Golf is one of the largest growing sports markets in the world. It is reported that over 30 million people in the world actively participate in golf. This includes individuals of all ages, races and sex. It is one of the most popular participation sports of all age ranges and one of the top physical activities enjoyed by those over 50 years of age.
As the rapid interest in golf continues to grow, golfers are constantly looking for ways to improve their golf game. This includes spending thousands of dollars on clubs/equipment, lessons and training aids. Fitness Golfer is designed to improve the most important piece of equipment any golfer has...their body!
Studies indicate that of the 30 million golfers in the world, over half of them will sustain at least one injury related to golf. The Fitness Golfer performance program will prevent and treat these injuries, and help improve performance on the course by addressing an individual's specific golf conditioning needs.
Golfers are athletes and golf requires a tremendous amount of skill to play it well. The golf swing is a rapid athletic movement which requires muscles to fire both sequentially and synchronously to provide a coordinated, harmonious movement. This is performed as joints, ligaments and tendons are brought to their extremes in range of motion all while balance and proper weight transfer are vital to an efficient swing. Basically, it is a proper combination of strength, range of motion, balance/coordination, appropriate swing mechanics and good physical condition. The neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems are placed under tremendous stress which will eventually lead to acute or chronic problems. If the body does break down while playing golf, compensation by secondary muscle groups is inevitable which will in turn lead to abnormal loading of joints and muscles leading to injury.
A functional golf fitness program can be very effective and beneficial to a golfer in a number of ways. Enhancing motor control, motor performance and movement patterns will lead to better static and dynamic stability as well as more coordinated weight shifts resulting in more accuracy, consistency and power. By improving strength, flexibility, balance and cardiovascular endurance, many of the injuries associated with golf be prevented and golf performance will be improved. Also, a golf fitness program which helps familiarize the healthcare professional with proper golf biomechanics, swing mechanics and common swing faults that lead to injury can facilitate the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of golf-related injuries. Golf instruction is a vital part of a golf performance program. Therefore, the more a healthcare provider knows about the golf swing, the more his or her clients will benefit from the program. It is also very important to incorporate a golf teaching professional into any golf fitness program to better enhance a golfer's ability to improve performance on the golf course.
Golf fitness on the PGA Tour has taken off in the last 7 or 8 years. Players are realizing the extreme importance of conditioning for golf. Professional golfers appreciate the physical demands of the sport and recognize that a good fitness level is paramount to good performance. Fitness and conditioning programs have prevented many golfers from sustaining injuries that would normally keep them out of competition and have improved the overall physical condition for golfers. This results in more power and distance, better accuracy and consistency and less fatigue and breakdown at the end of the season when most injuries occur. For many golfers, it has prolonged their careers. PGA Tour members are competing at a higher level well into their forties while Senior PGA Tour members are able to compete as they hit 60 or even 70 years of age.
Unlike other sports, golf can be played throughout one's lifetime. It is a game enjoyed by people well into retirement. However, extending an individual's playing "career", making improvements and avoiding common injuries may entail incorporating a golf fitness program. Fitness Golfer will help golfers continue playing or resume playing golf at an enjoyable, competitive or pain-free level.
