Walking in Florida

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, Marty86 said:

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

 

I still don't buy the free money argument. There are plenty of courses that let you walk, but charge a flat rate. I'd say 40 percent of the courses that allow me to walk charge a flat rate.

 

I certainly don't like paying for a cart I don't need or want, but it's preferable to being required to ride. 

 

[596]

Walkers are not slower.  We had to buy foldable seats to put in our bags.  Always walk but wait constantly for 4somes in carts.  We spend 5 minutes waiting for people in carts on every shot, sitting on our seats.  At 70 years old, Florida heat and humidity, it sucks to stand in the middle of the fairway waiting constantly.   People ask all the time what that is sticking out of my bag.  It's a foldable seat!!  The courses just want money so they don't allow walkers.  Even our Muni prohibits walking on Saturday and Sunday until 1pm.  They haven't figured out why they run out of carts every weekend by 11am! 😂 

[mshills]

It is pretty simple. The courses don’t want to deal with it. Doesn’t make it right, but it’s reality. 👎🏼
 

It isn’t really about the cart revenue. Consider this…..course starts allowing walkers, the first few are fine, no problems. Then a couple days later, a couple walkers berate the kid in the pro shop for charging the full nut and not offering a cheaper walking rate. Then the next day there is a slow, or perceived to be slow walker, and the Judge Smails type behind him raises Cain in the shop afterwards about the walker “holding us up.”

 

It might be a bit lazy, but it’s easier for the course to say “screw this, I don’t want to deal with it, everyone rides.” I can’t say I blame them that much, when you have such a small number of players who want to walk and have such a large number of regulars or “members” who are professional complainers. Florida golf….no thanks.

[Argonne69]

21 minutes ago, mshills said:

It is pretty simple. The courses don’t want to deal with it. Doesn’t make it right, but it’s reality. 👎🏼
 

It isn’t really about the cart revenue. Consider this…..course starts allowing walkers, the first few are fine, no problems. Then a couple days later, a couple walkers berate the kid in the pro shop for charging the full nut and not offering a cheaper walking rate. Then the next day there is a slow, or perceived to be slow walker, and the Judge Smails type behind him raises Cain in the shop afterwards about the walker “holding us up.”

 

It might be a bit lazy, but it’s easier for the course to say “screw this, I don’t want to deal with it, everyone rides.” I can’t say I blame them that much, when you have such a small number of players who want to walk and have such a large number of regulars or “members” who are professional complainers. Florida golf….no thanks.

 

But yet they have no problems dealing with some of the clowns in carts. Never worked at a course, but I've played plenty of rounds and seen plenty of goofy stuff, and it's riders 95% of the time. 

 

Used to be that some courses would not allow women to play before noon. Somehow perception became the rule at these prehistoric courses. Bet Fred Flintstone used to play his rounds there. 

 

You run a course and you're going to have a few bad apples. Why not simply deal with them on an individual basis? 

 

[mshills]

21 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

But yet they have no problems dealing with some of the clowns in carts. Never worked at a course, but I've played plenty of rounds and seen plenty of goofy stuff, and it's riders 95% of the time. 

 

Used to be that some courses would not allow women to play before noon. Somehow perception became the rule at these prehistoric courses. Bet Fred Flintstone used to play his rounds there. 

 

You run a course and you're going to have a few bad apples. Why not simply deal with them on an individual basis? 

 

No need to debate with me man…see where I said I don’t think this is right, but it is. I don’t like it, but I could understand the courses taking the path of least resistance if that’s what they are doing.

 

Sexist policies are a totally different and irrelevant topic. 

 

One more reason not to play public golf in Florida. Forget all that.

[Warrior42111]

38 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

You run a course and you're going to have a few bad apples. Why not simply deal with them on an individual basis? 

 

I think it's the adage " is the juice worth the squeeze" usually those bad apples are the loud smooth brains that think nothing is their fault. They'll make a scene, berate the HS kid working the shop on the retiree as a ranger.  As an old coach use to say "an empty barrel makes the loudest noise." 

 

Also, not sure how it's a course issue but maybe it's to limit the sue happy world we live in? Years ago was going to play a local course, cops blew by me on a road and when I got to the course saw the cars at the club house. Being a smart ___ in my 20s I ask who died? An older golfer had a heart attack on hole 7. It was early morning when the humidity is high here. Pretty sure this course banned walking like a month after.

[Argonne69]

22 minutes ago, Warrior42111 said:

I think it's the adage " is the juice worth the squeeze" usually those bad apples are the loud smooth brains that think nothing is their fault. They'll make a scene, berate the HS kid working the shop on the retiree as a ranger.  As an old coach use to say "an empty barrel makes the loudest noise." 

 

Also, not sure how it's a course issue but maybe it's to limit the sue happy world we live in? Years ago was going to play a local course, cops blew by me on a road and when I got to the course saw the cars at the club house. Being a smart ___ in my 20s I ask who died? An older golfer had a heart attack on hole 7. It was early morning when the humidity is high here. Pretty sure this course banned walking like a month after.

 

And at the same time I hear stories about nitwits crashing golf carts? Courses really think those waivers are going to protect them? 

 

I'd estimate that 90 percent of the courses in the US allow walking. How do these courses survive with all the mayhem caused by walkers? Slow play lost revenue. Death caused by heat stroke? 

 

As I mentioned earlier, almost all Arizona courses allow walking. Not sure what's the difference between that hot, retirement destination and Florida. Maybe it's the gators. 

 

Edited April 29 by Argonne69

[Warrior42111]

I'm with you I'm all for walking if someone wants to.

 

I half jokingly guess maybe the Florida Man Factor when comparing to Arizona. As a transplant I can say it is very real. 

 

 

[umassgolfer]

The problem with a lot of Florida golf is the community routing which lends itself to long walks, often across streets, from green to tee. That is the area where golfers would be considered slower. From what I have seen, most courses with those type routings do not allow walking; most courses that do not have those routings are more open to walking.

[Argonne69]

33 minutes ago, umassgolfer said:

The problem with a lot of Florida golf is the community routing which lends itself to long walks, often across streets, from green to tee. That is the area where golfers would be considered slower. From what I have seen, most courses with those type routings do not allow walking; most courses that do not have those routings are more open to walking.

 

Funny, but I've played dozens, if not hundreds of residential courses around the country, including many in Arizona, Texas, and South Carolina that allow walking. Don't know why Florida housing developments are any different than the rest of the country. 

 

[umassgolfer]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Funny, but I've played dozens, if not hundreds of residential courses around the country, including many in Arizona, Texas, and South Carolina that allow walking. Don't know why Florida housing developments are any different than the rest of the country. 

 

Yea I don't know. Just seems to be what I have observed in my very unscientific review of which courses let me walk vs., not.

[Argonne69]

2 hours ago, umassgolfer said:

Yea I don't know. Just seems to be what I have observed in my very unscientific review of which courses let me walk vs., not.

 

Yeah, a housing development layout is more likely going to be cart only.

 

I was shocked that Orange County National didn't allow walking. The courses there host Korn Ferry and Q Series. Very walkable. 

 

[Bonneville85308]

On 3/24/2025 at 11:46 AM, Argonne69 said:

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

Nobody walks in L.A.

 

- Missing Persons 

 

 

Every time I hear this song on my playlist now, instead of picturing Dale Bozzio rocking out, I'm stuck with a picture of Arg in his signature hat, having a heated debate with a guy behind a pro shop counter about a course's no-walking policy. 🤣

 

Nobody walks in (F)LA. 

[golfortennis]

On 4/30/2025 at 1:37 PM, Argonne69 said:

 

Yeah, a housing development layout is more likely going to be cart only.

 

I was shocked that Orange County National didn't allow walking. The courses there host Korn Ferry and Q Series. Very walkable. 

 

 

That surprises the hell out of me that they don't.  Based on a lot of their marketing they would lean a little more traditional.  Oops.

[doglegs]

Only time carting should be mandatory is mountain golf with massive switchback drives up to tee boxes.  Florida is completely flat.  Maybe they're thinking about pace of play, although I rarely see rangers enforcing these days.  Thing of the past...

[sabram]

12 hours ago, doglegs said:

Florida is completely flat. 

No it isn't. Central Florida has a bunch of courses with significant elevation changes

[Argonne69]

1 minute ago, sabram said:

No it isn't. Central Florida has a bunch of courses with significant elevation changes

 

Lol. Define significant? 

 

Yeah, they're not flat, but the hills aren't going to get the heart rate up more than a few bps. 

 

I've played courses in Nebraska (Landman) and North Dakota (Minot CC) that would put any Florida course to shame. 

 

[sabram]

9 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Lol. Define significant? 

 

Yeah, they're not flat, but the hills aren't going to get the heart rate up more than a few bps. 

 

I've played courses in Nebraska (Landman) and North Dakota (Minot CC) that would put any Florida course to shame. 

 

I didn't say they were the hilliest courses in the world. But, contrary to the common myths there are many Florida courses that have big drops and uphill shots. Let's say 50-100 foot elevation changes from tee to green on multiple holes. Just off the top of my head from courses I play regularly these meet that criterion

 

Legends Clermont Holes 1, 5. 6. 14 and 16 have between 50 and 100 foot elevation changes between tee and green, 

 

Same with Clermont National holes 2,5,9,10,11, 12,15, 16, and 17  and at least six holes at  Kings Ridge have comparable drops and uphill shots. 

 

...Bella Colina, Reunion, Links at Sandpiper, Southern Dunes (6, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 14) , Brooksville (back 9) , and Highlands Reserve 

 

Mission Inn (El Campeon #4,5,6,7, 13) at Las Colinas, #7 is so steep you need a periscope to see the fairway below

 

Deltona Club

 

Victoria Hills

 

Sandpiper #9 steep uphill approach to Skyline Green

 

 

 

p

Deltona Club approach to #7

 

 

Deltona #15

 

 

 

 

 

Legends Clermont

 

Clermont National View back to fairway

 

Clermont National
 

Kings Ridge

 

 

Mission Inn El Campeon

 

 

Mission Inn Las Colinas

 

 

ReUnion Watson steep uphill  par 3 180 yards

 

 

Bella Colina

 

Bella Colina

 

Victoria Hills

 

 

Southern Dunes Steep uphill approach to #13

 

Brooksville #15 tee shot from elevated tee to valley below then a steep uphill approach

 

Highlands Reserve #11 from tee

 

 

 

 

Edited May 12 by sabram
to add photos

[596]

On 4/29/2025 at 1:21 PM, mshills said:

No need to debate with me man…see where I said I don’t think this is right, but it is. I don’t like it, but I could understand the courses taking the path of least resistance if that’s what they are doing.

 

Sexist policies are a totally different and irrelevant topic. 

 

One more reason not to play public golf in Florida. Forget all that.

You must be playing places I've never played at.  I've only seen one course where you can't ride. I play 3 days a week at Florida public courses

Florida golf is not as bad as you make it out.  

 

Our only problem comes from those using carts. Don't know how to use them efficiently, drink too much.  Never seen a walker crash a riding cart belonging to the course.  In fact I don't remember any one drinking too much while walking the course.

 

And those aren't limited to Florida. Florida had nothing to do with golfers being stupid.

[mshills]

1 hour ago, 596 said:

You must be playing places I've never played at.  I've only seen one course where you can't ride. I play 3 days a week at Florida public courses

Florida golf is not as bad as you make it out.  

 

Our only problem comes from those using carts. Don't know how to use them efficiently, drink too much.  Never seen a walker crash a riding cart belonging to the course.  In fact I don't remember any one drinking too much while walking the course.

 

And those aren't limited to Florida. Florida had nothing to do with golfers being stupid.

Not sure why this was directed my way, but I lived in Miami-Dade for 3y so here goes. 
 

Went to Streamsong once, fantastic golf despite tough weather conditions and the resort just couldn’t get their 💩 together. I’ve heard it’s much improved, good news. Played Miami Shores and Crandon some. Jacaranda up in Plantation was really good. PGA National way further up….respect it but don’t need to play it ever again, tough golf course. Great experience at Bay Hill. 
 

Those were the highlights, and with a couple exceptions those are not run of the mill public golf courses. There’s also a ton of just bad public golf, like really bad, but that’s true most places I suppose.