It was 4:25 PM when I arrived at the golf course and the sun was setting at 5:57 PM. I didn’t want to be pushed to have a golf cart back at a certain time, so I decided to carry my bag. There’s not many golf courses you can walk in South Florida, that are nearby and I want to play, but Pompano Municipal is one that allows it. I figured I could get in 9 holes if I hustled and no one was in my way. It was perfect timing. I made it 9 holes on the Palms course by 5:35. Since I had more daylight left, I pressed on! Unfortunately I encountered other players so it went to a crawl until they left the course. I planned a few holes out, cut left to the holes coming back and managed to get in 15 holes and back at the clubhouse by 6 PM. Yes, I was moving quickly, but it was great exercise. (I was on track for a 93, a bit above my normal average, but I was happy under the circumstances.)

When I mentioned my adventure, my friends have all said how they would love to carry their bag and walk, but their country clubs won’t let them. Wake up course managers! As long as players keep up, there is no reason to block players from walking the course. Instead of policies that are ‘no way, no walking’, how about, ‘let’s try and see’. There are many players who want to walk and find it far more enjoyable, myself included. If you haven’t had walkers in 20+ years, this is a way for you to make your course more inviting.

I’ll make it even easier. How about a policy that states a player can walk the course as long as there are no complaints about that groups slow play? If they can’t finish in the expected time, and there was no one holding them up, they are banned from walking in the future. This let’s speedy players like me who can walk 18 faster than many driving a cart, enjoy golf the way it was meant to be played. How about a trial period? “We’re testing allowing walkers on the course. Players must be able to finish 9/18 holes in xyz time. If interested, please contact …”