I bet you are wondering what I mean by golfing in the off-season!  Some may think I mean taking a trip down south or some place exotic to play a few rounds of golf in the dead of winter.  Well, that is not what I mean at all.  Golfing in the off Season is not about playing golf, but preparing for next year.

At info.com, “Golfers can improve their balance and posture while increasing the strength and technicality of their golf swing” by staying active and adopting an exercise program.  They offer several exercises and programs that will help any golfer prepare for next year.

Sports Fitness Advisor suggests that “strength, power, flexibility, balance, core stability, body awareness, even endurance… they’re all physical traits that every consistent golfer (even the fair-weather players) must possess. The golf industry is littered with gadgets and gimmicks for increasing accuracy and shot distance. Yet for all their claims and guarantees most remain independently unproven.”  I believe that an overall approach to fitness will improve your game better than any piece of equipment.

Greg Norman “The Shark” says that “as you achieve higher levels of fitness, you can generate more power with less effort, thereby producing a smoother swing with greater club head speed. You will develop more force without forcing the action, which is essential for long and consistent drives.”  He also provides a program to become physically stronger  to effortlessly achieve success in all aspects of your golf game.

Ian Hardie at Golf Habits.com has identified in his article “Are you running out of steam” that most amateurs do not perform as well on the last 6 holes compared to the first 6.  I totally agree with him.  A round of golf lasts for 4 hours.  Those of us that walk and carry our clubs can attest to the fact that we get tired near the end of a round.  I suggest that success down the stretch can be attributed to your physical condition.

Golfing in the off-season is about training and preparing for next season.  I would suggest that now is the time to start.  See you in the gym!