I know golfers who insist walking is the only proper way to play. I know others who wouldn’t dream of walking when they could ride. Both groups think the other’s missing the point.

Having done plenty of both, I reckon the truth’s more nuanced. Each has real benefits, and the best choice depends on the situation.

The Case for Walking

Walking gives you better connection to the course. You feel slopes and elevation changes through your feet. You notice details you’d miss zipping past in a cart.

There’s also something meditative about the rhythm of walking between shots. It creates natural time to think about your next play, clear your head after a bad shot, or just enjoy being outside.

From a fitness perspective, an eighteen-hole walk carrying or pushing covers 10-12 kilometres. That’s genuine exercise. Four hours of gentle cardio while playing golf beats four hours on a treadmill any day.

I also think walking helps your rhythm and tempo. You stay loose between shots instead of sitting and stiffening up. My swing feels better when I walk.

The Practical Limits of Walking

That said, walking has real limitations. In Australian summer heat, walking eighteen holes can be genuinely dangerous. I’ve been close to heat exhaustion walking in 38-degree weather and learned my lesson.

Walking also takes longer, especially if you’re carrying or don’t know the course well. That might not matter for a casual Saturday round, but if you’re trying to fit golf into a tight schedule, riding’s more practical.

And if you’ve got any injury or mobility issues, walking might not be an option. There’s no point suffering through a round on a sore knee when you could ride and actually enjoy it.

Buggies Have Real Benefits

Riding lets you focus more energy on golf rather than walking. By the back nine, when walking fatigue kicks in, you’re still fresh.

Buggies also speed up play, which matters on busy courses. I can play a buggy round in 3.5 hours versus 4.5 walking, which sometimes makes the difference between fitting in golf or not.

For older golfers or anyone with physical limitations, buggies extend your playing years. I’ve got mates in their seventies still playing regularly because of buggies. Without them, they’d have given up golf.

The Social Difference

Sharing a buggy with a playing partner creates different social dynamics than walking. You’re chatting between every shot. For some groups that’s ideal. For others it’s too much forced conversation.

Walking lets you spread out more naturally. You can walk with someone when you want to chat, or drift apart and have some quiet time. I like that flexibility.

Course Conditions Matter

Some courses are designed for walking. Relatively flat, green-to-tee transitions that flow naturally, sensible distances between holes.

Other courses practically require buggies. Massive elevation changes, long gaps between holes, extreme heat. Walking these is masochism, not golf.

Know what you’re getting into before stubbornly insisting on walking a course that wasn’t designed for it.

Cost Consideration

Walking’s cheaper. Most courses charge $30-50 for a buggy. Over a year of regular golf, that adds up.

On the other hand, if riding means you can play more often because it’s less time-consuming and tiring, maybe that’s worth the extra cost.

Impact on Your Game

I genuinely play better when walking, but that’s personal. I’m looser, my rhythm’s better, and I make smarter decisions because I’ve got more time to think.

Other golfers I know score better in buggies because they’re not fatigued. One mate dropped three shots off his average when he stopped walking and started riding.

Track your own scores and see if there’s a pattern. Your experience might differ from mine.

Environmental Considerations

Walking’s obviously more environmentally friendly. No fuel, no emissions, no wear on the course from cart paths.

Modern electric buggies minimize this concern but it’s still a factor if you care about environmental impact.

The Compromise: Pull Carts

If you want the benefits of walking without the strain of carrying, a pull cart’s a great option. You’re still walking and experiencing the course, but you’re not wearing yourself out.

I switched to a pull cart years ago and it’s the best of both worlds. I get my exercise and course connection without the shoulder and back fatigue from carrying.

Three-wheel push carts are even easier. They roll smoothly and barely require any effort compared to older two-wheel versions.

When to Choose Which

My approach: walk when conditions are good and I’m not time-constrained. Ride when it’s hot, I’m in a hurry, the course demands it, or I’m just not feeling up to walking.

There’s no rule saying you have to be consistent. Adapt to the circumstances rather than being dogmatic about it.

Club Policy Matters

Some courses restrict buggies to cart paths only, which defeats much of the benefit. Others allow them everywhere. Some require walking on certain days.

Check the policy before booking if this matters to you. Nothing worse than showing up expecting to walk and discovering buggies are mandatory, or vice versa.

Making It Sociable

If you’re playing in a group where some want to walk and others ride, that’s fine. Riders can easily keep pace with walkers.

The only tricky bit is organizing who’s riding with whom and whether you’re splitting buggy costs. Sort that before the round starts.

Final Thoughts

The walking versus riding debate’s one of those golf discussions where people get weirdly emotional. Some act like riding is cheating. Others think walking’s pointless suffering.

Both positions are silly. Walking and riding are different ways to enjoy golf, each with real benefits. Choose what works for you on any given day and don’t judge others for making a different choice.

I love walking when I can. I’m also happy to ride when it makes sense. Golf’s meant to be enjoyable, not an exercise in stubbornly adhering to someone else’s idea of how it should be played.

Do what works for you and focus on playing good golf. That’s what actually matters.