Golf Article for Kettle Valley News and Gallagher’s Canyon
Golfers Are Athletes Too!
Spring is here, and after coming off one of the most mild winters the Okanagan has ever seen, there is no doubt that the local golf courses are well prepared to take on another busy season. As more people hang up their skis and snowboards for the year, they are reaching for their golf bag with great anticipation for another spectacular season of golf!
What most recreational golfers fail to realize is; golf is still an athletic event. Even though golf may require less exertion than most other sports, the difference between injury and a lower handicap lie in the stages of physical and metal preparation. In order to truly develop and succeed at this technical game, golfers must consider themselves athletes and train using programs scientifically designed to improve the synchronization of the whole body.
With popular fitness trends of the past, numerous machines have been developed for isolating muscles and stimulating them to grow. This concept is based on body-building principals, where the goal is to become very big in order to receive a high score from the judges. Unfortunately, the functional aspect of this type of training is completely overlooked. When golfers train using body-building principals, the result is a sedation of the nervous system’s ability to organize and synchronize a complex multi-joint movement, such as a golf swing.
Proper fitness for golf should be based on functional training principals that are designed to restore balance, length, strength and coordination of the muscles that create a specific movement pattern, in this case, the swing of a golf club. It is important to understand that the body’s nervous system remembers movement patterns, but cannot distinguish between good or poor patterns. Therefore it is essential that golfers go through a specialized physical assessment that supports optimal golf swing mechanics for their own body, before taking on any fitness program. This is done in order to identify the short, tight muscles that are contributing to poor movement habits and restricting performance, as well as the golfer’s static and dynamic posture.
Remember that Rome was not built in a day, and owning a set of $2500 golf clubs won’t necessarily make you a better golfer. It always comes down to the person holding the club, and their investment in lessons, personal practice and preparation on and off the course. Have a great golf season this year!
Mike Christy is a Private Personal Trainer in Kelowna. He is certified as a Therapist Assistant, Personal Trainer, Yoga teacher and a CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach. He can be reached through Kettle Valley Fitness as well as the Gallagher’s Canyon Activity Center. For any questions or information, please visit Mike’s web page at www.fluidpowerkelowna.com
or email him directly at mikechristy@shaw.ca