Walking Golf Is Great Exercise

Mention that golf is an exercise, and you may have people who never played the sport laughing at you and cracking jokes about the number of calories that are burned by golfers riding around in carts. What those people don’t understand is that golf involves walking for long periods of time carrying or pushing a heavy set of golf clubs along the course.

Walking golf is a great exercise for children and adults who love playing this invigorating sport. People who forgo the golf carts and hoof it on foot can find themselves burning off between 1,000 to 1,500 calories when playing all 18-holes. You can burn off more calories by carrying your clubs. Yet even if you use an electric trolley or cart, you can still see the calories disappear while out on the green. The more times you head out to the golf course, the more you will see those calories disappear from your waistline.

Everybody knows that walking is good for your health. When playing four to five hours of golf, a person can obtain the same health benefits as if they had signed up for a 45-minute fitness class. If you walk the entire course and back, you are getting an aerobic workout for your entire body.

Another thing to consider is that walking is good for the heart. Cardiovascular health is extremely important to avoid many heart problems. Walking forces the heart to pump and circulate blood faster, strengthening this muscle. So getting out onto the golf course and walking to each hole may help you have a strong heart.

There are few things to remember with walking golf. People who have health problems should take into consideration that walking for four hours could cause detrimental affects. Also, you should know your limits if you start to feel rundown or tired while navigating the course. While walking at every opportunity is desired, you may want to consider using a trolley to carry your bags if you have back problems, or using a cart along the paths and walking to the tee. You can still obtain the benefits of walking without putting undue stress upon yourself.

Getting out onto the course and enjoying the great weather while walking to the tee is such a wonderful feeling for the mind as well as the body. If you love the game of golf but hate the gym, then consider walking golf as a great alternative. You can get plenty of exercise walking the holes while improving on your golf skills. You will start to see and feel the difference as you can have more energy to play the game and improve on your golf skills.