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How Many Calories Can You Burn By Playing Golf?

It is official now! You can burn lots of calories and lose weight by playing golf, said Dr Neil Wolkodoff PhD, a sports scientist and director of the Rose Center for Health and Sports Sciences in Denver, Colorado who conducted the study. So what is new, you may ask.

All golfers know that getting out there on the golf course, swinging the clubs and walking throughout the game is more than just a leisurely stroll in the neighborhood. Of course we already knew that playing golf requires muscle and mind coordination, focus and concentration, and a great deal of physical effort to play the game and that, naturally burn tons of calories. So who needs a sports scientist to tell us that?


Then again, it sure feels good to have an expert to verify what we had already knew, isn't it? This is especially so when the research revealed several interesting conclusions about the value of golf as an exercise and the effects of different kinds of effort on the golfer's score.

 

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According to the Associated Press article about the study's findings, Dr Neil Wolkodoff recruited eight male amateur golfers with ages ranging from 26 to 61 and handicaps ranging from 2 to 17 for the study. The study subjects were fitted with sensors and measuring equipment and then each of them played the front nine of a hilly Denver golf course several times over the duration of the study period.

During these 9-hole games, the study subjects varied their means of transportation such as walking and riding in a cart and also their means of carrying the golf bag whether on a golf cart or on their shoulders or on a push cart or on the caddie's shoulders. The results of calories burnt (for nine holes) were as follows:


•Walking = 721

•Using push cart = 718

•Using caddie = 613

•Riding in a cart = 411

Distance walked while not riding in the cart is 2.5 miles and riding in cart is half a mile.


This study came to the absolute conclusion that golfers who walk 36 holes a week will burn around a whopping 2,900 calories per week. This is way above the threshold of 2,500 calories as many studies have shown that those who burn 2,500 calories a week can improve their overall health by lowering their risk of heart disease, strokes, diabetes and cancers. For those who want lose weight, you now know for sure that playing golf can help you to lose weight. This is indeed wonderful news for golf enthusiasts all over the world!


The study also looked at the effects on golf scores of different methods of transporting the player's golf bag and the findings were just as interesting. Dr Neil found out that the average scores of using a push cart: 40, using a caddie is 42, riding is 43 and carrying own bag is 45.


Many avid golfers already knew that walking the golf course is not only better for health but also better for your score. This is "thinking" when walking the golf course as the golfers sees more since he/she visually assess and takes in what lies ahead of them, has time to consider various options and to think about club and shot selection. This study certainly scientifically verified it.

Walking the golf course with a push cart or with a caddie both produced lower average scores than riding in a cart. Walking while carrying one's own bag gave the highest average scores.


This has likely to do with the extra physical exertion when carrying one's own bag of golf clubs. So it causes the golfer to tire more quickly and also increase instances of lactic acid build up in the muscles. When lactic acid increases, fine motor skills decreases and fine motor skills are what are required for the precise motions of the golf swing.

So to critics who argue that golf as a form of exercise to lose weight is inferior to many other sports can now be debunked scientifically. Yes, playing golf can make you burn a lot of calories and in the long run, lose weight successfully. That is, if you don't go for a food binge and alcohol party after winning your game of golf. Click Golf Fitness Training.



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