This is a guest post by Stephanie Creed.
When you think of playing golf, the first image that springs to mind is probably of a couple of overweight, middle-aged fellas tottering around a course at a leisurely pace without a care in the world. And while it’s true that it’s a more sedate sport in comparison to others, golf’s image is changing all the time as more and more players take the issue of personal fitness more serious.
You only to have to take a look at the likes of Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy – who are currently first and third respectively in the world rankings – to see that they are in peak physical condition and that’s due to the hours they spend pounding the fairways day in, day out.
High fitness levels in turn have helped them to become the players they are today and there’s no doubting that there’s a definite correlation between fitness and golfing prowess. The great thing about taking up golf is that it’s a brilliant source of exercise without really having to strain yourself. And then if you want to take it one step further and embark on golf holidays Turkey, Spain, Portugal and Britain are all popular choices in Europe that you can head to and play on some of the best courses in the world.
When you consider that the average length on an 18-hole course is over 5,000 yards – which is roughly three miles or nearly 5km – then playing a round or two every week will strengthen your calf and thigh muscles and improve stamina, so walk as much as possible and resist the urge to hire a buggy. Swinging and putting will enhance your upper body strength and providing your posture is good, it will also benefit your core muscles. Obviously, regular exercise is just one part of leading a healthy lifestyle as it’s also vital to have a balanced diet, avoid smoking and reduce alcohol intake.
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