Workout on the Links!

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What's in golf for you?
In addition to improving hand-eye coordination, golf stretches and strengthens your upper-back and hip muscles. It is also a good workout. If you pull your own clubs on a pull-cart, you will burn 340 calories per hour (based on a 150 pound person) -- nearly 70 caloires more than taking a brisk walk. Carry your clubs and torch 374 calories per hour!

Middle-Aged Golfers
A recent study of middle-aged golfers showed that walking during a game of golf significantly increased aerobic performance and core-muscle endurance (that alone means a better game) while reducing weight, abdominal skinfold thickness and waist circumference, reports the Physician and Sports medicine journal. The test subjects who had been sedentary the previous seven months, played about 2.5 rounds of golf per week (about 10 hours' worth) for 20 weeks. The golfers also showed decreased levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides.

While some view the sport as slow-paced, golf actually requires a great deal of strength and stamina, not to mention skill. While you may not have to be in the best cardiovascular shape to play golf, your muscles, particularly those of the legs and upper torso, must be both strong and flexible to keep your handicap below an embarrassing level.

Flexibility
Flexibility is an important key to developing a full, fluid golf swing. Simply swinging the club is not enough, but you can increase the range of motion in your shoulders, trunk, low back and hamstrings with just a few minutes of daily stretching.

Cardiovascular conditioning
Finally, cardiovascular conditioning is essential to help you keep your energy up during a long round of golf. That conditioning can help you deal with the stress of making a crucial putt or of getting out of a sand trap.

Improving your golf game requires a bit more than simply playing a lot of golf, but it doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the gym. Try the exercises outlined here and you'll not only come closer to par, but you'll also reap numerous health benefits, such as increased lean body weight, reduced body fat, lower blood pressure and increased strength and flexibility.

While it may be difficult to motivate some people to stretch or begin strength training, telling them they might lower their handicap may be just the ticket to get them to head to the gym. Or work out at home. Whichever is most convenient.

The point is to do it, regardless of whether it's for health or for a better golf score.

It's Your Health!

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