I’ve received multiple questions from the readership asking if I could give them a list of Orlando golf courses that allowed walkers to play the course. So, I did the leg work and called almost every golf course in Orlando and the list below are those that allow walkers to play.

I was a bit shocked at how few courses are “walker friendly” and I was pleasantly surprised at a few that were.

Casselberry Golf Club	407-699-9310
Disney’s Oak Trail (9hole)	407-938-4653
Dubsdread Golf Course	407-246-2551
EagleCreek	407-273-4653
Eastwood Golf Club	407-281-4653
Fairways Country Club	407-282-7535
Faldo Golf Institute	407-238-7677
Grand Cypress Golf Club N/E/S	407-239-1975
Grand Cypress Golf Club New Course	407-239-1975
Grand Pines Golf Club	407-239-6909
Harmony Golf Preserve	407-891-8525
Hawks Landing Golf Club	407-238-8910
Highlands Reserve Golf Club	877-508-4653
North Shore Golf Club	407-277-9277
Ritz Carlton Golf Club	407-393-4900
Sugarloaf Mountain	407-544-1104
Victoria Hills Golf Club	386-738-6000
Wedgefield Country Club	800-573-3118
Winter Park Country Club	407-599-3339

Amateur golf seems to have adapted itself to the laziness that taken over our country. Yes, I know, golf courses are a business and they need to push through as many people as possible in order to stay in business, but out of all the courses I called, only 18 were walker friendly… That seems wrong to me.

One of the primary benefits of golf is the fact that if you forego the golf cart and walk from hole to hole, you’re actually walking between three to five miles. Considering that many courses have an ever changing topography, you could be climbing uphill and downhill, working several muscles in the process.

Walking is a low-impact cardiovascular activity that gets the heart pumping. Many doctors advise walking over jogging because it isn’t jarring on the knees and feet. Walking is often an important part of a workout routine and can promote weight loss and a healthier heart. For golfers who do not have a caddy, carrying a bag full of clubs adds some resistance while walking.

Research has indicated that playing a round of golf has the same health benefits of a full 45-minute fitness class. It will burn fat and also improve your good cholesterol levels. Some estimates suggest that playing a round of golf and carrying your clubs can burn over 400 calories, while walking with a pull cart can burn over 300 calories.

Swinging clubs and putting are also physical workouts. Repetition can help tone muscles in the arms, back and shoulders. It may also improve flexibility and range of motion. Golf also helps to strengthen hand-eye coordination and balance. It can be a great way for older players to remain spry and active in a low-impact way.

Apart from the apparent physical benefits, playing golf also has some mental health benefits as well. Simply being outdoors on a beautiful day can boost a person’s spirits. Provided you’re not caught up with the competition aspect and gunning to win, golf can also be a relaxing endeavor that helps stress melt away. There’s also the camaraderie of golf: spending time with friends and other players and engaging in conversation.

Golf has many benefits, and despite not being as high-energy as baseball or football, for example, it still remains a sport that can prove beneficial to your health.

exerpt taken from FortWayne.com

I’m just as lazy as the rest of us, but I’ve decided to make a concerted effort to walk atleast 1/2 of the rounds I play. What brought all this about was a couple weeks ago when I played out at Winter Park Country Club. It’s a nine hole course that I played twice and when I got back to the clubhouse I felt like crap, I was completely drained, and I’m still a “relatively” young man! 🙂

Also, something I saw a couple do one time, if you’re playing a course that’s cart-only, you and your playing partner can alternate walking and riding, one drives the cart whilst the other walks to their ball.

Do you prefer walking or riding?

If you liked this one, feel free to check out my other Orlando golf course reviews and if you’re looking to play, here’s a selection of discounted Orlando tee times.