There's lots of youngsters out there playing between 2 and 5 consceutive days. And practicing in their spare time. Some of these are in their early 20's and wouldn't consider carrying a bag for themselves. I've just watched a whole bunch of them playing on top of some mountain in Switzerland. Some of them will even get paid for their efforts. And they're pretty good players too, so maybe not carrying a bag can benefit your game.

Eugene, Think I mentioned this in another thread somewhere but go and see your Dr and get some Diazepam.
Only take one at night, this with help relax the back muscles ans stop any spasms.

Also recommend you read the book ' the art of back stretching'.
Excellent book with a program of exercise to keep the back in tune.

I remember when full face helmets came in and everyone laughed at the spacemen(I was one of the first}and now after years of abuse on my back,I really wish i could turn back the clock coz once you've got it.
Now if someone says,£80 for a field and scott with 180 watt motor and 20 amp battery is to much,well.............?.

With modern golf bags you can't say that the load is distributed badly, not like the old leather bags of old which weighed a ton and only had one shoulder strap with minimal padding. You are depriving yourself of additional exercise and calories burned, as you say to your back and shoulders are also being deprived of exercise.
If you are fit and healthy you are only depriving yourself in th long term.

You can't equate walking with a moderate load like a golf bag to running on road surfaces.

i rememder the sound of the snapping ankle and tendons so well,when my buddy slipped down an incline with 44lbs strapped to his shoulders? and the angle of his foot.

For those who exhort bag carrying as an additional form of exercise, do you also advocate jogging with a weighted rucksack, ala SAS? There is no health benefit in bag carrying. You are not exercising your back and shoulders, you are burdening them with weight in a manner they are not designed for.

golfbhoy... Like i said earlier there is a huge difference between running and walking with weights (or without), the shock loading from running is what causes injuries, road running especially harmful since there is no nice turn to help absorb shock. Being ex army myself I'm not advocating running with weights either.
However as hill walkers with rucksacks have known for years there is additional cardio vascular benefits from carrying weights and it DOES strengthen the upper body... any training with weights will increase strength and stamina... simple fact.

I much prefer to carry but my foot problem is so bad at the moment its trolley or pack in for a lengthy spell and as I have knockout comp commitments I'd be letting others down. I think trolleys are no bad thing and are personal choice they do not in my opinion affect other people or shouldn't if used properly.
What concerns me more is laziness when it comes to course etiquette ie divots, pitchmarks, raking bunkers etc - these DO affect the rest of us and are a far more deserving "vent your spleen" topic.
We play golf to enjoy it - the guys who want to get super fit can go running or go to the gym I've had my years of boxing and playing rugby, now at 47 I want to play our great game of golf and enjoy it as much as poss.

Hey guys I'm not advocating banning trolleys or buggies... And my uncle has had a hip op and uses an electric trolley, he can still play and wouldn't be able to if he had to carry his clubs.
Just think that some perfectly fit young people have given up carrying their clubs and are missing out on additional exercise. I'm mid forties and my knees are buggered, I've got a sedentary job so the additional exercise is absolutely essential.

Got a mid rift like the picture actually

midriff

There are as many arguments for and against carrying on the web. It's noticeable actually that healthy living proponents say YES, chiropracters and physios say NO. Typical of anything remotely enjoyable, one benefit may be cancelled out by another.

So it's down to personal preference. Mine? I don't need to burn extra calories as my waist size has not changed in almost 30 years. But I have arthritis in several joints and the extra burden of a bag is something I can live without.

The Powakaddy arrived today, looks good. Unfortunately my light weight carry bag looks a bit naff on it, still it motors along very nicely.

Looked at some cart bags at AGD this afternoon, very tempted by the Powakaddy one, looks like it's got a slot to hold you umbrella when it's raining. Good idea me thinks, but the bag itself didn't look waterproof. Why's that then? Is it so that they can sell you waterproof covers separate?

Eugene, a couple of comments on the Powakaddy deluxe bag (in my experience). The idea of a cooler pocket is great but when that pocket is so close to the top grab handle then it's not the best thought out. The bag is not waterproof, I once went out in a shower, waterproofs on but my trousers in the side pocket, I DON'T NEED TO BE TOLD THAT WAS DAFT. The trousers were soaking. Eventually the problem with the cooler pocket access fouling the top handle disappeared as the top handle fell off. I decided that I didn't want the replacement under warranty. This is only my experience but you may want to take these points into consideration.

Thanks SBL. Will look elsewhere.

Hold on though. I had a powakaddy bag until a little mouse ate through one of the pockets trying to get at a biscuit. I replaced the bag with a callaway cart bag. Really smart. Worst thing I ever bought. It's not the correct shape at the back to sit comfortably on the trolley and it slips around the trolley all the way around the course. Little glitch, but it drives me bonkers. I spend most of my round tugging the damn bag back round to the front.

I think best but a powakaddy bag for the powakaddy trolley.

That should read best buy a powakaddy bag for a powakaddy trolley.

Izzo and Ogio cart bags are both really nice pieces of kit. I have an Ogio Ego with the Woode system.

Eugene, ask Karl what he recommends as a cart bag. I know him well and he won't sell you anything dud.