The real question is - Why do you need 14 clubs?

Just because that is the maximum allowed by the USGA does not mean a golfer needs 14 of them to play to their potential.

I carry 9 clubs when I play and I know it makes me a better golfer because my handicap dropped by 10 strokes over the course of a season while doing so.

If you want to carry, but need to shed some weight, dropping a few clubs from your bag is the best way to reduce stress on your body. On average, every club you carry weighs at least one pound, so you can drop at least 6 lbs from your bag by only using 9 clubs.

If you cannot play without 14 clubs, then consider using a push cart which is easier on your body than carrying and much healthier for you than riding in a cart.

Scratch SB-1s and a MacKenzie Walker - the most beautiful combination in the game.

These are the clubs that live in my MacKenzie Walker or MacKenzie Llama:

Note: The Walking Golfer is not sponsored and has not been given any of the clubs listed below.

Driver: Titleist 909 D3 8.5* with UST Proforce AXIVCore Tour Green 67 gram Shaft in X Flex

The driver is the longest and most difficult club to hit in your bag,  so it is important to get fit by a professional to ensure that you are playing with the “right” one.

During the fitting process, your launch angle, spin rate, shaft flex, etc. will be optimized by trying out various head and shaft combinations. You will also get a feel for the club’s balance and the sound at impact which is important.

If you are between flexes, then I would encourage you to err towards a stiffer shaft for more accuracy in as light a weight as feels comfortable to maximize club head speed and distance.

3 Wood: Titleist 909 F3 13* 3 Wood with UST Proforce AXIVCore Tour Green 76 gram Shaft in X Flex

A 3 Wood is a versatile club off the tee and from the deck, and if you find a favorite it can live in your bag forever.

Make sure the shaft is stiff enough to give you the tightest dispersion possible – accuracy is vital with fairway woods.

Irons: Scratch SB-1 in Driver/Slider Grind with KBS Tour 6.5 X Shafts – 3i, 5i, 7i, 9i, and PW

As a walking golfer, one of the things I enjoy about a round is being immersed in the experience. The grass under my feet, the relaxing scenery of the course, the companionship of friends, and the way the golf ball comes off the club face, especially on a pure strike.

Personally, I play to feel those occasional pure shots while striving to make them more regular. A forged blade maximizes my ability to feel the golf ball at impact, understand why I missed, get better, and be creative on those knock-downs, trap draws and punch shots that a golfer will need to conjure with only 9 clubs in the bag.

The Scratch SB-1 “Super Blade” is an iron forged from 1018 carbon steel which is the softest on the market. The SB-1s provide buttery feel and also reasonable forgiveness, at least for a blade, because the center of gravity is behind the sweet spot and away from the face.

Scratch offers three iron grinds that you can match to your swing type, which I believe is unique amongst manufacturers. In addition to the SB-1, Scratch offers the AR-1 (a forged cavity back blade) and the EX-1 (a larger forged blade with a deeper cavity).

Forged irons are harder to hit than offset cast “game improvement irons” but I feel strongly that playing a forged blade or forged cavity back can make you a better golfer in the long run, provided you have some time to practice, while thoroughly enhancing your playing experience.

With irons, I would err on the side of “stiffer” rather that “flexible” when it comes to shafts. I switched to an X shaft from an S and improved my shot dispersion significantly. I really like the KBS Tour shaft because it feels solid at impact and provides a strong trajectory.

Wedges: Scratch 1018 Forged 56* Wedge in Driver/Slider Grind with KBS Tour Wedge Flex Shaft

It is vital to feel comfortable and confident with your wedges which is why Scratch have found a real niche in the market. Loft, bounce, grind, etc. can all be customized to fit your game which is ideal, and every club is hand ground in soft 1018 forged carbon steel.

Many pro golfers play with four wedges, but do amateurs have time to master that many? And at about a pound each is it really worth the extra weight in your bag?

My 56* can be laid open easily for flop shots, is great out of bunkers and around the greens and is trustworthy from about 120 yards in – one wedge is enough for me.

A confident short game will not only shave strokes off your score, it will add a lot of enjoyment to your round. Getting up and down for par on a regular basis is a great skill to have and very beneficial for your handicap and wallet.

SB-1 Blade and TRUE linkswear Shoes

Putter: Ping Karsten C67

The Putter is probably the most important and personal club in the bag because it is used on every hole and at least twice as often as any other.  I think a putter’s feel, both at address and at contact, is key. So if you find a head shape or design that you like, it might be a good idea to stick with it.

I grew up playing with a Titleist Bulls Eye so the Ping C67 is a logical modern putter for me because of the mid-shaft design which provides a similar look at address. To each his own certainly applies here.

So the 9 clubs I choose to play with are Driver, 3 Wood, 3i, 5i, 7i, 9i, PW, SW and Putter.

The loft progression in my set is 8.5*, 13*, 22*, 28*, 36*, 44*, 50*, 56* which is fairly well balanced and certainly manageable on the course. I rarely wish I had another club in the bag because a shot requires another tool.

There are many golfers who have scored their best round ever using ten or fewer clubs. One of the benefits of walking is that you experience every step of the course which heightens your senses and, in my opinion, significantly improves your sense of “feel”, which can only enhance your shot-making creativity.

Try dropping a few clubs from your bag and watch your game improve over time which will only increase your enjoyment, while minimizing the weight that you carry around for eighteen holes.

Yes, Hilton Head is in many ways cart-central, and buggies are as much a part of the golf landscape as ball washers, flag-sticks, and the snack-dispensing halfway house at the turn.  But not every golf course in the area requires a mechanized vehicle to get from point to point.  Two of nearby Bluffton’s most desirable daily-fee courses, Island West and Rose Hill, are eminently walker-friendly, and should be on the “must-play” list of any visitor or vacationer who wants to play (and walk) quality golf courses at very affordable prices.

The ever-popular Fuzzy Zoeller has the same amount of official victories as a Champions Tour Player (two) as he did in Majors on the regular Tour.  (’79 Masters and ’84 U.S. Open.)  But while his victory total is sparse, his resume and reputation as a course designer continues to grow.  Case in point:  Of the nearly 20 courses designed by Zoeller, one of the most enjoyable is the underrated, affordable, yet very pleasant Island West Golf Club in Bluffton, the mainland town directly west of Hilton Head Island.  A long-time favorite of residents and Lowcountry vacationers, Island West features beautiful rolling fairways, elevated tees, carefully preserved natural marsh areas, and large live oaks.  Over the last decade-and-a-half, Bluffton has developed into a full-service golf destination in its own right.  So much so that an avid player can enjoy a “Hilton Head” golf vacation for nearly a week, and never peg a ball on the island itself, so prevalent are the quality choices available on the mainland.  Island West is one of the major reasons why.  Visit www.islandwestgolf.net to find out more.

This correspondent has been writing about golf in greater Hilton Head for more than a dozen years.  If I had a sawbuck for every time I craned my neck rightward while heading east towards the island on US 278 in Bluffton, to see what was doing at Rose Hill Golf Club while passing by, I would have accumulated enough money to pay the green fees at Harbour Town every day for a month.  But it wasn’t until last summer that I actually turned into Rose Hill itself, slipped into soft-spikes, and took the traditional four-hour tour.  It was a pleasant revelation to find this recently-reopened layout cleverly routed, challenging and serene, but still user-friendly.

When the golf club closed its doors back in 2006, my first notion was “C’est la vie,” thinking the chance to play there had been permanently squandered. Thankfully, Rose Hill reopened under new management nearly two years ago.  It’s no easy task to resurrect a long-moribund golf course, with grass growing head-high, and trees sprouting from dispossessed, hardscrabbled bunkers. But head professional Jimmy Powell, and the superintendant and his hardworking crew are doing just that.  The decision was made to close down 9 of the original 27 holes, and leave intact what management considers the best 18.  In terms of conditioning, there’s still a ways to go, but the course is definitely moving in the right direction. It is becoming an increasingly viable option in Bluffton’s rich stable of daily-fee golf courses.  Visit www.golfrosehill.com to learn more.

http://www.chapeaunoirgolf.com/chapeaunoirblog/2010/5/2/the-bag-for-the-stylish-walking-golfer.html

Lorne Rubenstein is the voice of golf in Canada and I have enjoyed reading his books and articles for a long time.

Please check out his article if you get a sec – it’s a great read.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/golf/the-clubhouse/why-dont-more-golfers-walk/article1551795/

O yeah, the link to TWG towards the bottom is really cool – Thanks Lorne!

The morning was cool and partly cloudy.  I had talked to the Pro Shop the previous day and was cleared to tee off at 6:45, the first one out.  It was an anxious moment as I headed to the first tee.  Many thoughts were running through my head – What if I can’t make 60 after telling friends and family my plans?  What if I run out of daylight?  But this was something I had planned for almost two years, and I was resolved to just do it. After a short wait for a fairway mower to clear (the first of many mowers I’d wait for that morning), and a couple of quick practice swings, I was off with a high weak drive down the right side of the fairway.

I decided to play the back tees for the first round and the regular men’s tees the rest of the way.  Besides providing a somewhat different look the next time around, it mentally and physically made things seem easier. The course is a par 70 that plays 6,736 yards from the tips and 6,211 from the men’s tees. It is not long, but not short either.

I was unaware that the greens had been aerated and sanded the day before.  Surprisingly it didn’t affect the speed, but there were some strange breaks at times, which didn’t help my putting.

Since this was the “speed round”, I took little time preparing and hitting shots and it showed.  Even though I wasn’t playing for score, I was still keeping it, just to see how many strokes I made during the day.  I started with 4 bogeys followed by a double.  But then a good short pitch set me up for a birdie on the 6th (the first of three I would have on that hole) followed by 3 more pars including one at the #1 handicap hole which is a difficult par 4 where the tee shot and second shot must carry a 40 foot ravine.

I checked my phone for the time, 7:50, an hour and 5 minutes for the first 9, which was much better than expected.  The second nine was fairly uneventful other than my only lost ball of the day, a decent tee shot on 15 into the morning sun that careened off a power line, strung across the fairway about 75 yards from the tee, to parts unknown.

Another check of the phone at the end of the 18 and it was 9AM. I played round one in 2 hours 15 minutes.  My speed round was indeed that.  I felt relieved, and invigorated at the same time.  I wanted to keep going and ride the energy from my enthusiasm.  It was time to play the extra holes I would need for 60 so I quickly went back to the 10th tee and played a six hole loop which finished on 18. I played a ridiculously fun hole during that loop, hitting my putter for the tee shot and putting with my driver.   Made a bogey there.

It was now 10am, and I had already played 24 holes.  Just 36 to go . . . just?!?!  I went back to the first tee after changing my shoes and socks, still riding a high at my progress. At 10:15 I teed off, playing with a very friendly retired high school coach.  The first 9 was solid, I was finally starting to swing well.  I think the rush and nervousness of the first 18 had my swing out of sync initially.  But on the 10^th hole I finally started to feel it.  My legs were getting rubbery and I had to throw my hips forward rather than let the legs drive through on shots.  I started playing for fades and slices.  It was time for a rest.  I did have a fun hole during that period playing the 12^th without shoes (again a bogey). Then suddenly on 17 everything came back.  I birdied it and almost birdied 18.  I was back on a high and energized.  It was now 1:20pm and I had played 42 holes.

I had been eating snacks throughout the morning, mainly fig bars and trail mix, but something more substantial was now in order.  I had a sandwich in the clubhouse, changed from long pants to shorts and put on fresh socks.  Not wanting to stiffen up and still excited about the last 2 holes, I headed to the first tee for the final round.  By now the wind was around 15 mph and it was in the high 70’s with a clear sky. This time I paired up with a businessman who had a dry sense of humor and was playing hooky for the afternoon.

The first tee shot was weak slice, which made me think I was back to needing to force the hips forward.  A pulled second, a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey.  Little did I know, that would be the last over par hole of the day.  A crisp 5 iron on the next hole to 5 feet, and I was in the zone.  Even though I missed the putt (must have been the greens, couldn’t have been my yips), I no longer worried about my game.  I hit 15 of the last 17 greens, including a par 5 in two and got up and down for pars on the other 2.  I can honestly say I have never played an easier 18 holes of golf in my life.  An even par 70, my best score on that course by 3 shots.

It was 5:25pm and I had finished 60 holes.

Ironically, I felt like there was enough gas in the tank for another 9, but that could have just been an illusion.  The businessman took the photo below when we completed our round.

Russ Seale after finishing 60 holes in one day

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What I found:

Play as much as you can early.  When you hit the wall (and you will at some point) stop and rest, even if it’s between 9’s.

Change you socks between each round – it is refreshing.

Drink plenty of water and eat frequently.

Hit lots of punch shots or three quarter shots.  Not only will it take less energy, but you’ll hit more solid shots with less effort.

Don’t worry about score.   The last round, normally I would have been nervous about shooting such a score, but my goal was to finish 60, so hitting good shots just meant I had to hit less of them.  I didn’t even think about score until the last couple of holes. I must admit a one under 69 would have been the ultimate.

When you are tired and your mind shuts off – ie) no swing thoughts – you may play the best golf of your life.

Play with someone positive and fun after the speed round.  Laughter and good conversation can help keep your mind off bad shots and tired muscles.

Reward yourself.  I had a pizza and a couple of glasses of my favorite wine after the round.

Aleve is wonderful.  I took one first thing in the morning and another before the last round.  No soreness (at least that day).

Last, but not least, IT CAN BE DONE.  I’m no superman and don’t do any special exercises.  I have been walking 27 the last couple of months, but I only play once a week as a general rule.  If you are in reasonable shape and are mentally tough, you can walk 40, 50, 60 or more.  My son and I are already making plans for my 70 at 70 in Scotland where it’s light for 18+ hours in the summer.

Hit’em well,

Russ Seale

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Final stats:

Golf Course: Oak Hollow – McKinney, TX

Par: 70

Total Number of shots: 254

18 holes from the Blue (6,736 yards) tees

42 holes from the White (6,211 yards) tees

Total Time (including rest periods): 10 hours 40 minutes

Approximate ground covered: 15 miles

Bag carried: Ogio Ozone with 14 clubs

Shoes used: ECCO Men’s Casual Cool II Hydromax Golf Shoes for 24 holes

Snake Eyes Athletic Men’s Golf Shoes for 36 holes

Born on Masters Sunday, 1965, when Jack Nicklaus won his second green jacket, I can’t remember a world without golf. My dad taught me the game when I was around 8 years old, and then took me to Great Britain for the first time when I was 17. I really owe it all to my Dad. His silky smooth swing, coupled with afternoons on the course with family, made me fall in love with this great game.

2. When did you decide to become a Club Professional and why?

I always tell people that I “accidentally” got into the golf business, but really there was some intention involved. Having grown up around music in Southern California, I had established myself as a singer/songwriter playing shows in the greater Los Angeles area. I eventually moved to Olympia, Washington in 1996 where I studied audio recording at The Evergreen State College. Shortly after opening my own recording studio, in June of 2000, I saw an ad for a local golf facility looking to hire starter/rangers and cart staff.  So, I started as a ranger, quickly moved into the shop, and shortly there after decided to pursue a career as a golf professional. Needless to say, I haven’t recorded an album since…

3. How did you find your way to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and why did you choose to work there?

As a rookie PGA Apprentice, I was intrigued by the stories I kept hearing of a new resort that was “just like Scotland” on the Southern Coast of Oregon. I took my first trip to Bandon Dunes in late 2000, before Pacific Dunes had opened. When we checked in for our round we were greeted by none other than Grant Rogers, Director of Instruction and Master Professional, and CJ Kreuscher, Assistant Superintendent at Old Macdonald. At the time, Grant and CJ were both assistant golf professionals in the Bandon Dunes shop and both of them had on the biggest smiles. Looking over there shoulders, out at the course, I could tell why they were wearing such genuinely happy expressions; they had found golf nirvana. This was something or someplace that I had to be a part of. On subsequent trips I actually found myself walking around the resort acting as if I already worked here. It just seemed like a perfect fit. I spent the next few years planting seeds and eventually one of those seeds sprouted and I was hired into the Bandon Dunes shop. Wow, what a day that was!

The Walking Golfer of the Year Award presentation at Bandon Dunes. From L to R: Todd Rohrer, Mike Keiser, Jeff Brinegar, Rob Rigg

4. Do you believe that walking a course is an important part of the golf experience?

Absolutely. Walking is a fundamental part of this great game. The rhythm of your round, the connection with your clubs, feeling the turf under foot, scanning the landscape as you walk to your next shot;  it’s all integral to the experience.  Walking allows for preparation, great conversations with your playing companions and a plethora of sensations that one cannot enjoy while riding in a power cart.  It’s fun to see the expressions on the faces of the players as they walk off the course having played 36 holes for the first time. The battle of it all, the little victories, the mustering of courage and strength as they reach the final stretch, it provides such a sense of “golf as it was meant to be.” Just you, your clubs, and the course.

5. What was your most memorable walk ever?

If I have to pick just one it would be the first time I played real links golf. I was 17 and heading to England with my Dad and a friend from grade school. With only a few days to play with, my Dad found a window in which we could drive to Sandwich, England and play at Royal St. George. Even though I had watched the British Open for years and years with my Dad I really had no idea what to expect. We brought our own golf shoes and rented some clubs. I can’t remember what they looked like but I know there weren’t 14 clubs in the little carry bag they gave me. As we emerged from the dimly lit locker room out in to the bright morning sun, I remember looking out at where I thought the course would be and thinking “where the heck is the 1^st tee?” It all just looked like fields of beach grass. Where were the push-up tee boxes and carts? It was all too pure, and I loved it. That round of golf, with my Dad, at a “British Open Course”, made a huge impression on me. I was hooked. Links golf just made sense; the walking, the freedom, the creativity, the contours of the fairways and greens, the undulating dunes-land, it was perfect. It is perfect.

Bandon Dunes: When I walk up to the 1st tee at Bandon Dunes, it always feels like I’m coming home. There’s a big, welcoming feeling you get on Bandon. It’s such a beautifully routed course and I love that David Kidd compared it to a piece of music. #4 still gets me every time. That reveal when you walk around that last dune on the right, with the spectacular view of the green and Pacific Ocean beyond, it’s breathtaking.

Pacific Dunes: I remember playing Pacific for the first time in 2001, back in the days of the double wide shop/grill. I felt tingly walking to #1. That sense of anticipation still gets me to this day when someone says “let’s go play Pac.” You really have to stay on your toes and think about the shot you’re about to hit. The Oregon coasts’ natural beauty, combined with Tom Doak’s careful yet dramatic imagination, is a collaboration that may only happen once in a lifetime. The land and the layout are just that good.

Bandon Trails: Bandon Trails just might be my favorite course on the resort, and for many reasons. Nowhere on the property do you get such a sense of intimacy and seclusion as you do on Trails. With its impeccable turf conditions and thought provoking sightlines Trails will challenge your game on every shot. It can provide a relentless battle against your courage and determination, or a surreal and gentle walk through coastal pines, meadows and sand dunes. I love the fact that more and more players are falling in love with Bandon Trails. It will let its guard down if you just relax and embrace its unique combination of perfectly placed hazards, robust and undulating fairways and flawless greens. I love putting at Trails. It’s the sibling I’m most proud of. Not because it’s tough but because it’s a fabulous and remarkable golf course.

7. Would you change anything about the current state of golf in the United States? And if so, why?

In the year 2010 everything is instant.

We change channels, surf the internet, move on from relationships and jobs, all with the intent of instant gratification. Golf is not like that. Golf takes time. This ancient game has so much to offer -physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. In many ways, it is at odds with modern society.

Originally, the game was so simple, and so were the courses, sort of.

The transition from the British links of the 19^th century, to the post-1945 “modern era”, has yielded thousands of courses where walking is nearly prohibited due to ridiculous terrain and/or long green to tee transfers. This conflict with the inherent purity of the game, the ability to walk and carry ones own clubs, has diminished the power of the original golfing experience.

These are six changes that I would suggest:

*       If you’re a golfer, find a good local walking course and play it with your buddies at least once a month.

*       Please, play ready golf at all times.

*       Leave your “normal life” in the parking lot. When you’re on the course, no cell phones, no worries, no deep conversations about work. Just play the game.

*       Know the rules and play by them i.e. count every stroke; don’t bump the ball when you’re in the rough and out of sight from your playing partners.

*       Play with honor, respect and etiquette.

*       Walk, every chance you get.

4th Hole at Pacific Dunes. Photo by Rob Rigg.

8. Who is the best links golfer you have ever played with? What makes his or her game a great match for the links?

I’ve got two that are neck and neck, Grant Rogers, Director of Instruction and Master Professional here at Bandon, and Brent Zepp, 1^st Assistant Professional at Chambers Bay.

Grant is a legend here at the resort and has more fables than Aesop. And they’re all true! Although Grant is famous for pulling putter from anywhere, and I mean anywhere, his links game is one of the best ever. He loves the wind and really doesn’t enjoy playing on calm days. Extreme golf is Grant’s cup of tea. He once played the Old Course at St. Andrews, at night, with just a putter, and was even par through 13 holes. He’s amazing.

Brent and I have been friends for 10 years and have played lots and lots of golf together, including a great journey through Scotland where we played matches the entire trip. Brent won all but two of them, and his victories came as the result of stinger-drawing-punch five irons, low, piercing drives, precise chipping on fescue greens, and average putting. He currently teaches droves of Seattle and Tacoma area players in the fine art of links golf. His passion for the game and for links golf is unmatched. Period.

9. Why is BDGR a special place and what have visitors told you compel them to return year after year?

People tend to be attracted to perfection, to places that are pure. The courses here at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort are as pure as it gets in the United States if not the world. No carts, very little signage, genuine helpful and friendly staff members, amazing vistas and arguably the purest links golf experience you can have outside of the British Isles. We are extremely fortunate that so many avid golfers from around the world make the trip to Bandon, year after year, to play the ground game, to play links golf. To play dream golf.

10. If you had to play one course (anywhere in the world) each day for the rest of your life, what course would it be and why?

Two courses that really stand out are Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland, and Tacoma G&CC in Tacoma, Washington. Both are relatively short courses that share a quality that I’m most attracted to in a course; variety of shot selections. You can’t just step up and bomb driver all day. You really need to think your way around both courses. Maybe they both just set up nicely to my eye. Tacoma is always in perfect shape; even the day after a punch the greens are rolling at 9 to 10. Prestwick is just plain cool. With its white seashell paths, history and routing, blind shots and of course the infamous Alps hole, I can’t wait to get back to play it again.

O K. I just changed my mind. One course, the rest of my life, has got to be the Old Course at St. Andrews. What was I thinking…..?

11. How many clubs do you play?

I’ve only carried 6-7 clubs in my little Mackenzie Walker for the last year. One day I just dropped half the set and I feel like I’m a better player because of it.  Part of that decision was based on Charles Blair Macdonald and his choice to play with merely 6 clubs during a time when you could carry up to 22 clubs in your bag. He was disgusted by that notion, and I think he was right.

Right now I’m carrying a driver, 3-metal, 5 iron, 7 iron, 9 iron, a sand wedge and a putter. Anyone who’s still lugging around 14 clubs and a huge bag should try the down-size, at least for one round. I think you’ll be surprised at how much more creative you feel with your shot selection and imagination.

View of the Pacific Ocean from the 7th Green at Old Macdonald. Photo by Rob Rigg.

12. What are your thoughts on Old Macdonald? What was it like observing the creation of the course? How is it similar and/or different versus the other courses at the Resort and other courses that you have played elsewhere in the world of a similar genre?

As most seasoned veterans of Bandon Dunes will agree, we all used to look out at the land east of Pacific Dunes and wonder what a course might look like in that setting. With such a different topography than the other three courses what would its character be like? Could it ever be as exciting to play as the original three? Who would design it? What would it be called?

Thankfully, I’ve been a part of Old Macdonald since the very early stages. I was even lucky enough to get my hands on one of the first routings of the course. The map had no hole numbers, routing lines, or anything to establish which way the holes were to be played. There were merely shapes here and there that made the discovery process even more intriguing. After studying the charts I mapped/speculated 2-3 routings then met with Jim Urbina at the Crows Nest in Bandon where he quizzed me on my research project. And while I couldn’t identify all of the template designs hidden in the map I did find a few.  During the construction of the first ten holes Jim and the construction crew would eat lunch every day at Bandon Trails where I was the Head Pro at the time. It was a great opportunity to find out what they had been working on and find out how the course was taking shape.

Watching Old Macdonald emerge from the dunes land next to Pacific Dunes has been amazing. Giving tours throughout the process has given me an up-close look on a daily basis at the progress the construction/grow-in team has made. To play the course today is an absolute treat. Having walked that ground when it was a field of scrub and gorse, to today, with its already weathered-in look and spectacular views, it’s something I’m so proud to be a part of.  It is so different than the other three courses, and in fact that’s the term Jim Urbina used most during the construction process, “it’s just different.” With its wide fairways and enormous greens Old Mac presents an inviting countenance. Its brilliant design, tempered with the spirit of Charles Blair Macdonald, separates Old Mac from its “contemporary” peers. How different is it?  Come see for yourself.

I’ve long been used to dragging my casket-sized travel bag through airports, and upon arrival waiting (praying?) they show up on either the carousel, or at the oversize luggage bin.  I’ve generally had decent luck, though of course I’ve had clubs delayed, my travel cover mangled, and in the worst scenario, an entire bag (not just my 14 weapons, but 4 days worth of clothes, two pairs of golf shoes, sunglasses, etc.) never make it out of Cancun, Mexico, and never to be seen again.

Now I’ve found a better way.  The Luggage Club (www.theluggageclub.com) will safely and efficiently transport your clubs (or skis, surfboard, etc.) from where you are to where you’re going, and then back again, if you so choose.  It’s not free, but in this day and age of airline baggage fees, it’s more affordable than you think.  Never mind the convenience and reliability factors, which are the main reasons for availing oneself of this superb service.  Here are two others:  Say you have a tight airline connection, with plans to play the very day you arrive.  If you don’t want to play a premium round with some bedraggled rental set, and aren’t sure the airline’s baggage personnel will get your clubs from the plane you arrived on onto the departing plane before it’s too late, then ship ‘em in advance.

Here’s another:  When you ship your sticks home post-trip, and then head to the airport with nothing but a carry-on, you are footloose and flexible.  After shipping my sticks ahead of me one time last summer, and with nothing on my person but an over-shoulder duffel bag, after arriving in Atlanta I jumped on a departing flight that was leaving a full three hours before my scheduled departure.  If I had been tied to my 50-pound travel bag like in the old days, and stuck with the Scarlet Letter of a checked baggage claim?  Put it this way—it would have made for a long couple of hours meandering from Brookstone, to the Sharper Image, then Cinnabon and the newsstand.

The Luggage Club may not have advanced this great game like Titanium drivers, triplex mowers and four-layer golf balls.  But for those of us who head hither and yon to experience the best golf has to offer, it’s one hell of an improvement over the previous standard.

March 2010

Ron Colby is a veteran writer, director and producer of feature and documentary films and a passionate walking golfer. Here he shares the background behind his latest project, a labor of love called Scotland’s Caddies.

At the age of 12, I began caddying for my father and his friends at Brookville Country Club on Long Island.  It was an educational and interesting experience watching grown men play and interact together.

Around age 14, I eschewed caddying for my dad and took my services to Fresh Meadow Country Club.  I could get there without benefit of car, and so be on my own to work the days of the golfing season I wished. The course was designed by the legendary Harry Colt and hosted the 1932 U.S. Open, won by Gene Sarazen. Between Brookville and Fresh Meadow, I managed to get in several rounds a week, and in the spring I played for my high school team.

At Fresh Meadow, I caddied for a wide variety of successful businessmen, but the most important loop I ever had was Tommy Armour.  He was an elderly gentleman by then, but I remember well both him and the clubs in his bag.  I can recall being dazzled by the array, especially the stunning finish on his persimmon woods.  I was so inspired I started swinging one.  After observing me for a time, he left his scotch and soda at the snack hut at the 11th tee, came over and told me, “You’ve got a beautiful swing, but move your right hand over a little.”  He returned to his drink, and I glowed for days with his compliment and my new knowledge.

Although my father was of 100-percent Danish ancestry, he loved all things Scottish.  To qualify himself for being at least a partial Scotsman, he borrowed the little Scottish blood my mother had and claimed it as his own. At different times, he was President of the Robert Burns Society and an officer in the St. Andrews Society.  As a youth, I was annually privileged to accompany my father to a formal banquet at the Waldorf Astoria, where a few hundred members of the society would reverently bring along esoteric bottles of Highland and Lowland whiskey and drink it as they watched the pipers lead in waiters with trays of steaming haggis.

When I was in the Air Force and stationed in Germany, I took some of my accrued leave time and snuck away to Scotland to play many of the great courses.  While I could not afford a caddy, I did rub elbows with some at the local pubs and listened attentively to their colorful stories.

Years later when I began working in Hollywood as a producer and writer, I read Michael Murphy’s book, Golf in the Kingdom.  Inspired, I waited two years until the option became available, took on the book and wrote a screenplay.  I tried for years to get the metaphysical comedy about life and golf going, but to no avail.

But then as things go in Hollywood, suddenly, almost overnight, golf became an important focus with motion picture executives. Unfortunately, I was easily outbid on the option renewal and lost the project.  Another screenplay was written. Clint Eastwood had an interest in the project and after he read both the new screenplay and mine, Warner Brothers bought mine for him.  Then, I watched helplessly as my screenplay lay inert on Clint’s desk for years as he made film after film.

Not too long after that, my sons and I went on a golfing vacation in Scotland and happily could now afford to take caddies at all the courses.  We were impressed by their wit, attitudes, and dedication to the job.  Several caddies told us tales from their experiences and in particular, one caddy by the name of Jimmy Kelly at Gleneagles shared some amusing stories about Sean Connery and Jack Lemmon. Although I didn’t fully realize it, at that point an idea began taking shape.

About five years later, my partner, who had a steady job on a hit television series, had a six-week hiatus and asked me where we were going on vacation. I was not amused as I had no time to be idle, but still smarting from the loss of my project from Murphy’s book, I impulsively pulled forth the idea that had been germinating for some time in the back of my brain. I told her, “I’ll take time off if we go to Scotland and make a documentary on Scotland’s caddies.”

And we did.

Miraculously, filming just seemed to fall into place. We visited many courses and shot a great host of caddies, including Jimmy Kelly of Gleneagles.  We also did extensive interviews with two erudite caddy historians.  The caddies themselves were very forthcoming, regaling us with jokes, insights on the game, and stories about celebrities who gave them bad tips, including George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton, and Sean Connery.

Accessible to us was the beauty of the golf courses, a 500-year history of caddies, and their large personalities.  Now it’s time to put it all together and make it available to golfers everywhere.

For those interested in contributing to the postproduction and advertising of Scotland’s Caddies, please contact: rc@artistsconfederacy.com

I’m not a doctor and I don’t think anyone should point to my experience as a model.  Please don’t replicate my experiment and then sue The Walking Golfer because I don’t claim any expertise and wouldn’t recommend this for anyone.  But, I contend that the fitness benefits of walking and carrying a bag can provide a viable fitness base for everything from simply maintaining a healthy lifestyle to highly strenuous athletic events like 13.1 mile runs.

Here’s my half marathon story.

Last season, I started walking when I play golf regularly in February and choosing my courses based on their walkability.  With Bandon approaching in July, I felt like I needed a lot more experience with the rhythm of the walking game and my fitness level was basically non-existent.  I bought a very light bag and started walking at least 18 holes per week, often 36 or 54.  After a wonderful experience walking 7 rounds in four days at Bandon, I continued to walk as often as possible for the rest of the season.

Last November, my family persuaded me to do a Thanksgiving 5k.  Some of us were going to walk, some were going to jog.  But we were all going to get some exercise before we stuffed ourselves that afternoon.   I thought I would end up walking most of the course, but I started the race at a light jog.  One step after another, I kept jogging and finished the 5k without walking.  I was astonished that I was able to finish the course without having completed a single training run – not one mile.  I’m at least 20 pounds overweight and outside my walking golf, I get virtually no exercise.  At dinner that night, I became convinced that walking golf had to be the reason I was able to run that 5k.

I enjoyed the race environment and the sense of accomplishment so much that I decided to begin training for a half marathon, my first.  I printed out an online training schedule and started ticking off runs from the beginning.  Four runs a week for 13 weeks would get me to race day ready to run 13.1 miles.  I followed the training schedule closely for 6 weeks.  I was up to 6 miles on the long days when I came down with a case of shin splints.  Shin splints typically occur due to over training.  I had a bad case in high school that left me in pain for six months when I continued to train through the pain.  So I shut down my schedule for two weeks.  But I kept playing golf.  I could walk 18 holes without any shin splint pain, so I played every week.

At the end of the break, bitterly cold weather and a busy work schedule were all the excuses I needed to turn a two week break into a four week break.  By then, I was so far off my training schedule that it seemed impossible I’d get to a training distance that would prepare me for the half marathon without pushing the limits of what my shins could manage.  But I kept playing golf.

Race week came and, having paid my entry fee and with visitors coming to town for the event, I decided to start the race anyway.  The plan was to run as far as I could and then walk to the finish, collect my finisher medal and watch the band at the finish line.

Miles 1-4 were great.  I ran with ease, buoyed by the race day environment and adrenaline.  I enjoyed running miles 5-6 through one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Dallas.  While I had anticipated needing to walk by at least the midpoint, I was still running strong and feeling comfortable when ran up the largest hill to the highest point on the course at mile 7.  It was literally all downhill after that.  Mile 9 was a significant milestone because I had done plenty of 4 mile runs before and I knew how to do that.  But I hit a wall at mile 10.5.  Everything hurt and I could only focus on the road 3 feet ahead of me.  My gait deteriorated and I was depending on the energy boosting Goo and sports drinks handed out along the course.  Powering through the wall was tough, truly an exercise in willpower because not much was going well physically.  Elation finally set in after mile 12 and the finish line came into view.  I finished the race 15 minutes slower than I had hoped as I began my training, but I finished it.

Looking back on it, I probably pushed my body harder at the brink than I should have.  I may be discounting the effort I put into training in December and January.  But I believe that walking golf formed a substantial fitness base for me to complete that half marathon.  It was my sole form of athletic activity for the last two months leading into the race.  As a sample of one, I am convinced that walking 18 or more holes per week is a great basic fitness foundation.  What’s better than getting out into nature, spending time with friends, playing a game you love, AND getting a great workout?  I know there are people who will say those things about running, but I found it a struggle every morning to lace up my shoes and put the miles down. Yet I never feel that about walking 18 holes.  Now I’m convinced that walking golf will keep me healthy for life.

Fast forward to age 49. I am thumbing through one of the golf magazines, when I happen upon an article about a guy who walked and carried his bag for 50 holes in one day the year he turned 50. Sounded like an interesting and fun challenge, so when I turned 50 in 2000, on May 16th , I walked 50 at a local par 72 course carrying a full set of clubs.

I had a great time and still have the ball I used (same one for all 50) sitting on my desk.

Russ in 2008 and back in 1963 – same golfers, same course, different year.

Fast forward to the present and I am up against my next big challenge of 60 at 60. This is going to be a bit tougher. Not only are we there 10 more holes to play, but 10 more years on the body.

Here’s my strategy for success, just in case anyone else would be up for the “play your age” challenge.

As far as spirit of the rules are concerned, if it’s a regulation course and you walk 40, 50, 60, etc. either carrying or pushing your clubs then it counts for bragging rights.  You can use the tees of your choice and feel free to mix them up during the round.

To succeed, let the pro shop in on what you a planning as they may be able to help keep you moving throughout the day. It is probably best to play on a “slow” day during the week, maybe a Tuesday or Wednesday. Definitely make sure there are no tournaments scheduled as they will really slow you down.

It is a good idea to be the first one to tee off in the morning, while playing solo, so you can get around as fast as possible. Make sure you think positive and get excited for the challenging but enjoyable day.

Buy yourself some really good walking shoes that are comfortable with sufficient support. Break them in for at least two rounds. The last thing you want is to get a blister after 27 holes. If you have two good pairs, swap each round. Also invest in at least three pair of good socks, and change after each 18. Your feet will thank you for it!

Starting at least a month before the big day, make an effort to walk either 27 or 36 at least once a week. Not only will this get you in shape, it will get you past the mental 18 hole barrier. I find I get tired towards the end of 18, but by the 20^th hole I am back in a groove.

Try to look at the course and see if there is a convenient 2 or 3 hole loop you could play 2 or 3 times during the day to get in the extra 5 or 6 holes (depending on your age target). It’s much better to finish on 9 or 18 than somewhere in the middle of the course.

Remain flexible on the date. You want a day where the high temp is not much over 80 and winds less than 15 mph. You’ll be tired enough just from the walking. You don’t need the extra energy sap from heat and high winds.

Remember this is going to take a minimum of 8 ½ hours for 50 and 10 hours for 60, and if there is any slowdowns more like 10 and 12 respectively. And that’s just the play time. Have plenty of power snacks and eat frequently to keep up your strength. After the first round, don’t sit for more than 10-15 minutes or you’ll get stiff. I highly recommend an Aleve before you hit the first tee and another 10 hours later.

You may want to mix it up a bit during the day. On my 50/50 I walked two holes barefoot just for a change of pace. This time I may tee off with my putter and putt with my driver or play a couple of holes with just one club. It’ll break the monotony of grinding away hole after hole.

Remember that the day is not about score, it’s about walking your age. Swing easy, keep the ball in play, take that extra club and smooth it. Preserve your strength, believe me you’ll need it.

Reward yourself. Have your favorite beer/drink ready as soon as you finish or plan to go to eat at your favorite restaurant. A mental carrot to push you through a tough stretch makes it easier.

Last but certainly not least, enjoy the experience. How often will you do something crazy like this? Take it all in. You’ll want to remember it for years to come.

Russell Seale, 2010