I love walking the golf course. I’ve always felt like it helped me play better.
Maybe that started in junior golf when you don’t really have a choice. You walk, carry your bag and figure it out.
So when I came across a new study that compared walking and riding under tournament-style conditions, I was curious.
The study was published in the European Journal of Sport Science. Before we go too far, this was a small study: 16 high-level male golfers in their early 20s. It’s a controlled look at an interesting topic, not the final word. Here’s what I found interesting.
How they tested
Each golfer played two 18-hole rounds on the same championship course.
- One round walking (bag carried by a caddie)
- One round riding in a golf cart
- Randomized order so every player did both
They tracked:
- Step count
- Calories burned
- Heart rate
- Core temperature
- Perceived exertion
- Clubhead speed
- Ball speed
- Carry distance
- Post-round lower-body power
Walking is a lot more work
The physical difference between walking and riding wasn’t subtle. I expected this to be the case, and these guys had a caddie, so you can imagine the increase with carrying or even pushing your bag.
| Metric | Walking | Riding (Cart) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step Count | 17,007 | 6,274 | +10,733 steps |
| Energy Expenditure | 880 kcal | 456 kcal | +424 kcal |
| Mean Heart Rate | 109 bpm | 94 bpm | +15 bpm |
| Post-Round Exertion (RPE) | 41 | 25 | Higher fatigue when walking |
| Post-Round Lower-Body Power (CMJ) | Greater decline | Better preserved | Walking caused more neuromuscular fatigue |
Where walking made a difference
After the round, the walking group showed a greater decline in lower-body power. They were more tired. They burned more energy and put more stress on their bodies.
But, and this is a big but, these players were young with an average age of just over 20. They were competitive golfers and fit enough to handle that extra load without it showing up in their swing. Clubhead speed, ball speed and carry distance were essentially unchanged over 18 holes.
They finished more fatigued but they didn’t lose measurable performance.
Now raise that average age by 20 or 30 years. Make them 15- or 20-handicap players instead of single digits. When you’re on the 18th making a putt for 72, that’s one thing. When you’re grinding over a putt for 95, it may feel a little different.
Walking felt better, even if it was harder
Here’s the part that I found most interesting. Walking clearly increased physical strain.
But cognitively? There weren’t meaningful differences in workload between walking and riding. Interestingly, players perceived their performance as better when they walked.
Walking feels more connected and intentional.
The study didn’t show measurable improvements in swing from walking. But it did show that players believed they performed better when they walked.
The researchers even suggested that future work explore whether these physical and cognitive differences become more significant over multi-day tournaments.
What should amateur golfers take from this?
Here’s what I think this study actually tells us.
Walking clearly increases fatigue.
For young, competitive players in their early 20s, that fatigue didn’t change clubhead speed, ball speed or carry distance over 18 holes. For many amateur golfers, that may not be true.
Most golfers reading this:
- Aren’t 21
- Aren’t single-digit handicaps
- Aren’t training and competing regularly
- Aren’t recovering like college athletes
If walking is going to make a difference in your round, it’s probably going to show up late in fatigue, decision-making, tempo or consistency. So, what do you do with that?
1. Get in better physical condition
If you love walking (like I do), the answer isn’t automatically “ride more.” It may be that improving your cardiovascular fitness, strengthening your lower body and building endurance so 10,000 steps aren’t a maximum in a day for you.
2. Hydrate and manage heat
The walking group had higher heart rates and core temperatures. If you play in hot conditions, drink more than you think you need, hydrate before your round begins and pay attention to energy dips on the back nine.
3. Understand that fatigue builds
This study only looked at one round per condition. But walking clearly created more physical strain.
If you’re playing:
- Multiple days in a row
- A member-guest
- A 36-hole day
- A tournament weekend
That accumulated fatigue might matter more than it does over one round. The cart may not make you “better” but it may help you stay more consistent when volume increases.
Final thoughts
If you love walking, get fit enough to handle it. If you’re grinding through a long, hot event and you’re trying to preserve ball speed, distance, etc., riding might be smarter.