| The annual ritual of the start of golf season is coming | | | | during a long day on the links. If you have been |
| up fast. If you want to have a better season than last | | | | cramped up in an office desk and chair all winter, then |
| year (fingers crossed!), then here are some tips for | | | | this is even more important. |
| preparing in advance. And I am not simply talking about | | | | Don't feel intimidated by the time commitment, because |
| getting your golf shoes out of the garage to clean | | | | you can perform many of these exercises during your |
| them off. Rather, you need to prepare your body itself | | | | lunch break, or at home in the evening in front of the |
| for golfing. | | | | television. You also don't necessarily need to break a |
| Many people see the game of golf itself as part of | | | | sweat doing most of them. The rotational power in |
| their fitness efforts. That's fine to a degree, but what is | | | | your torso relies on the hips, buttocks, thighs, |
| even more important is getting your body ready for | | | | abdominals, and lower back muscles all working in |
| the new season after a winter of neglect. | | | | coordination. So begin by stretching those core areas. |
| And this year, why not take the leap and if you are | | | | Later you can begin strength training, but still maintain |
| physically able, walk the course instead of using a | | | | the emphasis on the core power zone areas. |
| global-warming culprit and money guzzling golf cart? If | | | | The core is the area between the knees and chest |
| you do that, and avoid on most occasions the call of | | | | made up of all the bones, ligaments, and muscles |
| the 19th hole grease pit, you will find it easier and easier | | | | within. There are countless exercises to help you work |
| to walk the full course as the summer goes along. It's | | | | your core, including hamstring stretches, lower back |
| true! | | | | stretches such as imitating a "cat" doing arches and |
| However, well before the season begins, you can do a | | | | hunches, gentle torso twists, side rotations with |
| bunch of things to prepare your body for what lies | | | | resistance, crunches, and gentle trunk rotations. |
| ahead. The key is to get yourself prepared to tackle | | | | If you are like me and tend to spend the winters being |
| the long bouts of walking and standing around waiting | | | | sedentary, make sure you begin gently. The risk is that |
| on the course, and to slowly build strength in muscles | | | | you will overdo things at the beginning, and injure some |
| that are used repetitively by golfers. | | | | of your core areas, causing you to push back that first |
| Aerobic and stamina-building exercises are the key to | | | | tee-off date. Begin each session by warming up for a |
| beating the long walks in the heat of summer. And | | | | short while using some aerobic option such as walking |
| flexibility and muscle training will help you achieve | | | | on an incline on a treadmill, a stationary bike, or a |
| longer drives, better swing consistency, and overall | | | | rowing machine. |
| mid-torso strength. You won't need to become a | | | | The most important factor is to start early! I will lay out |
| heavy lifting body builder at all! No, the goal is to tackle | | | | some specific exercises in an upcoming article, but |
| the repetitive, asymmetrical movements of golf by | | | | don't wait to start the process until a week before |
| gently strengthening your muscles in advance. | | | | your first round. Take a few minutes each day starting |
| Rotational flexibility, hip flexibility, lower back muscles, | | | | now, and your torso strength and stamina will improve |
| and shoulder strength all play a role in each golfer's | | | | tremendously before the first game of the season. |
| swing. And working these areas will also help you | | | | Your enjoyment and perhaps your score will both |
| avoid getting spasms in your leg or back muscles | | | | improve, too. |