4 Reasons Why Golfing is More Exercise Than You Think

Playing golf is a lot of fun, with a day spent on the green many people’s favourite pastime. The sport provides a great opportunity to challenge yourself and make new friends whilst spending time outdoors.

But did you know that golf can also boost your fitness? As you’re making your way around the course aiming for that ever-elusive hole in one, you’re improving your cardiovascular health, your strength and even your balance and concentration. Here are four reasons golfing is such a great form of exercise.

Cardiovascular exercise

Golf offers fantastic cardiovascular exercise by getting your heart and lungs going, with a full round usually equating to around four miles walking. What’s more, when you consider that many courses incorporate inclines and hills, the intensity of the walk will be further increased. Novice golfers will generally walk more than more experienced players as they cover more ground to retrieve the ball. Even if you choose to use a golf cart and don’t walk all the way around the course, you’ll still provide your cardiovascular system with valuable exercise. You can expect to burn roughly 1,400 to 1,600 calories whilst playing a round of golf if you walk. If you use a golf cart to get around the course, you will burn around 800 to 900. It’s important to stay cool during a lengthy game of golf, particularly during the summer months. Stay hydrated and make sure you wear the right clothes. You’ll find a wide choice of golf clothing, caps, and sunglasses over at golfposer.com.

Strength training

As well as providing cardiovascular benefits, golf also helps to strengthen your muscles. Whilst swinging the club doesn’t require a big effort, doing it between 80 and 100 times every time you play can give your muscles a serious workout. Plus, don’t forget that you’ll be carrying your heavy golf bag around throughout the day, increasing the demand on certain muscles. The golf swing uses a unique combination of muscles, including a few you may not have even known existed. Although the swing is expressed by the upper body, it’s the "posterior chain" of muscles in the hips, abdominals, gluteals, and upper legs that allow you to execute it effectively.

Improved balance

Repeated practice on the golf course will lead to improved balance. As you strive for greater distance and accuracy on long shots and pinpoint control on approach shots from the fairway to the green, good balance will be required. Without it, these shots won’t be possible on a consistently. Being able to balance your body will help you to build a strong core, which includes the abdominal and lower back muscles and the buttocks. These important muscles work together to benefit your body in several ways, including reducing the risk of injury and making your
shoulders, arms, and legs stronger and more powerful.

Better concentration and focus

Golf is a terrific way to exercise your body, but did you know that it can also provide vital exercise for your brain? The sport requires complete concentration and focus, with precise mental calculations such as wind direction, ball location, grass depth, and land slope required by the most experienced players. Golfers’ brains are highly exercised in various ways. Exercising your brain is essential for a long life, helping to prevent brain degradation which can lead to memory loss and other problems. Golf can also support mental health, with the sport reducing
anxiety, boosting self-esteem, and improving confidence.

Golf offers an impressive range of health benefits. Rather than being a game which requires minimal movement, it provides significant exercise, working the body and mind in several ways. From improving the cardiovascular system to strengthening muscles and improving balance and concentration, golfers may receive both physical and mental benefits from golf that equal or surpass other sports.