Golf and Fitness

 

Tiger Woods changed the game of golf forever. When he came out on tour, he was a phenomenal talent and a ball-striking wizard. Tiger took the game by storm and has done everything except beat Jack Nicklaus's career major's record. But what he did that changed the game of golf wasn't anything he did on the course; it was what he did in the gym. 

Before Tiger, fitness was typically an afterthought for golfers of all levels. Golf isn't about speed or explosiveness, power or strength, right? Golf was about going out to leisurely chase a little ball around beautifully manicured acres of grass, then having a cold one in the clubhouse afterward, right? For many, yes, that is what golf is all about. It's been that way since the game was invented. And here's the important thing to remember; that's not wrong. It's not wrong to think of golf as a casual thing to do while drinking or smoking, laughing with your buddies, or just getting outside for some fresh air. If that describes why you play golf, then you, my friend, probably smile more than I do on the golf course. 

Here is where I want to push and challenge you a bit, though. Consider how your golf game might change if you placed value on your fitness and worked hard to get in better shape. That's what Tiger did. That's what Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and countless others have done since Tiger did. Their games have changed because they have made fitness synonymous with good golf. Now, the reality is that the two are not the same thing. There are plenty of world-class golfers on tours all over the world that are not in peak physical shape but think about the players I named. All of them have had significant stints at world number one over the last decade or so, and all I’m saying is that there may be a correlation between being fit and playing good golf. 

I’m not trying to revolutionize your workout routine or your lifestyle. I don’t even want to give you any specific exercises or workout routines to do. I just want to encourage you to think about how fitness might positively impact your game. So let me give you a couple of easy, practical tips. First, make goals for yourself. This is the number one reason why people fail to get in shape; they don't have a goal. And when I say "goals," I'm not talking about generic, "I want to get in shape" types of goals. I mean specific, measurable goals. Instead of "I want to get in shape," think about making a goal of "I want to lose 10 pounds," or "I want to be able to run a mile in 7 minutes." Having specific goals will help you determine what steps you need to take to achieve those goals. Next, make a plan. Again, I'm not talking about a generic plan. Don't think of what days you will work out; think of what workout you will do on what days and at what times. Be specific in your plan, as well. I like to have a weekly routine of the same workouts at the same time that focuses on specific muscle groups. The point is to set a goal and make a plan to achieve that goal. That will help keep you from stalling out or giving up. 

The truth is that having a workout program, no matter how good it is, will not make you a better golfer. Only practicing and working on your game will make you a better golfer. Being fit can benefit your game in several ways, though. You may find that you are hitting the ball further (muscles swing clubs faster, it’s science). You might find that you aren’t getting winded walking up and down the course in search of your (hopefully not lost) golf ball. You may even have enough energy to play another 9 or 18 holes, who knows! You may not become the next Tiger, Rory, or Brooks, but you might lower your handicap, pick up a few yards, and feel better doing it!