The Best Time to Walk the Golf Course

Cooler temps and colorful views make fall the ideal time to play golf that way it was meant to be played—on foot

Gloucester, U.K. (Sept. 4, 2024) – Summer’s swelter has broken, the leaves will soon be changing color, and the kids are heading back to school, all good reasons Stewart Golf suggests we “Fall for Golf” and walk the course this autumn. At the same time, Stewart Golf—maker of the world’s most innovative electric golf trolleys—reminds golfers everywhere that there’s nothing better for your game than getting out of the cart and on your own two feet.

How does walking benefit your game? In Body, Mind, and Spirit.

Body. Besides stretching your muscles so they’re better able to support the twisting and turning of the swing, walking—whether carrying your bag or wheeling a manual or electric trolley—burns between 650 and 750 calories. And according to a recent study published in the European Journal of Sports Science, there isn’t much difference to good health who or what is carrying your bag as long as you’re walking rather than riding.

Mind. Numerous studies have shown that walking the fairways keeps you more engaged in your game, which translates to better concentration. You also get a better sense of the conditions by traversing the course rather than riding on cart paths off to the sides.

Spirit. The brilliant hues of autumn leaves, the sound of the breeze ruffling the trees (rather than backfiring motors), the feel of being truly “on the course,” not on a road… experiencing golf’s unique connection to nature is sure to make you feel good, no matter how well you’re playing.

“Walking a golf course is probably 5 to 10 times more immersive than getting in a cart,” said Patrick Koenig, an avid golfer and well-known course photographer, who broke the Guinness World Record for courses played in a year in 2023 with 580 different tracks in 365 days. “As a photographer, walking the course takes me to places and angles that I might not see if I’m in a cart.”

Koenig walked all 580 courses accompanied by “Stewie,” his Stewart Golf electric caddie.

“I love to walk, and I always prefer to walk,” Koenig said. “I like rolling with my guy Stewie. You feel like you accomplish more. Everybody takes a cart here and there, at least in America, but when you’re rocking with Stewie and you’re done, you’re like, ‘Oh yeah, that was a good 18!’”

Sam Torrance, OBE and a walking advocate, added, “Walking lets us engage with the course in a truly meaningful way, embracing every sight and sound. Having worked with Stewart Golf since day one, I’m proud to promote the magic of walking the course.”

Mark Stewart, CEO of Stewart Golf, says that golfers looking to emulate Koenig and Torrance and enjoy their golf more should consider an electric trolley as the answer to help play the course as it was intended—on foot.

“Everything about walking is better,” said Stewart. “The exercise, your mental health, your appreciation of the game’s beauty, and with all that, your game can only improve.”

“Electric caddies” are three- or four-wheeled, battery-powered machines that carry your bag (and often other paraphernalia) and stay with you step by step thanks to a remote control in your pocket or on your belt. The best of them, like the three models from UK-based Stewart Golf, have no problem going up and down hills, have more than enough power for a round or two, and, most importantly, follow the cardinal rules for human caddies: “Show up, keep up, and shut up.”

Other features of Stewart’s VERTX, X10, and Q Follow caddies include small size and light weight. The top-of-the-line Q Follow series easily folds so compactly it fits in the front of a Porsche. The “MyGolfSpy” website called it the “easiest to fold and carry,” while declaring its follow operation “flawless.” It’s made from a microcellular composite material that is not only light but incredibly strong. And the newQ Carbon Series comes in a choice of three stunning finishes—Red, Blue, and Raw—liquid-ceramic coatings as used in the aerospace, military, and automotive industries.

For more information, access the Stewart Golf website: https://www.stewartgolfusa.com/.