Golf is a good reason to stay fit

Aug. 19, 2010 - PRLog -- Remember that old joke from the 70’s about the kid that walked up to the pro golfer who lit up a cigarette on the course?  The kid said, “Hey mister, you’re an athlete. How can you smoke?” The pro golfer replied, “Kid, I ain’t no athlete. I’m a golfer.”

It’s amazing how the times have changed. The golf game today is comprised of true world-class athletes that train year-round vigorously on their chosen sport. In addition, amateur golfers serious about their game have incorporated rigorous golf fitness routines as part of their practice regimen.  But what about casual golfers? Can they too benefit from playing golf?  The answer is a resounding yes and golf helps provide many health benefits that may surprise you.  Consider that:

• During an average round of regulation golf, a golfer who walks the course walks about five miles and burns about 350 calories an hour. So for a typical round of golf (about 4.5 hours), golf helps burn well over 1,500 calories.  Of course, if your ride in a cart, this could have a big impact on your calorie burn, but it is reasonable to assume that golf helps even riders burn between 200 and 400 calories per round, about the same range as 20 to 40 minutes on a treadmill (which isn’t nearly as fun).

• In addition to walking the course, golf helps encourage golfers to incorporate regular cardiovascular exercise into their golf practice regimen including walking, treadmill, biking and/or running.

• When you practice your game, golf helps you to burn between 150 and 500 calories an hour depending on the rigor you approach your practice sessions.

• Golf helps work virtually every aspect of the body (especially if you are walking) including the back, arms, shoulders, legs and especially the abs and oblique muscles.

• Golf is relatively less stressful on the body than more intense sports like tennis and can be enjoyed well into the later stages of life.

• Golf helps you mentally as well as it can challenging and tax your mental agility, while it can also be quite relaxing depending on your mindset.

So, enjoy golf and its benefits. Golf helps you physically and mentally.  Just don’t light up that cigarette.

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Golf Genie™ makers of the award-winning Tee to Green Pocket Guide. The Tee to Green Pocket Guide provides expert golf training aids for every golf shot...in your pocket. Find more - http://www.golfhelptips.com/