If you’re not walking the golf course at least a few times when you play, chances are your scores will suffer as a result. If you don’t believe me, just ask golf course architect David McLay Kidd, who grew up playing some of Scotland’s best courses and has since learned how different it can be to play golf this side of the pond – and very often sitting in a golf cart while doing it.
“Walking is the purest form of golf,” he says. “You can feel the slope of the ground. You’re feeling the wind, the temperature and the smoothness of the surface. Those things alone make a big difference in (how you hit) a golf shot. A golfer from my part of the world is probably unconsciously absorbing all those things while they’re walking and talking with their friends. Smooth stroke (when it’s their turn to hit).
If that’s not enough proof to convince you that you should walk more when you play, consider all the time you can assess where you are while you’re walking down a freeway. Now think about how much of that time was spent following cart paths and walking along the outskirts of the scenery you paid good money to see and experience. That’s why some of the country’s most popular golf courses and resorts, such as the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, the Straits Course at Whistling Straits and Bandon Dunes are all just a short walk away.
“If you’re going to go to a place like Bandon Dunes to experience the scenery, the environment, the weather, how do you do it from a golf cart?” says McLay Kidd. “You can’t. In every walk of life, we’re all striving for authenticity and experience. But when you play golf in a beautiful place without walking, you get neither.”
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Hoofer Lite 2023 Carry Bag, Black/Yellow – PING Golf
The Hoofer Lite’s enduring popularity will only grow with this new edition, which boasts an innovative new bottom that reduces club tangling by guiding clubs to the correct segment and keeping clubs separate during carry. More improvements: a stacked pocket configuration for easier access, an expanded ball pocket and flexible storage. The redesigned top of the bag makes handling easier, and a wide range of 14 colors are available (2 women). All new style 4 way 5 lbs. 9 pockets (7 zippered, 2 sliding) Pocket volume 19L New bag bottom reduces club clutter New ergonomic top range finder pocket for easy handling Rain hood pocket Cart strap channel Padded, convertible shoulder straps
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By now, you’re likely ready to get out and hit the course the next time you pick it up. But if you’re not used to playing golf this way, there’s a short list of products and equipment that will ensure you do it smoothly – and that means you’ll also thoroughly enjoy the experience.
As you might expect, it starts with the right golf bag. These days, there is no shortage of light weight bags on the market, and their lightness is essential. Look at the bags of most PGA Tour players and one thing is clear: they look heavy. That’s because they’re heavy, which is why the world’s best not only pay someone else to carry their bags, but also offer them up to 10 percent of their profits to do so. So if you carry your bag on your shoulder, take note Ping’s Hoofer Lite Carrying Bag OR TaylorMade FlexTech Super Light Support Bagwhich weigh 5 pounds and 3.9 pounds respectively.
Titled ProV1x Left Dash 2026 golf balls
Pro V1 with high flight and less spin The modern blend of high and low spin, the new Pro V1x Left Dash is faster, longer and more penetrating in the wind. Why play Pro V1x Left Dash? The Pro V1x Left Dash is recommended for players who can benefit from high trajectory flight, ultra low long game spin with tournament proven short game spin and stronger feel. Pro V1 Comparison Due to its unique dimple pattern, the Pro V1x Left Dash has a higher flight than the Pro V1. A Smart Spin case layer with increased thickness produces lower long game spin than the Pro V1. What’s new? The new Pro V1x Left Dash now offers more speed and flight optimized for more distance. Not available for purchase or delivery to Australia.
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When you’re loading that bag, also take stock of how many balls you’ll need—overpacking the Pro V1s is the fastest way to get a light bag on your feet in several weight categories. Start paying attention to how many balls you typically miss during a round of golf. Once you know this, you’ll be better equipped to keep the right amount. That number can vary based on the course you’re playing or the conditions of the day, but chances are the two dozen balls that can roll around in your bag are more than you’ll need.
You may also want to consider a golf bag organizer as well The Purist of Jolly Golf. It’s designed to hold all the things you might need during a round – nibs, ball markers, gloves, diode repair tools. There is also a pocket for your phone, wallet and a clip to hold keys or jewellery. Not only does it help simplify your bag – you don’t really need that bag full to the brim – it also allows you to store everything in one place, meaning the sleek tote bag with just a few pockets has all the storage you need.
Bushnell Pro X3+ Laser Finder
Perfect Precision: Next-level performance with the wind. The Pro X3+ is the most powerful and precise laser rangefinder to date – packing all the market-leading innovations you’ve come to expect from Golf’s #1 Rangefinder. NEXT LEVEL TOUR RELIABLE COMPENSATED DISTANCES Temperature and elevation are added to Bushnell’s patented Slope technology to give golfers the most accurate compensated distances ever. HOUSE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT With the Pro X3+, you can now set your house height to reflect offset offset distances with elements at the elevation where you play golf the most. SLOPE-SWITCH LOCK Slope-Switch with interlocking mechanism significantly reduces the risk of accidentally putting the Pro X3+ into Slope mode during tournament play. DUAL DISPLAY Allows users to easily switch between bright red or pure black display settings based on lighting conditions and user preferences. PINSEEKER WITH VISUAL FLASH A red ring now flashes as the LINK vibrates to give the golfer even more feedback and confidence to know you’re locked on the flag. INTEGRATED BITE MAGNETIC MOUNT The Pro X3+ features Bushnell’s integrated BITE magnetic mount that allows you to easily mount the Pro X3+ right on the cart bar. LONGER / MOST CONSISTENT & ACCURATE YARDAGE READINGS The Pro X3+ is the most powerful laser golf measure ever made, it will give you consistent yardage readings within one yard to the flags at 600+ yards. Additional features: Built to last: The Pro X3+ comes with rubber-armored metal housing and is fully IPX7 waterproof. Bushnell Golf App: Unlock useful information like distance hole layouts, distance 3D flights and over-the-air course updates. Tour Domination: Bushnell Laser Ranges stand out as the undisputed #1 laser range in professional golf. What’s in the Box: Premium Laser Rangefinder Pro X3+ Carrying Case Microfiber Wash Cloth 1 CR2 Battery Quick Start Guide
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If you’re planning to walk most of your rounds, you’ll likely want to invest in a rangefinder, as you won’t have access to the GPS-assisted course maps that many golf carts now display. I have been using Bushnell Pro X3+ Laser Finder for the past two years, and I swear by it. That said, Mileseey’s GenePro G1 Rangefinder offers the best of both worlds: laser-powered distance measurement and a 2-inch touchscreen featuring GPS-assisted course maps. With this Swiss Army Knife of a golf accessory, you won’t miss out on the latest golf cart bells and whistles either.
The most important piece of equipment, as you might expect, is your shoes. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that not all golf shoes are designed for the rigors of walking. Think of them like golf bags. Some bags are designed specifically for golf carts. Likewise, some shoes are designed to perform well during swing, but they are not ergonomically designed to feel good after 15,000 steps. As a general rule, sportier styles without spikes, such as Ecco Biom C5 BOA, FootJoy’s Pro|SLAND True Linkswear Antigravity Golf Shoes, No Spikes are well equipped for hiking. That said, I recently wore a new pair Payntr Golf’s Reserve RS Classic Tour for a walk and was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable they were out of the box – and how comfortable they were walking all day, especially considering they’re a more classically designed studded offering.
Swiftwick ASPIRE Zero Tab Socks, White
Our most popular running socks and a great no-show cycling sock. ASPIRE™ is designed with strong compression and a slim profile for a responsive feel. Firm compression supports every contour of the foot to reduce fatigue during endurance activities. Zero cuff height sits below the ankle with minimal over-shoe extension. Breathable Relaxed Compression Maximum Cushion 52% Polyester / 44% Nylon / 4% Spandex
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Your socks matter too. In fact, McLay Kidd insists they’re the most important, so much so that he always keeps a fresh pair in his bag so he can change them after 18 holes (if he plays 36 a day) or sometimes even after 9 holes if the conditions call for it.
When it comes to socks, 100% cotton is the kiss of death, as the fabric absorbs sweat and can then wrinkle and bunch up in ways that can cause blisters. A synthetic compound is better, especially if it’s built to be performance-oriented and compression-like. My sock drawer is full Swiftwick styles, all of which perform admirably on the course.
Finally, if the thing holding you back from walking is carrying a bag on your back, there’s no shortage of well-designed pushchairs on the market that can alleviate some of that stress (Sun Mountain X Speed Cart is one of the leaders of this pack.) That said, on some courses—the Irish on Whistling Straits, for example—pushing or pulling a cart through rough terrain can actually be more strenuous than shouldering a bag and letting your legs do the heavy lifting.
