It is a fact that golf can be a lazy sport as it is not always very physically engaging. Besides swinging the clubs, there is almost no other part of the sport where you must use some energy. If it is moving from one hole to the other, there are electric carts for this, and if it is carrying your golf bag the cart or caddy can do it. However, it is still possible to lose a lot of weight when playing golf.
Shedding weight when playing golf takes more effort but it is all about doing certain things and avoiding others. And once you get used to this and make it your typical habit when on the course, you should start seeing significant weight loss in no time. All in all here is how to lose weight by playing golf.
#1 Walk the Course
If you want to shed some kilos when playing golf, you should first start by skipping the cart. Riding on a cart speeds up the game and it always feels cool but it is one of the things that can make the sport a lazy game, and you will hardly shed any significant weight. When using a cart, the only exercise if at all any that you will get will be when you are climbing in and out of the comfortable golf cart.
Walking through the different terrain on the golf course can burn a lot of calories. If you are playing an 18-hole round you can be sure that you will end up walking thousands of steps and burning upwards of 1,000 calories. And if you are also on a good diet program you can be confident that you will lose a lot of kilos and do it fast.
#2 Skip the Caddy
While choosing to walk the course instead of using a cart is a good idea, you can make things even better by not getting a caddy and carrying your golf bag. A golf bag with the set of golf clubs and other equipment in it will weigh anywhere between 15 and 20 pounds. All that extra weight means that you will also burn a lot of extra calories.
The average male golfer can burn close to 1,500 calories by walking the 18 holes while carrying their golf bag while ladies will burn at least 1,000 calories. And even if you prefer to use a push or pull cart to haul your golf bag, it is still quite beneficial. If you push a golf cart when playing you will still burn more than 700 calories even when playing a 9-hole round.
#3 Drink a Lot of Water
For many guys, a golf weekend is never complete without having loads of beer with friends. While playing under the hot sun will always leave you thirsty, it is not a good idea to quench your thirst with a few beers or sugary drinks if you want to lose some weight. Instead, you should drink a lot of water.
Water is not only more useful in keeping you hydrated when playing but it also helps with your weight loss by flushing out the toxins in the body. And since most golf carts and bags will have a pocket for your water bottle, you should always have plenty of it when playing.
#4 Do Plenty of Swing Practices
You do not have to wait to get to the course or for the weekend to use golf to shed some kilos as you can also do it at home if you have a large enough backyard or the driving range. Regular and plenty of swing practices is not only a great way to improve your game but it will also help you get some much-needed cardio and in strengthening and building your muscles because your arms and legs will be constantly at work.
By getting the best practice swing balls which should also be pretty cheap and find an appropriate place to practice, you will be getting close to your weight loss goals.
#5 Snack on Healthy Foods
Like any other sport, golf will use up a lot of your energy reserves and this is more so if you are playing 18-hole rounds and have to be on the course for several hours. And so it is only natural to get the urge to eat something during or after the game. However, it is important to snack on healthy foods if you do not want all that exercise that you have put in when playing to go down the drain.
A simple way to ensure that you will only snack on healthy foods when on the course is to carry them from home because the eateries at the club might not have them. Some examples of good snacks to eat include dried fruits and nuts.
#6 Play More Often
Golf will not be very useful for your weight loss ambitions if you only play it once in a while. If you walk the course while carrying your golf bag for the 18-holes and burn up more than a thousand calories and then remain inactive for a week, you will definitely not see any significant changes in your weight.
You do not have to pay golf daily to shed some weight but you should make it more often and combine this with regular swing practices and other exercise routines.
#7 Try Some Extreme Golf
If the typical and slow 18-hole golf does not seem to have any significant effects on your weight, you should try playing some extreme golf. Extreme golf which is also known as speed or fitness golf combines golf with running to make it more physically engaging. This version of golf is highly recommended if you want to take golf to another level. And the idea is to try and play as many holes as possible within the shortest time.
Conclusion
Golf is by far not the most physically engaging or demanding sport. However, it can still be a good way to lose some weight if you know what to do or how to play it right. And while there are many ways of making it more useful for weight loss, the seven points above are a great starting point. But, also note that it will not be a replacement for your weight loss exercise routine or diet as it is only a complementary way to help shed some extra kilos.
