Is Golf Good Exercise?

Any exercise is better than no exercise. It is easier to exercise when you enjoy it. While this may vary from person to person, golf is hands down the best way to breathe and get a good cardio workout. It also improves your mental and relaxation abilities. With all the new research about Grounding, being out on the golf course offers numerous benefits.

What is the best way to get exercise from a round of golf?

Golf is a great way to strengthen your cardiovascular system. A round of golf is usually 3.6-3.8 miles. Depending how you play could lead to more distance walking. So although a cart user may walk slightly less, they will still get plenty of exercise and more than if they were sitting on the couch.

Keep in mind that many courses have many hills and inclines, increasing the walk’s difficulty. Because they don’t have to walk in straight lines as much, beginners will enjoy a more strenuous hike.
Golf is an excellent alternative to other types of exercise, such as jogging, lifting weights, yoga, or cycling. You will not even realize that you are getting a workout because you are so focused on the game and the company of others. It is not like regular exercise, and it is more fun.

Golf is good for your heart and lungs but also uses many large muscles. You may not have known that there were many. Golf is an excellent way to get a complete workout. Although it is not difficult to swing a club, 72 to 100 swings per round can be very strenuous.

An ideal golf round will consist of a general warmup (walking to the clubhouse, carrying your bags to the practice range and back to the golf cart), dynamic warmup, the activity (in this case, golf), stretching, and a cool down. Completing this series of activities will increase the activity per golf round. We also recommend completing a comprehensive strength training program to help with your golf game. Adding resistance training into your week further increases your activity level and is excellent for cross-training.

Does Golf Equal Exercise?

It all depends on how you play. However, the bottom line is that golf is a great game! Golf is an excellent exercise and good for your body and mind, regardless of how you play it. You will typically burn 1,400-1,600 calories per round. Walking will increase the volume of activity over driving. But even with driving, you are still more active than sitting in front of your tv. Any time spent outside is worthwhile, especially with all the research on grounding. The difficulty of golf is moderate but this can also depend if you walk or ride a cart.

Are You Going to Burn Calories Golfing?

If you walk, the simple answer is that you’ll burn around 1,400 to 1,600 calories per round. You will burn approximately 800 to 900 calories if you have a cart. Although it won’t make you look slim or toned, it will be a better option than not exercising. You get to have fun, enjoy the outdoors, and appreciate your fellow players’ camaraderie.
When combined with exercise and a healthy diet, golf can help you stay flexible, toned, and fit. You can play golf late in life with the decreased demands it places on the body compared to tennis, running, and hiking. Many people have to give up a variety of sports as they get older, but most can still enjoy golf for many more years. Cardiovascular exercise and burning calories can improve your overall health, reduce your risk of developing diseases, and lead to longer life expectancy.

Final Thoughts:

Golf is a great game and offers many physical and mental benefits. If you currently have pain during golf, you may consider golf rehab. To read more about Golf Rehab, click here. If you are considering getting into the game of golf, get a swing coach. A swing coach will lead to significant improvement in your game right off the bat. The next thing is getting a comprehensive golf evaluation completed by a healthcare provider who is well-versed in the sport of golf. One thing to consider is if they are TPI-trained (Titleist Performance Institute). A person with TPI credentials has undergone specific training for the golf swing. Make sure you get off on the right foot. Enjoy this great game.

Do you burn calories playing golf?

If you walk, the simple answer is that you’ll burn around 1,400 to 1,600 calories per round. You will burn approximately 800 to 900 calories if you have a cart.

How many miles is 18 holes?

A round of golf is usually 3.6-3.8 miles. Depending how you play could lead to more distance walking

Is golf good for weight loss?

Golf is an excellent exercise and good for your body and mind, regardless of how you play it. You will typically burn 1,400-1,600 calories per round. Walking will increase the volume of activity over driving.

What level of exercise is golf?

The difficulty of golf is moderate intensity. Click here for the study.

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Author

Dr. Tyler is a physical therapist and founder Scottsdale Physical Therapy & Performance in North Scottsdale, Arizona. He see golfers, athletes and active adults. His focus is offering one-on-one sessions for 1 hour focused on developing individualized programs to get you back to your goals.

If you have any questions about online programing or want to stop in for a visit, please reach out by hitting “request appointment” in the top of the page.

– Dr. Tyler PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, TPI-2

dr-tyler-sinda

Dr. Tyler Sinda
PT, DPT, FAAOMPT

Tyler’s specialty is helping golfers, athletes and active individuals in Scottsdale find ways to allow them to continue to workout while rehabbing from injury.

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