That’s Debatable: Walking or riding? We found the best way to play golf

In GOLF’s all-new series That’s Debatable, sponsored by Cisco WebEx, we’re settling some of golf’s most heated disputes. Our writers and editors have been seeded 1-16, battling head-to-head to determine whose takes are most on point.

As far as golf’s methods of transportation are concerned, there are predominantly two types of golfers(sorry #PushCartMafia): those who ride and those who walk. For a growing sect of “golf purists,” the only way to truly enjoy the game is through walking. While a larger, everyman contingent of golfers appreciate the pace, ease of play and opportunity for tomfoolery presented by the golf cart.

In the end, only one camp can reign supreme in GOLF’s “That’s Debatable” bracket. In the battle of the tournament thus far, it’s the 4-seed, GOLF’s instruction editor and owner of indiscriminate number of putters Luke Kerr-Dineen up against the 13-seed, social media editor and former college debater Rachel Bleier. You can watch their arguments above, or read their points below.

Walking (Bleier)

1. According to the World Golf Foundation, walking 18 holes burns 1500-2000 calories. This is GREAT for your heart health because according to Harvard Medical School, walking a golf course helps prevents heart disease by lowering your cholesterol, lowering your blood pressure, and helping you lose/maintain a healthy weight.
2. The Director of Research at the Alzheimer’s Society also notes that walking stimulates brain stimulation and helps strengthen your brain’s memory circuits, which means you’ll be able to recall all of those memorable rounds with friends for years and years to come.
3. Walking is also good for toning and strengthening your muscles and helps retain bone density, which is important for people as they age.
4. While golf carts are popular, the USGA has admitted that they can be harmful to the course and cause damage in high-traffic areas. Yes, there are rules and etiquette that govern where and how you should ride in a cart, but we all know people who flout them and do what they like. Unfortunately, that means that greens, bunkers and even fairways get damaged and courses have to pay to fix them. This can lead courses to close certain parts of the property or mark them as off-limits, which lessens the experience for the overall course, and if the damage is severe and costly to fix, courses may wind up passing those costs to members by way of increased dues or greens fees.
5. The game of golf is all about rhythm. Everything from the swing, to the way a group takes turns playing, to the momentum of a round has a rhythm,and walking is a great way to tap into a steady rhythm between shots. This can help you find more consistency in your game and shoot lower scores as a result.

Riding (LKD)

1. They make the game more accessible: 
   – About 30 percent of core golfers in this country are over the age of 60.
   – Main reason those golfers quit the game is because it becomes physically strenuous.
   – Courses are longer due to technology, which results in a slower pace of play
   – Golf carts solve these problems
2. They grow the industry and bring down costs
   – Golf courses can book more rounds when people use golf carts and increases supply, which brings down costs for everyone
3. Golf carts are an American success story
   – Club Car is an $858 million company
   – Arguing against golf carts means you want to shoot dead this entire sub-industry that creates thousands of jobs and makes golf more affordable and more enjoyable for the people
4. Walking drives up costs and makes golf less inclusive
   – The country club attitude of saying golf isn’t as good unless you’re walking completely misses the point.
   – pushes people away
   – drives up costs
   – we need MORE, not LESS carts
5. Cheaper for the golfer too
   – $120 per caddie, $15 per cart
   – Makes golf more convenient, I can bring more stuff
   – My dad, back problems, not playing golf walking

Winner (by judge’s decision)

Walking! LKD’s impassioned defense of American industry falls just shy of Rachel’s fact-based argument supporting the health of golfers everywhere. Rachel moves on to face the 2-seed, Michael Bamberger, in the second round. Keep it locked on GOLF.com and @GOLF_com on social media to follow along as “That’s Debatable” continues every day at noon!

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