Reasons You Should Ditch the Cart and Walk
Whoosh! SMACK! Sound familiar? Thereâs nothing more exciting than that first round of golf after a long, cold winter â even when youâre a little out-of-shape.
One of the best things about golf is that it caters to all ages and fitness levels. Itâs also an excellent way to tone up after a sedentary winter.So how can you get the most out of your golf workout this spring?
WALK!
The Health Benefits of Walking the Golf Course
We love golf carts just as much as the next person, but itâs hard to deny the immense physical benefits of walking the golf course instead (at least some of the time). Itâs not only good for the health of your body; itâs good for the health of your game. Numerous research studies have confirmed that walking the golf course is a great way to improve fitness levels and burn calories to boot. According to Golf Science International, four hours of golfing (sans a golf cart) is comparable to a 45-minute aerobics class. Another study found that golfers who walk 36 holes per week can burn nearly 3,000 calories â an ideal amount for lowering their risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.Tips for Getting Back Into Shape
If youâre really out-of-shape and donât normally walk the course, we recommend taking it slow at first until you build up some endurance. There are several ways to do this:- Walk alternate holes during a round, so that by the end of your round you’ve walked nine holes.
- Walk one set of nines and then rent a golf cart for the other nine.
- If youâre at a course where golf carts are mandatory, walk down the fairway to your ball while your partner drives the cart up.
- If playing with a partner who prefers to us a golf cart, choose to ride only on the cart path and walk to and from the cart to your ball on every hole.