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Going gaga over golf

PHOTO: AFP

BURN CALORIES Make golf part of your routine

Is golf a healthy sport? Addicts swear by it: Carrying (or dragging) a cartful of irons and hitting odd-looking balls into the distance is the best way to stay healthy. “It is exercise in fresh air and open greens,” they argue, holding their breath before teeing off.

“Even if you’re covering the 18 holes in an electric cart, you’ll get to burn quite a few calories. Playing golf improves coordination. Look at golfers. Over 50 and still playing!”

Which is why, at any point, hundreds of golf-buffs are practising baby-shots on the office carpet or backswings on a driving range.

Oh, for the joy of golf — birdie, bunker or bogey, they say. Play golf two to three times a week, and over a five-month period burn an average of 1,750 calories per game, shed abdominal fat by eight per cent, shrink waistline by an inch, pile up “good” HDL cholesterol by five per cent, lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides by four per cent each, become more aerobically fit and improve trunk muscles. If you play regularly, everyone is at par, in spite of the handicap, a big boost to your self-esteem.

“You will never get that much of walking at a relaxed pace, breathing unpolluted air, anywhere else,” said A. Chandrasekhar, stock broker.

“I get to walk seven km over four hours listening to birdsong from the trees around. It is a fun way to erase tension, excellent for controlling BP. There is no competition, you play against yourself. You blame yourself, cool yourself.”

And ha, the biz benefits of golfing! “The company, it is incomparable!” said Chandrasekhar.

“The sixteen of us are a fraternity. We talk the walk, we travel. Play golf, and you meet people in varied businesses.

Where can you hope to get such contacts? Wherever I go, I just have to be introduced as a “good golfer” and there is instant recognition!”

Also, no other game has this green tag, he said.

“Our club has planted more trees and recycles sewage to sprinkle the fairways.”

High-five on that. But there is a handicap not written on the score-sheet — the backache a lot of players experience. The walking-bending-stroking routine could lead to strain as well as injuries of the back, shoulders, knees and wrists (Tiger Woods just had knee surgery).

Doctors blame it on wear/tear, bad stroke technique, insufficient physical exercise and a pre-existing damage of the spinal disc. On the golf course a disc with a tear is additionally stressed by the increased mechanical pressure.

“Injuries are part of any game,” said G.S. Krishnan, golf instructor, National Golf Academy. “You can’t play if you’re in severe pain. I don’t think golf leads to that pain. And why would you use your wrist at all? The golf club is an extension of your arm.”

After a slipped disc, he took to swimming and is back at the links, he said.

“This is a sport for anyone from eight to 80. Start early if you’re serious about it. Hole out for enjoyment.

For middle-agers, this is great exercise. When you swing the club, the entire body gets exercised. Power flows from the body.”

Golf needs support, he said. Who knows how many Jeevs and Michelle Weis are around, waiting to be discovered?

Ready to tee off?

Build up your muscles by regular strength training at a fitness centre.

At home, put a towel behind your neck; hold both ends of the towel and press the head against it. Hold for five seconds, relax, and repeat fifteen times.

Warm up for ten minutes before making the first stroke. Jog. Stretch forearms, shoulders, lower back, chest and trunk.

Hitting 200 balls per week is to run the risk of burning out. Pace the game.

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