Which mode of transportation would lead to your best golf? A subjective ranking

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In a recent story, Golf Digest’s Mike Johnson wrote about the tangible improvement he’s noticed switching from lugging his own bag to using a motorized pushcart.

As Mike noted, the motorized cart allowed for the benefits of walking the course, but without the strain of carrying—or even pushing—a heavy bag. At the end of rounds especially, Mike said he wasn’t nearly as tired.

In his case, it was a no-brainer. But Mike is just one example, and it was about one option vs. another. In golf, there are plenty of other modes of transportation: from riding, to caddies, to even futuristic golfboard options. Are all available at the same place? Almost never. But it still sparked a debate topic among the staff, that started like this:

You are about to play your most important round of the year. Given the full suite of options, rank in order which would lead to you playing best.

The ensuing rankings submitted by a handful of staffers reflected a broad range of values, demographics, and levels of laziness. Some broad takeaways:

—A good caddie makes a real difference.

—So does a bad caddie, but in the opposite way.

—There should be a constitutional amendment banning cart-path-only rules.

—Pushcarts are making inroads in the golf establishment, but vanity still plays a role, and some staffers would rather wear themselves out and shoot 96.

Onto the rankings …

Steve Hennessey

  1. Good caddie
  2. Cart
  3. Bad caddie
  4. Regular push cart
  5. Motorized push cart
  6. Cart-path only
  7. Carrying

Call me an ugly American, but I believe most Average Joes prefer a cart—so this ranking is for the people. I’m usually drinking while I play, and carrying my own bag while having a few beers just overcomplicates things. Plus, as someone with a bad back, shoulders and neck, the impact that carrying my own bag can have on my game and my body aren’t worth it.

Alex Myers

  1. Good caddie
  2. Cart with good caddie
  3. Cart
  4. Golfboard
  5. Motorized pushcart
  6. Regular pushcart
  7. Carrying
  8. Bad caddie
  9. Cart on a cart-path only course

My feeling that caddies are overvalued (both on the pro tours and for recreational rounds) has been well-documented, but I’d still count on one for a big round (shout-out “Blackout Billy” at Sand Valley), especially at an unfamiliar course. Other than that, the method of transporting my clubs doesn’t seem to have much of an effect on my scores other than the last one. In that situation, I wind up taking my bag off the cart on a lot of holes anyway.

Jerry Tarde

  1. Good caddie (keeping up, yardage, greenreading, doesn’t talk too much)
  2. Mediocre caddie (bag carrier)
  3. Pushcart, although I’m a puller rather than a pusher
  4. Riding Cart. (All bets are off if it’s raining. Moves to #2)
  5. Carry
  6. Motorized pushcart. Hate these things
  7. Bad caddie (smartass, slow, talks too much)
  8. Cart on cart-path only

The only thing worse than a bad caddie is the “cart-path only” rule. I’d rather Bill Murray caddie for me than have to keep my cart on the path. Weather and hilliness as well as distance between green and next tee might make me want to take a riding cart.

Mike Johnson

  1. Good caddie
  2. Motorized pushcart
  3. Cart on cart-path-only course
  4. Cart
  5. Carrying
  6. Regular pushcart
  7. Bad caddie

I play my best golf when there is ease of use. In other words, no carrying or pushing the bag. The exception: a bad caddie. It’s distracting and frustrating while having to pretend he’s effing Ted Scott.

Sam Weinman

  1. Good caddie
  2. Motorized pushcart
  3. Regular pushcart
  4. Carrying
  5. Cart
  6. Bad caddie
  7. Cart on a cart-path only course

I am a devoted walker, even if I grudgingly accept that carrying might lead to some tired swings late. The only time a cart is a better option is when it’s compared to a caddie who points out everything I already know I’m doing wrong, because then I start getting more annoyed about that than anything else.

Ryan Herrington

  1. Good caddie
  2. Cart
  3. Motorized pushcart
  4. Regular pushcart
  5. Cart on cart-path only course
  6. Carrying
  7. Bad caddie

Nagging injuries make golf a physical challenge for me lately, so my choices all reflect saving energy so I’m not dragging on my last few holes. Having a good caddie is a bonus beyond simply carrying my clubs as he/she can also provide advice on how to navigate the course and get the most out of my game.

Joel Beall

  1. Pushchart
  2. Carry
  3. Motorized Pushcart
  4. Cart
  5. Caddie

Something about motorized pushcarts feel dystopian and slightly undignified. As for caddies, it’s not you, it’s me: I feel like I let the caddies down when I miss putts, plus I’m not a rich guy so abhor the idea of having a servant for five hours.

Chris Powers

  1. Good caddie
  2. Carrying
  3. Cart
  4. Cart path only
  5. Bad caddie
  6. Push cart
  7. Motorized push cart

A good caddie, or even a bad one you vibe with, will always help me play my best. While I do like to carry sometimes on flat courses, too, a couple of carts with the boys is always the default move. Push carts for me seem like more of a hassle than carrying (and they’re a bad look, sorry, not sorry). Motorized push carts? F— the robots.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com