Athleticism

Golfer walking, picture from sovaygolf.com

One thing that people believe that makes golf considered not to be a sport is that golfers are not athletic as other athletes. People generally believe that a sport has to have players running the whole time or doing something physically. Now, in golf, we walk. Not just a casual walk, but a pretty tough and grueling walk around the golf course. A normal golf course is about 6500 to 7000 yards which equals to almost three and a half mile to 4 miles. That walk is only on the golf holes, those don't account for the walk up to the tee box, way-ward golf balls or other walks around the golf course. This would make the walk now at least 4 and a half to 5 miles. Now you also have to add distance courses that have many undulations. These types of courses could easily get up to 5 and a half to 6 miles.

If a person plays competitively, especially professionals, they have to play for four straight days. If added correctly, a pro might end up walking 16 miles after a tournament.

Walking is not the only athletic component of golf, you also have the swing. A lot of people think that you don't need to be fit to play golf and that anyone could play it and be good at it. That is not the case, because the golf swing requires a person to have special strengths in key parts of the body. Some key parts are the hips, thighs, abs, obliques and back muscles. To have proper technique you need to strengthen these parts to be able to hit the ball farther. It is usually thought of that the golf swing is just using your upper body and swing as hard as you can to get distance.

Now you know the importance of having good stamina to walk the course and a strength in key places of the body will help the swing.

This is a website for the muscles need for the golf swing.

http://www.orlandogolfblogger.com/2010/01/05/golf-fitness-muscles-used-in-golf/