Thanks for the push cart article Brandon, well done. I can relate to the no self owned push cart allowed at private golf clubs, namely TPC Rivers Bend. They (the fore mentioned TPC) will allow you to rent their push cart, but then again it is 700 - 800 yds. from the club house to the first tee, and nearly the same up hill distance from 9 green to 10 tee! It is a pretty housing development.
I carried my clubs until I was 69 years young. Push-carts are not the answer. Go all the way and get an electric cart. I one that I purchased has a follow-me feature. I put my bag on the cart, plug in the battery and attach the remote control to my hip pocket. The cart follows me where every I go. I usually walk down the fairway talking to my playing partners. If my ball is in the rough, I stop the cart at the edge of the rough and walk a short distance to the ball, no pulling or pushing a push-cart.
If you can find one, check out the Clever Caddy, formerly called the Caddy Racr... Four wheels and an upright position that allows a cart bag to preform the same way it does on a motor cart, in an upright position with the pockets facing out. It sells for under $200 and last quite well. I am on my second one, the last made it through 8 seasons and I gave it to neighbor...
While I have been considering a push cart recently for the health/fitness aspect, my real takeaway from this read...where are you golfing that allows dogs?? I would love to take my pup along but thought it was taboo. I started golfing late in life, six years ago and I'm 54 now, so I am not the most knowledgeable on rules and etiquette. But I've always had dogs and always thought about how cool it would be taking my fur buddy along. Are there a lot of courses around that allow critters??
What happened to pull carts? I had one years ago and found it worked very well and I believe was easier to pull than push! You don't see them anymore! There are still some municipal courses that rent them for a few bucks, but even they are wearing out and disappearing.
I am 70. Even a push-pull cart kind of destroys my back. I went hard over to the dark side with a Stewart Follow cart. I can easily walk 18 without back problems which at my home course is around 6.5 miles and 18000-19000 steps (The shortest distance....). It is a different level of investment but what it allows in terms of health, back-pain, etc. makes it well worth it.
A push cart looks bad, but a gas powered cart is cool? Give me a break. I won a Sun Mountain cart over twenty years ago. I've replaced the brake cable and wheels ( wheel bearings went out). I can put extra clothes in the bag for changing weather. Cart has an umbrella holder and a drink holder. I play a muni and other public courses and in this area push carts are a majority over power carts and bag carrying. In rain (we get some in the Pacific Northwest) just blow the cart off with air by the clubhouse.. The umbrella holder is the ticket for sure. In the hot weather I even use the umbrella now.
I totally get that some can't walk, but that is a very small minority. I nearly 100% avoid cart only courses. The walking is the best part of my game as I am 70 and the walking on nice soft turf is perfect exercise. The push cart makes the walking game MUCH more pleasant.
Just gave it up, walking that is. Turned 78.
I've got a sweet MacKenzie carry bag w/trestle sticks. I'll take it over the cart every time. Frankly not having to walk all the way around green and bunker complexes or aound a variety of commonly encountered golf course obstacles really shortens the walk. Often the walk between tees is routed through tall grass where a cart just can't go. And a push cart when it's wet, muddy, or on a steep up-hill...no way for me!
Pushcarts are also much better for the environment. If your course only uses gas powered carts, as mine does, the noise and fumes definitely disturb an otherwise bucolic experience. They allow you to walk up to your ball, assess the lie and have all your ‘weapons” with you. When I lived on clatter Long Island, and played public courses, I used a pushcart, but when I joined a private club, they only allowed walking at 2 pm and you had to carry your bag, which I did. Now that I live in northern Westchester. Which is extremely hilly, I use a walking cart that’s assisted by an electric battery. I walk 6 miles of hills 6 days a week, and I’m faster than any of the people who sit on their rear dnds in carts. Walkers who are accurate hitters are MUCH faster than people who hit far, spray their balls, sit i the Carr instead of getting out while their partner hits, to walk to their balls. With a couple of clubs.
Golf was invented as a walking game. Try it.
