All that hiking from one tee to another takes time...

It would also assist pros who have leg..foot..knee injuries.

Also allowing electronic range finders.
Tiger mentioned that college golf was using them to speed play.

Wouldn't have a need for a caddie then. Each player could have his bag on a cart and make all his own decisions. Yeah, right!

Seriously, a cart doesn't automatically mean faster play. Depends on the players and if they are together in the same cart. I think players that over analyze each play are the ones that slow things down.

Plus.....carts can be hard on the course! 

I'm not sure why this topic would even be discussed relative to the PGA Tour, and I don't think you'll see it happen for a long time, if ever.
Hypothetically, if carts were in use on the PGA Tour, it might enhance the pace of play a little bit, but not enough to make any noticeable difference. In regard to caddies, the Champions Tour, where carts have been allowed for quite a while, mandates that only the player or the caddy can be in the cart at any time...never both.

From personal experience I am not sure how much it would speed up a round. A lot would depend on the player and the course itself. Obviously a really long course takes longer to walk so that would certainly play into it. I play in a foursome. Myself and another woman walk and the other two ride. Both of us are fast walkers and have no trouble keeping up with the pace of play from the two in the cart. However I have played with some people who are very slow walkers and want to talk all the time. That definitely slows things down. Obviously PGA players would play golf completely differently than amateurs and hackers which is what my group is---LOL.

Interesting about the Champions Tour cart rule......I knew the players had the option to use a cart, but didn't know only the player or caddie could be in the cart.  Thanks!  Learned something new today :-))

 

General Information: Champions Tour

E. CADDIES:

Regional: Players are not required to have a caddie, but have the option to have one should they elect. Each entrant is solely responsible for arranging and paying their own caddie.

Finals: All players are required to have a caddie. Each entrant is solely responsible for arranging and paying their own caddie.

F. GOLF CARTS: Unless conditions dictate otherwise, determined by the on-site Champions Tour Rules Official or designee, each player may have a cart at the Regional and the Final Qualifying Stage. The player and caddie may ride together at any time. Walking scorers may ride if there is an open seat. No spectators may ride on the cart. Pull carts, either manual or motorized, are permitted at Regional stages. Pull carts are prohibited at the Final Qualifying stage.

Suzy Barber, Champions Tour Competitions
112 PGA TOUR Boulevard, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

That's for "qualifying".....what about "tournament" play?  Are the rules different??

Oooppsssss

Will keep looking

;-)

I went to the USGA Rules site but couldn't find anything on use of carts.  But it is a difficult site to maneuver through......