This is fun week. The last week of the month we focus on enjoyment and, both, physical and mental fitness. One of the best ways to do all of those things is to walk the golf course. Sure, riding in a golf cart is fun too. For everyone who doesn’t own an electric vehicle, zipping around the golf course in a golf cart might be the next best thing. Carts are definitely fun, but the game of golf is better when you walk.
According to The Walking Golfers Society, there are four main benefits to walking the course: physical, scoring, social and experience.
The physical benefits are pretty obvious when you look closely. At first glance, golf doesn’t seem like a physical sport. But, golfers cover four to six miles every time they walk 18 holes. That could be anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 steps depending on the course and how straight you hit the ball. Walking that many steps is a workout. On top of that, a full golf bag could weigh 30 pounds. Walking 18 is even more of a workout if you carry your bag. As a matter of fact, every young golfer should consider walking and ditching their push cart too. They should carry their bag. Lugging around a 30 pound bag on five mile walks is a great way to help youngsters develop strength and endurance.
Believe it or not, five mile walks can also help your score. Walking the course gives you a better feel for the course. The hills and slopes and other small things that can affect your shots become more obvious when you walk. Additionally, the time between shots is important. Walking gives you a chance to clear your head and prepare for your next shot. The time between shots also gives you a chance to socialize more with your partners. When you ride in a cart, your round is mainly shared with your cart partner. The other two members of the group are isolated to their own cart. Walking allows time to share the round with each member of the group. It is more social.
Last, walking the course enhances the whole experience. The 1982 the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries coined the term shirin-yoku. The translation is forest-bathing. It is the practice of spending time soaking in the forest. Simply put, spending time enjoying yourself in the forest is good for you. It helps reduce stress, lower blood pressure, frees up creativity and even helps boost your immune system. Though golfers prefer to generally stay away from the tress, walking the course gives you an opportunity to soak in the experience. You can benefit from soothing effects of being on the course that miss speeding by in a golf cart.
That is why we prefer to walk. Walking allows us to exercise our bodies, see the course better to help our score, share time with friends and soak in the experience. It allows us to slow the moments down. Walking the course is better.
It just is.
