Golf carts vs. pull carts vs. carrying bag
 

Though I was once an enthusiastically but thoroughly unskilled golfer, I haven't golfed more than a handful of times in the last 30 years. I really want to take it back up when the wife and I move to the house we are in the process of buying in The Villages. I would like to know more about the mechanics of carrying bags. I know that everyone seems to own a golf cart in TV, that we plan on buying one and that they can be used (or rented) at probably most or all of the courses there. Do people still use pull carts or push carts to golf? Or are they seen as too slow by the golf cart drivers playing? And does anybody actually carry their own bags and walk the courses? A buddy of mine was an avid golfer and swore by the new (to me, anyway) twin-strap bags that you wore like a backpack. He got good walking exercise while playing. Is that done? And are there courses where walking with or without a push/pull cart is encouraged or at least welcomed vs. courses where it's discouraged or even forbidden?

I walk and carry on the executive courses, although some of them have a good hike between one green and the next tee. The groups I play with are mostly in carts, but have no problem with walkers and we keep up with the players in front. I see some others with pull or push carts, but we are definitely a minority. I would say walking is welcomed on the execs as they rent pull carts at the starter buildings.

On the championship courses, I usually ride because I will get too tired and hot walking 18 and it seems harder to keep up. I don't think walking is discouraged, though.


My carry bag has the twin straps and I would not use a single strap bag. The two straps distribute the weight across both shoulders. However, I'm seeing articles that assert that walking/carrying is not good for the back, although I don't have any problem and I've been doing this for about 50 years.

On the championship courses I haven't seen a walker in the four years I've been here. On the executives, my neighbor and I play them a few times in the winter when the green fees are higher on the championship courses and we both walk. I'd say about a 1/3 of the golfers on the execs walk, maybe less on some of the harder ones like Pelican. By walking you pay absolutely nothing on the execs, the normal $4 fee is for using your cart, so that is eliminated.

The main reason we walk on the executives is because if you ride, it's only about 90 minutes to play 9 holes. To me, it feels like I haven't even broken a sweat or done anything. By walking we at least feel a little exhausted. I use a Clickgear 3.0 push cart, it's one of the most popular and sells for about $200. That way I can use the same bag and don't have to swap anything out between 2 bags. My neighbor uses a small carry type bag that you have to lay down. If I was buying a bag for walking, I would get a stand bag, which has pop-out legs. They stay upright when you sit the bag down next to your ball and is tilted at a good angle to pull your club out, they are also on the lighter side and sell for $50 to $100 on average.

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I also have been carrying for 50 years. Being a carrier [don't you hate that name] brings opportunities and experiences other golfers do not have. I will list some and they are not in the order of importance [and other carriers can add more]:
1] it's just about my only exercise for now and I try to play 3 times a day [it's 1.5 miles per round, more or less]
2] carriers can take short cuts that pull carts can't
3] carriers who drive cars [like me] can go to all of the execs in a short time
4] the pace of the game is conducive to a smoother swing
5] since you hardly ever sit, you don't tighten up
6] after golf in the cold you jump in a warm car, opposite in the summer with the ac on,
7] if you need to back in a hurry you can jump in the ambassadors cart [nice people]
8] when I stop carrying and walking [like when i took the winters off up north], I had back problems---it keeps me loose
9] it's cheaper--i don't own a cart and i can rent one for $5 a nine on the championship courses or jump in a friends cart

carrying tips
1] I carry a putter, wedge, 9,8,6 and 19 degree hybrid and a sun proof umbrella for the shade

I have played with walkers on occasion and on the championship courses walkers never have a sand bottle with them. I guess they don't take divots.

John

A big advantage for me is that I always have the right club for the lie and shot around the green. It's frustrating when I ride to get to my ball and find the lie is not conducive to the shot I planned. The alternative is to take multiple clubs, but that increases my chances of forgetting a club when I leave. (Don't ask me where my car keys are!)

As stated above, I also can take some clubs out of the bag depending on the course I'm playing.

More often then not, I will walk the 9-hole executive courses with a pull-cart. On the 18-hole championship courses I will use the golf cart. There are a lot of folks that walk the 9-hole executive courses - good exercise and you always have all of your clubs with you.

Thanks for all the insight! Though we plan to buy a cart, it'll probably be more for transportation than golf. I'll probably start with a pull cart or maybe a lighter-weight case I can carry and stick to the executive courses (and the driving range) until I can manage my goal of some day becoming a mediocre golfer. THEN I may try a championship course. By that time I'll probably need to use a cart due to the longer and more numerous holes.

Tomwed;

You play 3 times a day? Man, it sounds like The Villages were made with you in mind! Fantastic!

Of course they don't....
 

it's not only the weight...it's where it would go...

I walk and carry a bag. I hate riding in a cart on executive courses. I have a double strap but don't like it so sling one strap over my left shoulder and have nevert experienced discomfort

me neither---
at first i needed the both straps for a long walk from green to tee but i got used to one

Yes I tell outsiders it's like a free buffet down here for me and the execs are like the crab legs.

I walk all the executive courses. I have a small sand bottle, but I don't make a divot, thank goodness. Golfers that make divots really tear up courses.

I walk 1 to 2 executive courses per day with my old speed cart. I usually end up waiting for the riders. Great exercise.

Renting in July and I normally carry, especially for 9 holes. In looking at a map of the Exec's they don't usually end where they start so you have to walk back to 1 to get to your car/cart to get home? Silly question but I was curious.