To cart or not to cart? A guide to getting around the golf course

Golf carts have long been a familiar sight on our courses, but should you be using one, too? Read our quick guide and decide what works best for you – cart, or no cart?

To buggy
Pros: The average 18-hole round of golf can take around four and a half hours, and at the best of times can be quite tiring. Add in some hot and sticky weather conditions like we’ve been experiencing this summer, and you’ve got yourself quite a workout.

Grabbing a buggy can be a great way to keep things a little more relaxed on course, meaning you can focus your energies on the holes, not on getting between them. This can be great for players with physical disabilities, or those working their way back to full fitness after illness or surgery. Sharing a buggy with a buddy can also be a good way to catch up behind the wheel.

The cons: Taking the buggy round can quicken up your game significantly, but that only works if everyone else is on your wavelength. If there are people ahead of you who aren’t buggying from hole to hole, then the chances are you’ll be held up at every tee.

Some golfers find they don’t pay as much attention to the game when they ride a cart because there’s a disconnect between themselves and the game. If you want to focus on the golf and truly get to grips with where you’ve hit the ball and why, it might be a good idea to steer clear of the buggy.

Not to buggy
The pros: Put simply, choosing to walk around the golf course instead of jumping in a buggy can be an excellent way to exercise. A recent scientific study found that, on average, golfers who walk and carry their clubs burn 1440 calories on a typical round of golf – over 600 more than those who take a cart.

Walking between shots can also help you focus better on your game by giving you space and time to forget about your last shot and think about your next. So, channel your into golf zen and ditch the cart?

The cons: On average, you’ll walk around 5 miles during a typical 18-hole round of golf. That’s quite a long way, especially with clubs to carry. For some people, that will simply be too far, which means the cart is the only way that they can easily enjoy a round.

If you choose to walk you also don’t get to ride around in a golf cart, which is a lot of fun. Who doesn’t love zipping around the fairway in a golf buggy? So, while walking might be a lot better when it comes to exercise, in the fun stakes walking is definitely 10-over-par.

What should I do?

Whether you grab a golf cart or opt to walk is ultimately a decision you’re likely to take on the day. It will depend on your fitness, the time you have, the weather, even the busyness of the course.

Riding a golf cart can add a whole new dimension of fun to a round of golf, and even if you do opt to drive, you can still burn the calories while playing.

However, walking can be a great form of exercise that shouldn’t be overlooked. So, if you’re looking for an easy way to shift a few pounds while doing something you love, then why not consider saying no to the golf cart and relying on your own two feet instead?