As the golf season winds down or has basically ended, it is time to think what happens next. Normally, I take a few months off and prepare for a long winter’s nap and make myself tons of promises that I try to keep. 😉 I do not think this year will be much different except it is time to get serious about my fitness. In year’s past I have allowed myself to get a bit fluffy, but this year I vow not to let that happen. I know that to change my thoughts is to change my world, so now is the time to make the change.

At this point, many of the younger readers are wondering what is the point. However, as a senior player (who is a club championship to defend) it becomes more challenging to stay fit. This year, I plan to remain active and focused on staying healthy. Some of the readers are retiring soon and believe me, following this path does wonders for our golf game and life in general.

Very few people have golf focused training. I guess, many people have routines focus on overall fitness and not one specific sport like golf. Currently, I fall into that latter. I think that is the best for my lifestyle as I try to remain active. To help improve my fitness and mobility here is my plan:

• Flexibility. I cannot fully swing the club without being flexible. As a senior player this fact is more obvious each year. Therefore, I need to focus on my flexibility; specifically in my shoulder and trunk rotation.
• Strength. This is important for general living, however on the golf course even more so. In one round I will swing a golf club over 100 times (including practice swings), climbing many hills, lifting my golf bag 200 times, walk on uneven ground, and rake sand. There takes a certain amount to strength to perform these activities without injury. Strength training is important and sometimes overlooked.
• Endurance. 4 hours of activity is tiring. It does not matter what I am doing, but to play golf for 4 hours (walking) takes a great amount of energy. So I need to build my endurance so I have enough energy to make that last 5 foot putt for my 1 under par. If I am huffing and puffing because of lack of endurance, there is a very good chance I will walk off the 18th hole even par or worse. Endurance is very important.

The above plan is pretty straight forward. The cool thing is that I have all the tools I need to make this happen. My darling wife and I have invested in the equipment so we can do all the above from home without having to join a fitness facility. Therefore, there should be no excuses this off-season.

Fitness and golf are very important; not to mention fitness and life. By upping my fitness goals, I will lose weight, increase flexibility, feel stronger and be more mobile. As a senior, that all sounds great to me. What do you think?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!