Golf = good cardio?

[Hockey Playa]

I remember reading WBA preaching moderate to fast walk was preferred over running. I think his reasoning was running, cuts down the BF plus some muscle too. I plan on being at the golf course at least 2-5 times a week this spring in summer. I think this should totally cover my cardio for the week. Considering walk a golf course, is about 4 hours of walking. Is this a sufficient source of cardio?

 

[KarmaSutra]

Aside from cigars, Golf is my numero uno passion. If I'm feeling uptight or pissed off I grab my clubs and head to the range and drill it out.

Feels great and I get good and loosy goosy to boot.

 

[Skilla_Staz]

I wouldn't expect to get all that fit from golfing.

 

[Fred Da Head]

Those new electric bikes are also a wonderful way to do cardio the easy way.

 

[A-Unit]

Re:

If you're offseting you're workout with smokes, drinks, or poor food, no.
BUT, if you're lifting, doing a few bouts of intense, 20 min cardio, yes. Make sure you bring some fruit and plenty of water along, as well as some nuts (almonds). Going 4-5 hours in 70-90 degree heat will lead to catabolism and energy draw downs.

How it doesn't count I fail to see.

4-5 hours of walking, with a fairly weighted bag, over hills and terrin, swinging throughout the whole course. Has anyone here golf before?

:wave: I do.

You easily burn 1000+ calories over 4 hours, drinking water and walking. It's just the diet and what you do with the rest of your week.

For me, I balance between bikram yoga, golf, lifting, flag football, and cardio, which I dislike the most b/c of the fact I'm always counting minutes or IPOD songs. I don't think golf is the primary cardio activity, BUT it fulfills the WALKING aspect of cardio, provided you balance it with proper eating while playing.

A-Unit

 

[BluEyes]

Carry your bag instead of using a pull-cart or a motor cart and it's an excellent activity. Any activity is better than none, and carrying a 40-50lb bag on your back for 10 000 yards over a 3 - 5 hour stretch is good. Like A-unit said, don't forget to pack the snack.

Where most "golfers" fall is after the round. They go to the clubhouse and have a beer/large meal which effectively brings you back to square one.

Don't let it take the place of your cardio, but on a saturday morning its a great thing to do...

Oh yeah, and golf is also pretty damn fun.

Still shooting in the high 90s though Trying to get that down.

peace

 

[CCKazi007]

Golf is not a SPORT, that's why guys over 50 can still play it. You have to sweat hard if you play a sport. But, golf you hit and then ride your golf cart to the ball and then you hit it again. So basically it's same as NASCAR or Poker some claims it to be a sport but it's NOT cuz you rely on tools more than anything. I could name a few cardio which OWNs golf in everyway, cycling, swimming and MMA or mix martial arts.

 

[Hockey Playa]

You're and idiot, obviously you dont golf. We didn't imply driving a cart, because obviosuly thats not cardio. Walking up hills, through differnt terrain, witha weighted bag will definitely tire you out. Obviously there a better forms of cardio, but for people who enjoy golf, and are out quite often, it can be very beneficial.

to A-unit, and blue eyes: I'm always a sucker , for the ''unhealthy snacks on the course'' chocolate bars, sausages(acutally is that a good protein?) amd cookies. What snacks do you suggest? How about Gatorade, and nuts?

 

[A-Unit]

Re:

You're right, guys over 50 DO play Golf, but there's 2 truisms to that statement.

1) If they're over 50 and walk, they're quite healthy. My grandfather was healthy and fit. It was cancer that cut his life short-er at 70. He walked as often as he could til diabetes and dialysis left him with riding as his only option.

2) Guys who ride are fat. Period. To not walk the course is to demonstrate how out of shape you are.

I'm not here to debate the merit of golf as a sport or what the definition of a sport is. Just know this, walking 18 holes is roughly...3 miles. Add in trapsing around looking for your ball, it's about 4 miles. With a bag. Up and down hills. WHILE actually playing. Oh, and thinking. Yeah, you don't blow your heart rate up, but any advocates of SLOW, steady state cardio should admit without much thought that golf qualifies as great cardio.

What kills *great* cardio from golf is the snacks. They don't provide healthy foods. 1 beer is ok, given you're burning over 1000 calories, easily. But sausage doesn't count. Who knows what's in it. Too much salt. Too manufactured. Too fat. Not enough protein for it's other contents. Buy/bring your OWN snacks. Apples, bananas, dates, oranges, a gallon of water, almonds, a protein bar without much crap. Maybe even the protein powder, a mixer, and you've got the water. I've done it. Just clean it out before pressing on.

Father's day 2006 was the MOST intense round I've played. It easily topped 100, not including humidity, and anyone who's been in the northeast knows the warm weather stinks when it really hits. Not like Texas, but pretty miserable. By the 2nd hole I was in a tank top that I'd worn just in case. Glad I did. I STILL have the burned in tan lines to this day because of how severe the weather was on Father's day. I drank 3 gallons of water without blinking and probably burned 1500 calories, or more. I walked the 1st 9 holes, and due to fear of heatstroke or sun poisoning, my bro and I got a cart. My uncle left, as did many golfers. Riding at that point was for survival, and for finishing, not b/c it was easy. I don't like riding in fact, ruins my mental game and concentration. I plan my shots while walking. I don't care if it's a sport or not...you get exercise, unlike most of America, you're working out for 4 hours, and you're having fun. At the very least, people who hate cardio should golf 9 holes.

Chuck the Gatorade. High Fructose Corn Syrup. Use sparingly. A better juice for the body is watered down pure cranberry juice. It replenishes and heals the liver, which is the burning center of the body, and from alcohol consumption, is highly polluted. I'd go water and get your "fruit" juice from the pure fruit. Juice is ok, but I wouldn't buy a gallon of it and chug it. For walking, you'll expend alot of fluid. If you replace it with the same amount of juice, you'll put back more calories than you burn. You will need calories, but make sure the calories are better with nutrients and not crap.


A-Unit

 

[Fred Da Head]

2) Guys who ride are fat. Period. To not walk the course is to demonstrate how out of shape you are.

That's almost as stupid (and definately as false) as most of Kazi's posts.

Maybe I ride because I get enough training elsewhere, and I want to relax and just chill while playing golf?* Just because you treat golf as a workout, doesn't mean I have to. My mom treats going to the store as a workout because she's a nice older lady, and so she walks; I treat going to the store as a chore because I work out already and I don't need a 15 minute walk to help my cardio, so depending on the store I take my car. Does that mean walking to the store is a universal workout?

Furthermore, are the pros all fat, out of shape guys? If golf is such a great sport that makes you lean, why would be out of shape? It's not the golfing that makes a difference, it's all the walking. I don't need to pay hundreds of dollars on equipment and a club membership and all that to walk around with 40lbs on my back; I can just lace up my boots, grab a rucksack, put some books in it, and walk around for an hour or two.

* (Not that I play golf, but if I did, I'd probably get a cart.)

Edit: just so you don't freak out and start hating me like Kazi; I don't say all that you said was wrong. In fact, walking around like that is good, but it's not the golfing that makes it a somewhat "good" workout, it's the walking. And I agree with your thing about Gatorade, although I'd go with just water.

 

[CCKazi007]

That's almost as stupid (and definately as false) as most of Kazi's posts.

Maybe I ride because I get enough training elsewhere, and I want to relax and just chill while playing golf?* Just because you treat golf as a workout, doesn't mean I have to. My mom treats going to the store as a workout because she's a nice older lady, and so she walks; I treat going to the store as a chore because I work out already and I don't need a 15 minute walk to help my cardio, so depending on the store I take my car. Does that mean walking to the store is a universal workout?

Furthermore, are the pros all fat, out of shape guys? If golf is such a great sport that makes you lean, why would be out of shape? It's not the golfing that makes a difference, it's all the walking. I don't need to pay hundreds of dollars on equipment and a club membership and all that to walk around with 40lbs on my back; I can just lace up my boots, grab a rucksack, put some books in it, and walk around for an hour or two.

* (Not that I play golf, but if I did, I'd probably get a cart.)

Edit: just so you don't freak out and start hating me like Kazi; I don't say all that you said was wrong. In fact, walking around like that is good, but it's not the golfing that makes it a somewhat "good" workout, it's the walking. And I agree with your thing about Gatorade, although I'd go with just water.

LOL keep on playing golf buddy I could kick your ass anyday. Ya walking around 5 miles is a workout ain't it? Maybe for fat F8ck who sit on their couch everyday. What's so fun about golf anyways? You hit it and then you go pick it up so you can hit it again. It's like shooting bball alone, it's good for practice but it's boring as hell. Where's the competition? Golf is a p*ssy sport. I just think your a douche for thinking golf as a cardio. It's a leisure or hobby, something you do for fun not to get in shape.

 

[Fred Da Head]

LOL keep on playing golf buddy I could kick your ass anyday. Ya walking around 5 miles is a workout ain't it? Maybe for fat F8ck who sit on their couch everyday. What's so fun about golf anyways? You hit it and then you go pick it up so you can hit it again. It's like shooting bball alone, it's good for practice but it's boring as hell. Where's the competition? Golf is a p*ssy sport. I just think your a douche for thinking golf as a cardio. It's a leisure or hobby, something you do for fun not to get in shape.

And why exactly did you quote my post before that lovely, if completely useless, reply?

You basically said most of what I said in retard terms. Congratulations. I guess your need to overcompensate must be massive if you just rant at my posts without even reading them.

 

[KarmaSutra]

Golf is not a SPORT, that's why guys over 50 can still play it. You have to sweat hard if you play a sport. But, golf you hit and then ride your golf cart to the ball and then you hit it again. So basically it's same as NASCAR or Poker some claims it to be a sport but it's NOT cuz you rely on tools more than anything. I could name a few cardio which OWNs golf in everyway, cycling, swimming and MMA or mix martial arts.

You obviously have NEVER played golf. Tiger Woods 2007 on your PS2 doesn't fvcking count. Ass.

 

[BMX]

From my five years of experience, golf is only good for inhaling 2nd hand smoke, drinking & driving and stuffing your mouth. I still find it ridiculous that it's a sport but it truly is just a game. I do other cardio too, and would suggest that for you as well.