Walking in Florida

[Argonne69]

Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.,

Nobody walks in L.A.

 

- Missing Persons 

 

Apparently not Florida as well. It's no surprise that Florida's unofficial motto is "God's Waiting Room". 

 

What am I missing? I've played over 120 courses in Florida, and there are only a handful of courses that I've been allowed to walk. Frankly I don't give a rat's behind if someone wants to ride, but I can walk a course in 3 hours or less. I was required to take a cart at Orange County National today, and their pace of play is 4:15. I could do that easily walking backwards. 

 

Is there an area in Florida that has a reasonable number of public courses that allow walking? Let's say 20? I sure haven't found it. Numerous courses allow members only to walk. That's an even stupider policy. 

 

I'd certainly consider retiring in the state, but it's a no-go if I can't find a locale that is walking friendly. 

 

[Warrior42111]

I'm East central Florida, pretty much dead east of Orlando.

 

Most courses in this area I've seen walkers at. Now there may be a couple with the caveat of not til afternoon on weekends, but not sure.

[sabram]

I think a bunch of lower cost courses allow walking... Winter Park 9, Forest Lake, Willowbrook, Cleveland Heights, Cypresswood etc. Highlands Reserve is a pretty good course that allows walking 

 

Many of the courses in residential developments aren't really walkable because of the very long paths between holes. Other courses just want the income from riding carts. 

 

Have you tried paying for a shared cart and after the first hole taking your bag off the cart and carrying?

Edited March 24 by sabram

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, Warrior42111 said:

I'm East central Florida, pretty much dead east of Orlando.

 

Most courses in this area I've seen walkers at. Now there may be a couple with the caveat of not til afternoon on weekends, but not sure.

 

Yeah, I've unfortunately run into many that don't allow walking until 2 pm. No idea what magically happens in the mid afternoon. 

 

[Argonne69]

57 minutes ago, sabram said:

I think a bunch of lower cost courses allow walking... Winter Park 9, Forest Lake, Willowbrook, Cleveland Heights, Cypresswood etc. Highlands Reserve is a pretty good course that allows walking 

 

Many of the courses in residential developments aren't really walkable because of the very long paths between holes. Other courses just want the income from riding carts. 

 

Have you tried paying for a shared cart and after the first hole taking your bag off the cart and carrying?

 

 

Yeah, I walked Highlands Reserve the last time I was in town. Rare course near the theme parks that allow walking. 

 

I've walked plenty of courses in housing developments with no issues. The courses in Sun City and Surprise, AZ are generally housing development layouts, and I don't recall one that doesn't allow walking. 

 

I actually walked half of the course at The Legends at Orange Lake yesterday. Another mandatory cart course, but my playing partner was cool with me walking in from the fairway. Unfortunately that doesn't work when one has their own cart. Was hoping to do that today, but I was the single playing with a young couple. 

 

 

[hammergolf]

A couple things:

You’re in the very small majority of walkers in the state and the EXTREME minority that you play fast. 

The heat and average age of golfers make it a preference to ride

 

That being said, courses not allowing someone to walk is ridiculous. I wonder if liability has anything to do with it? Seeing an ambulance driving on the course wasn’t a rare occurrence when I lived there…..

[Argonne69]

15 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

A couple things:

You’re in the very small majority of walkers in the state and the EXTREME minority that you play fast. 

The heat and average age of golfers make it a preference to ride

 

That being said, courses not allowing someone to walk is ridiculous. I wonder if liability has anything to do with it? Seeing an ambulance driving on the course wasn’t a rare occurrence when I lived there…..

 

Can't see how liability would be an issue. I can just as easily break a leg getting out of a cart than walking to the next teebox. 

 

It's certainly not about revenue. Many courses that allow walking charge a flat rate. 

 

[italianstallion]

Yeah, its a wasteland. I have a comprehensive list of courses around here that allow it. The general rule of thumb is that most municipal courses allow it, but outside of that good luck.

Edited March 24 by italianstallion

[sabram]

3 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Ive walked plenty of courses in housing developments with no issues.

Me too, but many of the ones in this area have outrageous distances between holes.

[Argonne69]

9 hours ago, sabram said:

Me too, but many of the ones in this area have outrageous distances between holes.

 

Curious what you consider a long distance? For me it would be a quarter mile, or 440 yds. I'd walk that in ~5 minutes. If a course had three of those hikes, my round go from 3 hours to 3:15.

 

I've played countless courses where I was told that there were long hikes, but their idea of long was laughable. A 100 to 200 yds stroll across a street or between houses is not going to add significantly to my round. Heck, me hiking to the tips to take a photo is often longer than some of these short walks, and I still manage to get around in 3 hours or so.

 

Goofiest course I played was in Yuma where there was 1 mile between the 6th and 7th hole, and then the same mile coming back from the 15th to the 16th. Instead of walking the course in 2:45, it took me 3:20.

 

[italianstallion]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Curious what you consider a long distance? For me it would be a quarter mile, or 440 yds. I'd walk that in ~5 minutes. If a course had three of those hikes, my round go from 3 hours to 3:15.

 

I've played countless courses where I was told that there were long hikes, but their idea of long was laughable. A 100 to 200 yds stroll across a street or between houses is not going to add significantly to my round. Heck, me hiking to the tips to take a photo is often longer than some of these short walks, and I still manage to get around in 3 hours or so.

 

Goofiest course I played was in Yuma where there was 1 mile between the 6th and 7th hole, and then the same mile coming back from the 15th to the 16th. Instead of walking the course in 2:45, it took me 3:20.

 

 

Yeah, I've found that when a course uses the excuse of "its too long of a walk between holes" the max distance is somewhere between 100 - 250 yards. Celebration Golf Club (same owner as Orange County National) flat out refused to let me walk even during COVID. They cited the walk between the 2nd and 3rd hole/7th and 8th hole and the walk between the 11th and 12th/17th and 18th as the reason why. When I did play there I spent plenty of time on the 3rd, 8th, 12th, and 18th holes waiting for the group in front of me to clear. My walking between those holes would have had no impact on the pace of play. One dreary and not-so-busy day I showed up and asked them if I could walk so that they could time me so I could prove it could be done...they refused.

 

Now unless its a tournament I only play golf courses that allow walking.  Putting the list I compiled of walking friendly courses in the Orlando area here for reference next time you're in town. If its not on this list don't bother asking. There's more architectural interest in some of these courses than any of the other courses in the area that don't allow walking anyway.

1. WP9
2. Winter Pines
3. Dubsdread
4. Rio Pinar
5. Mayfair
6. Fairways CC
7. Royal St. Cloud
8. Championsgate National
9. Championsgate International
10. Falcons Fire
11. Providence Golf Club
12. Streamsong (all)
13. Mount Dora
14. OCN Tooth
15. Black Bear
16. North Shore 
17. Wedgefield
18. Hawks Landing
19. Grande Lakes
20. Highlands Reserve
21. Deltona
22. New Smyrna
23. Victoria Hills - after 12:00 PM

[cardoustie]

The lack of walking is due to cash generation 

 

sad … I’m in SW Florida, I walk 4 days a week … at a cost of $17 at my home club 

 

everybody walked when I learned to play in the late 70’s / early 80’s 

[sabram]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Curious what you consider a long distance? For me it would be a quarter mile, or 440 yds. I'd walk that in ~5 minutes. If a course had three of those hikes, my round go from 3 hours to 3:15.

 

I've played countless courses where I was told that there were long hikes, but their idea of long was laughable. A 100 to 200 yds stroll across a street or between houses is not going to add significantly to my round. Heck, me hiking to the tips to take a photo is often longer than some of these short walks, and I still manage to get around in 3 hours or so.

 

Goofiest course I played was in Yuma where there was 1 mile between the 6th and 7th hole, and then the same mile coming back from the 15th to the 16th. Instead of walking the course in 2:45, it took me 3:20.

 

Off the top of my head, both courses at Solivita, and Championsgate country club are among the worst offenders with walks between holes longer than your 440 yard number. The aggregate walk time between holes would add more than 15 minutes

[italianstallion]

1 hour ago, cardoustie said:

The lack of walking is due to cash generation 

 

sad … I’m in SW Florida, I walk 4 days a week … at a cost of $17 at my home club 

 

everybody walked when I learned to play in the late 70’s / early 80’s 

 

Right. And I've never asked for a walking rate anywhere. You'd think even when I tell them I have no issue paying the full rate they'd thank me for actually increasing their bottom line. Nope, jump on a cart or go find somewhere else to play.

[Jayjay_theweim_guy]

16 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Can't see how liability would be an issue. I can just as easily break a leg getting out of a cart than walking to the next teebox. 

 

It's certainly not about revenue. Many courses that allow walking charge a flat rate. 

 

Overexertion in the heat, leading to a medical episode (MI, heat stroke/exhaustion, etc) is my guess.  Lot of old people, lot of ways for a casualty to be spun as negligence.

 

Upvoted for the Missing Persons ref.  Which was the first thing that came to mind too, seeing the thread title.

[Argonne69]

3 hours ago, cardoustie said:

The lack of walking is due to cash generation 

 

sad … I’m in SW Florida, I walk 4 days a week … at a cost of $17 at my home club 

 

everybody walked when I learned to play in the late 70’s / early 80’s 

 

Don't see how it's about cash. Almost half of the courses I've walked charge a flat rate. They don't earn any more money for allowing walkers. 

 

[Argonne69]

Walked Hawks Landing today. Pretty benign until one has to get from 17 to 18. That was probably a 500 yd hike that took 5 minutes. I was the first one out walking with a twosome riding, and we finished in 3:10. 

 

[umassgolfer]

Off the top of my head in Palm Beach County (public courses) there is:

- The Park

- Okeeheelee

- Park Ridge

- Osprey Point

- Village Golf Club

- Palm Beach National

- Sandhill Crane (I think)

- Altantis

- Lake Worth Beach GC

- Links at Boynton Beach

 

Probably a few more that would let you - Abacoa, N. Palm Beach at the top of that list. Some of these there is no price cut for walking which bugs me. The courses that do not allow walking are generally the residential routings that involve multiple street crossings - maybe thinking walking is a higher level of risk as a walker vs. in a cart.

[cardoustie]

4 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Don't see how it's about cash. Almost half of the courses I've walked charge a flat rate. They don't earn any more money for allowing walkers. 

 

Because walking is $17 and riding is $28 … clearly they want riding 

[596]

I walk the course 3 days a week.  A Muni in Lakeland, Cleveland Heights.  18 holes is just over 6 miles. We play in 3:15 without rushing.  I actually had to buy a foldable stool that fits in my golf bag.  When season hits and snowbirds crowd the course we do lots of waiting.  And they are mostly in carts!!  

 

Courses need the money and it's one of the reasons they don't allowing walking.  Courses here made up their own rules of golf and forbid walking!!  To me, walking is part of the game of golf.

[ThinkingPlus]

 

 

[Warrior42111]

I used to walk in the winter / spring here.

 

Then kids came, my better half still wants me to golf and I appreciate that greatly, so I need to be ready to take over when I get home. Probably could still walk in the winter but in the mid spring through fall not a chance. It's either early morning so maybe 70s and 100% humidly to start and end in the 80s with 80% humidity or go out in the 90s with 70% humidity. Neither seems appealing to me. 

[golfortennis]

Over on the treasure Coast, I know Sandridge Golf Club will let you walk.  There is one somewhat of a hike but overall things aren't too crazy.  At least on the longer course, I didn't play the other one.

 

PGA Village in PSL started allowing walking, especially on the Dye course, but I was playing with a older friend of mine who needs a cart, so, I didn't get to walk.

 

 

[Argonne69]

It's nice to see that the Disney allows walking. Currently enjoying a nice walk on Magnolia. 

 

[TBD203]

I walked Magnolia in January, it's a nice easy walk!

[Argonne69]

Wow. Walked Cypress Head yesterday, and New Smyrna today. Surprised to find two courses that allow walking. 

 

Of course Venetian Bay a few miles away requires a cart on an extremely easy course to walk. 

 

Edited April 2 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Finished my swing through the northern part of the state. Five walkable courses in JAX, and only one allowed walking. Pffftttt.

 

What I find crazy is that the Phoenix area has dozens of similar courses, flat and routed through housing developments with several short hikes between holes. I've played over 100 courses in the valley, and can't think of a single one that doesn't allow walking. Plenty of heat and old retirees, but the courses still allow walking.

 

[umassgolfer]

On 4/10/2025 at 7:11 AM, Argonne69 said:

Finished my swing through the northern part of the state. Five walkable courses in JAX, and only one allowed walking. Pffftttt.

 

What I find crazy is that the Phoenix area has dozens of similar courses, flat and routed through housing developments with several short hikes between holes. I've played over 100 courses in the valley, and can't think of a single one that doesn't allow walking. Plenty of heat and old retirees, but the courses still allow walking.

 

 

Come further south to Palm Beach county next time and I can steer you in the right direction for a dozen or so that allow walking - ranging from great to pretty good!

[LUMA]

It's hard to come by anymore in Florida. If courses do allow walking, it's usually in the afternoons.

 

I used to prefer walking when I played the UF course in Gainesville and at that course, it was probably 60% walkers and carts for everyone else. If I walked during the summer, it was twighlight. I walked 90% of my rounds during the fall, winter and spring.

 

I miss the days when you head to the pro shop to play and they ask you if you wanted to "add a cart". It's mostly just standard now. I don't see a lot of courses allowing it.

[Marty86]

On 4/11/2025 at 9:53 AM, LUMA said:

It's hard to come by anymore in Florida. If courses do allow walking, it's usually in the afternoons.

 

I used to prefer walking when I played the UF course in Gainesville and at that course, it was probably 60% walkers and carts for everyone else. If I walked during the summer, it was twighlight. I walked 90% of my rounds during the fall, winter and spring.

 

I miss the days when you head to the pro shop to play and they ask you if you wanted to "add a cart". It's mostly just standard now. I don't see a lot of courses allowing it.

It's free money for them now. And the worst is the lie that walkers are slower.