What if we told you that walking eighteen at the local links could accomplish all three? Would you believe it? Okay, maybe you think it can help, but how much of a difference can walking actually make? Read on to find out.
Save Money
We're based in the Cincinnati Metro Area and there are plenty of municipal courses to choose from. The Cincinnati Recreation Commission operates several courses in the area and one of its better courses, Glenview Golf Course, charges $41.50 for 18 holes and a riding cart over the weekend. To walk 18 holes, you would save the $13 cart fee and pay a mere $28.50. This equates to a 31.3% savings or, to put it another way, riding in a cart will cost you 45.6% more than simply walking.
If you only go out once or twice a year, maybe it's not a big deal, but what if you hit the links 10 or 20 times each year? At this particular golf course, you'd be paying an extra $130 or $260 each year, respectively. Maybe for some of you this isn't a big deal either, but we think an extra $260 would be a nice bit of money to put towards the next, latest, greatest driver next year, right?
Shave Strokes
Okay, maybe the money issue hasn't convinced you, but if you love the game and want to card the lowest score possible, this one's for you. Golfers who walk instead of ride post lower scores - period. According to research conducted by Neil Wolkodolf, Director of the Rose Center for Health and Sports Sciences in Denver, golfers using riding carts carded three more strokes per nine holes than those walking the course using a pull cart. In other words, by walking and using a pull cart, you can shave an average of six (6) strokes off your round.
Why such a difference? It comes down to pace and time. By walking a course, golfers have more time to consider the next shot, and a kind of rhythm is developed that results in lower scores. Besides that, if you want to play like the pros, you can't be zipping around in a cart. The PGA demands you walk!
Improve Your Physique
Beyond the money and scoring benefits, walking is obviously good for your body. In the Wolkodolf study, riding in a cart resulted in walking about a mile whereas walking the course equated to five times more walking at five miles per round. This equates to 1,436 calories burned by walking versus only 822 using a riding cart for a net difference of 614 calories.
Granted, 614 calories isn't a huge difference, but over the course of a season, it represents about two (10 round per year) to four pounds (20+ rounds per year) in fat burned each year. Considering the average American is putting on between one and five pounds annually, walking instead of riding could be the difference between overweight and obese in your later years.
Here's to a Better Season through Walking
With The Masters this week, it's a perfect weekend for golf. As you now know, walking the course carries some significant benefits that we hope you'll cash in on. So here's to another great season of golf...walking style!
Thanks for the post about saving money when golfing. I live out here in Highlands Ranch, and it's nice to know where the good Denver golf courses are that have relatively good prices. I'll make sure to use some of your tips next time I go golfing. Which will probably be tomorrow.
Posted by: Gary Neal | October 25, 2011 at 10:59 AM