GOLF FITNESS
YOU’RE NOT 21 ANYMORE? RESULT! By Sam Heffer
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ossibly the biggest barrier to getting a bit fitter for the golf course is age. Or perhaps more accurately, people thinking that their age is stopping them from: c getting fitter, c feeling stronger, c losing weight and c gaining confidence on the course. They think that not being in their 20s anymore is a bad thing! I think not being in my 20s anymore is a result to be honest. Like a lot of others, I turned to golf after giving up playing team sports which has led me to discover a few things: c it’s far more relaxing c it still satisfies a competitive spirit c you’re not relying on anybody else c I’m far better at golf than I ever was at football! Granted the hangovers are still not great to play with, but dare I say that golf is a far more enjoyable sport to give up time for. The best part? Since replacing the team sports with golf I can get away
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with doing much less than I used to and still keep in reasonable shape! This is important for me and my clients, because by taking care of ourselves in a balanced yet still sociable way, we know we’ll be out there enjoying our golf for years whilst also extending the time we have to get better too which is a very welcome bonus! Here are some very basic habits I encourage: c Lift weights 2-3 times a week at a suitable intensity c Find the exercise that fits you rather than forcing yourself to fit the exercise c Spend time outside daily c Eat sensibly 70-80% of the time c Drink 2-3 litres of water daily c Leave some room for a few pints or more indulgent food c Play golf at the weekend These habits don’t sound very sexy but when added up over time will lead to feeling younger on the course, increasing confidence and playing golf with even more enjoyment! Plus extending the time you have to get better at golf.
Sounds decent, yet for some that’s just not happening. Why? Because they’re holding onto a misled belief that being fit means you should be training like you’re still in your 20s. A lot of general population golfers are missing out on what they can do because they’ve been misguided on what they should do which is more often than not gruelling exercise regimes and overly restrictive diets. By falling into the ‘should do’ trap they end up doing the worst thing possible. Which is nothing. Frustratingly leading to the time they have left on the golf course not being enjoyed as much as it could be. Sam is a fitness coach who specialises in helping golfers lose weight, feel younger, increase confidence and enjoy playing golf without giving up a social life. Email sam@samgolffitness.com or visit samgolffitness.com for help getting started with a personal training programme.
SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE
