It is said that the modern game of golf was thought to originate in Scotland in the 15th century, but many believe that the game was actually played as far back as the early Roman era. For the uninitiated, a game of golf is usually played over 9 or 18 holes against a number of opponents. The object of the game is to use a series of clubs to hit a small ball from a tee into a golf hole a far distance away. Standard rules of play apply, but the golf course can differ significantly, with some being easy and others being aimed at more experienced professional players.
Is Golf Exercise?
There has been a lot of talk as to whether the game of golf is a sport or just merely just a pastime. With the game being played for hundreds of years, you cannot argue the fact that golf is exercise as a round of golf can burn off a lot of calories. According to a study undertaken by the Rose Center for Health and Sports Sciences, golf players average 721 calories burned when they walked and carried their clubs compared to 411 calories burned when they rode in carts. With the average distance walked per course being about 2.5 miles, you can appreciate the number of calories that can be burned.
Good for your heart?
It is very obvious to all that exercise such as boxing will burn more calories and enable you to get in good physical shape than playing golf, but if you play 36 holes of golf a week, you can expect to burn around 2,800 calories. That will help you to improve your overall health and reduce the risks of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, even though it may not improve your aerobic fitness.
Burning Calories
Many people consider that golf is more of a mental activity than a physical one and not a sport because it is a slow moving activity that doesn’t get your heart rate up. Golf is better than no exercise at all as it will definitely burn up a decent amount of calories. If though you are really looking to get yourself fit, you will need to do additional exercise such as working out on the treadmill or lifting weights. This will increase your fitness, and can also help with your golf game. With golf being a sport and not just a hobby, any additional exercise will help your game.
