9 Holes While Pushing A Stroller: Here’s What I Learned

My wife came down with COVID 19 just before Mother’s Day.

Definitely unfair to end up with COVID on your first Mother’s Day but we got through it and made the day as special as we could despite the unfortunate circumstances.

I had a tee time for the Friday before Mother’s Day. I still felt healthy so I decided I would play some solo golf. With my wife being sick, that meant our six-month-old was coming along for the ride.

Some people would never be willing to do this but I’m addicted to golf. I prepped a bottle, grabbed the diaper bag, loaded up into the car, and headed to the course.

What I learned

I got quite the workout.

As you can see, I walked nearly four miles and my average heart rate was 127 bpm.

If you’re looking for a way to lose weight or just a general way to stay in shape, walking is the way to go. Pushing the stroller and carrying my bag was an extra challenge and I’d guess I burned nearly double the calories by doing so.

It was slightly inconvenient to carry my bag and push the stroller but the sacrifice was worth getting some golf in on a day that I normally wouldn’t be able to play.

I was forced to think about my game more and it led to better scoring.

Sometimes I forget how beneficial walking truly is. I had double the time between each shot and I was able to play stress-free golf. Between shots, I talked to my baby, looked at my phone and just took it all in.

This happens when you walk the golf course. This isn’t a new concept. The second factor that really helped me detox on the course was the fact that my baby was an additional grounding aspect. It’s hard to curse and throw clubs when a six-month-old is smiling at you.

The quality time was the best part.

Listen, I know my baby is just six months old. She doesn’t talk yet; she just makes cute faces and silly noises. This didn’t stop me from narrating my round and talking to her on every hole. The picture above was taken right after I threw a dart to about 1.5 feet, nearly holing out for eagle (I made the putt).

Being able to get out and make sure she was taken care of while I enjoyed a round of golf was perfect. I know some babies have personalities that won’t allow this type of round but if you have a chill baby, consider giving this a try when your wife needs some time to herself or is busy (or ill).

Final thoughts

Traditionalists may disagree with bringing a baby on the course. I get that, to an extent.

I wouldn’t bring my newborn to Pebble Beach or TPC Sawgrass but local courses shouldn’t pose a problem. Everyone I interacted with was cordial and thought it was awesome that I found a way to get out and golf despite the circumstances.

I wrote this article to hopefully encourage golfers to do their part to grow the game. Start in your own household. If you’re a mom/dad expecting your first child, don’t let the world tell you that your days of golfing are over. As I demonstrated, if there’s a will, there’s a way.

My daughter will not remember this round but I look forward to telling her the story when she, her mom and I are playing together in the future.