By walking I can go straight to that ball and find it more easily. By going to my partner’s ball, finding that one, and then trying to find mine, there is time there.
That might have been more relevant for me in the past though, for the last 5.5 rounds, I am still playing the 3rd ball.
I could not agree with you more about the benefits of walking when playing golf. I only use a golf cart when conditions dictate e.g. it’s 100 degrees and I’ve already played 18 holes. You’re an excellent writer and I’d be interested in collaborating with you as I write occasionally for examiner.com (see above link). Your comments on dumb golf are well taken. I play on the local public courses here in New York and am consistently astounded at the lack of basic golfing knowledge on display. There is a real need to improve the baseline knowledge of beginners to help increase their enjoyment of the game through lowering their scores, speed up their play through better golfing etiquette and improve the condition of public courses by making beginners aware of their responsiblity to repair pitchmarks, replace divots and rake bunkers.
Thanks for your excellent blog, keep you the good work.
Regards,
Christopher