Golf: good for getting fit?
Discussion
Only if play lots and lots and get a move on. It's normally too slow to raise your heart rate and hitting a small ball 200 metres with your heart furiously pumping isn't conducive to accuracy.
Speed golf would work but can you do it often enough?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_golf
Speed golf would work but can you do it often enough?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_golf
Even tennis can be annoyingly boring when playing doubles with beginners. Don't spend a lot of time moving apart from walking back and forth or side to side before a serve. 
UpTheIron said:
I'd say no... but its relative to how unfit you might be now. I expect a brisk walk would be more effective.
If you are desperately unfit then anything that gets you off the sofa is exercise, but in the realms of anything approaching normal people, golf doesn't cut it. It won't get your heart right anywhere near high enough to work you hard, nor will it sustain any sort of effort as it's mainly just walking a few hundred yards, hitting a bill, waiting for all your mates to hit theirs then walking a few hundred more yards.
otolith said:
Probably quite good for the retired chap who plays several times a week, though. There is evidence for increases in longevity from quite modest amounts of exercise in such people.
Yeah - no doubt if that's the only exercise they get. Slow stuff like this and tai chi can really improve a retiree's fitness levels if they would otherwise be sat on their backside all day watching TV.Thanks for the replies.
For me, there's no point in saying running/gym/cycling etc is better, because I know I'll never actually do those things (two years ago I bought a £1k bike on a whim.....which I used three times, a total of less than five miles, before it went on eBay
).
I need to do something I actually want to do.
For me, there's no point in saying running/gym/cycling etc is better, because I know I'll never actually do those things (two years ago I bought a £1k bike on a whim.....which I used three times, a total of less than five miles, before it went on eBay
).I need to do something I actually want to do.
JumboBeef said:
Thanks for the replies.
For me, there's no point in saying running/gym/cycling etc is better, because I know I'll never actually do those things (two years ago I bought a £1k bike on a whim.....which I used three times, a total of less than five miles, before it went on eBay ).
I need to do something I actually want to do.
Trees are the best source of fresh oxygen The Chinese know that well oxygenated blood increases health and longevity by boosting the efficiency of our internal organs, and practice Tai Chi daily to do so.For me, there's no point in saying running/gym/cycling etc is better, because I know I'll never actually do those things (two years ago I bought a £1k bike on a whim.....which I used three times, a total of less than five miles, before it went on eBay
).I need to do something I actually want to do.
If you are doing some deep breathing cycles while on the golf course it will benefit your health substantially over the long term.
Longevity is all about Internal training
18 holes of golf is a four hour walk, your hear may not be racing but if you carry your clubs and take as many detours into the woods as I do it's a reasonable amount of exercise, especially if the other option is sitting on arse eating crisps. Beware though, I've played for years on and off and each spring I try to recapture the halcyon days of my mid twenties when I could drive a range ball 300 yards and hit my 5 iron 200 yards to the centre of the green only to spend a fortnight nursing bad back/sore hips/aching knees.
Bo_apex said:
Trees are the best source of fresh oxygen The Chinese know that well oxygenated blood increases health and longevity by boosting the efficiency of our internal organs, and practice Tai Chi daily to do so.
If you are doing some deep breathing cycles while on the golf course it will benefit your health substantially over the long term.
Longevity is all about Internal training
What is 'Fresh Oxygen' and how does it differ from other types of oxygen? I doubt that deep breathing has any substantial health benefits (unless the alternative is very shallow breathing or no breathing at all). If you are doing some deep breathing cycles while on the golf course it will benefit your health substantially over the long term.
Longevity is all about Internal training
Walking a golf course is far better than doing nothing - but the key to fitness is regulalry raising both heart and respiration rate
Mr Gearchange said:
What is 'Fresh Oxygen' and how does it differ from other types of oxygen? I doubt that deep breathing has any substantial health benefits (unless the alternative is very shallow breathing or no breathing at all).
Walking a golf course is far better than doing nothing - but the key to fitness is regulalry raising both heart and respiration rate
Clean air as opposed to polluted air. The amount of joggers we see struggling alongside a heavily congested and polluted road is quite staggering - they are probably doing more harm to their lungs and blood than good.Walking a golf course is far better than doing nothing - but the key to fitness is regulalry raising both heart and respiration rate
Working up a steady sweat on a tree lined golf course is certainly better than sitting on a chair
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