Having spent a good part of the winter in Florida, I continue to wonder why, in this day of an increasingly overweight population from youngsters to seniors, more people don't walk when they play golf. This is especially true in places like Florida where the terrain in flat, a no-brainer.

The sad fact is many of these courses don't allow walkers. It's just plain stupid.

Not only should people walk for weight control, those with heart-health issues should walk for the aerobic benefits. Everyone tells us that. The government and countless organizations have spent millions promoting various programs to get us off our bums. Its' called exercise and it's healthy.

Part of the reason lies in the vast distances between greens and tees found many of our newer courses, especially real estate communities where a golf course is there to promote sales. When you have to walk through a swamp, over a bridge, through the mangroves dodging alligators because that's the way the course is, I get it.

I also get it that many golf clubs derive a good chunk of revenue from cart rentals. But managing the bottom line is really not our problem. Our health is.

It's a fact that you will burn 600 more calories compared to the slugs who ride. Even if you do walk but carry your own bag, by using a push cart, you are less prone to lower back, shoulder and ankle injuries. Golf Science International calculated that four hours of playing golf while walking is comparable to a 45-minute fitness class.

And a big bonus: you will get to take in the scenery noise-free except for birds and the rustle of leaves as you go. Good stuff.

With all this in mind, recently Marriott International took a giant step forward to promote walking on ten of its resort courses by teaming up with Bag Boy to create their "Walk for Health" program.

Participating courses are being supplied with Bag Boy's popular eco-friendly Express Auto three-wheel push carts. I've used the cart and found it a breeze to push, so much so that I now own Bay Boy's Sidekick, a similar model.

The first resorts to embrace the Walk for Health program are Camelback Inn, A JW Marriott Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa, Palm Desert, Calif.; JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, Phoenix, Ariz.; JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, Tucson, Ariz.; Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Miami, Fla.; Marriott's Grande Vista Resort, Orlando, Fla.; Grande Pines Golf Club, Orlando, Fla.; Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Naples, Fla.; Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort, Oak Brook, Ill. and The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, Tucson, Ariz.

Marriott expects there will be more resorts coming on board throughout the year. Good for them.

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