Golf stamina as part of overall golf fitness?

WSJ columinist John Newport suggests in his article Tiger’s Search for Golf Stamina that golf stamina is at the highest level of the fitness pyramid and the hardest to re-acquire.  Tiger was in fine physical condition during his first match back, but something was missing.

“Rather, golf stamina for a fit player at the highest competitive level has to do with focus, the ability to sustain concentration, attitude and confidence. And it’s worth asking whether eight months, as opposed to Mr. Woods’s previous, much shorter breaks from action, cuts into this kind of stamina in a qualitatively different way.”

Interesting approach and a good article.

Calorie burning difference in golf – walking vs. riding

I was recently asked the difference in calorie burn during golf between walking and riding in a cart.

I verified the formula with Fabio Comana – Exercise Physiologist at the American Council on Exercise for the answer.  The scientific answer:

Carrying clubs – 4.5 METS

Pulling clubs – 4.3 MET

Cart – 3.5 METS

Reference: The Compendium of Physical Activities Tracking Guide – Ainsworth, B.E. (2002)

What is a MET you ask?    The Washington Post answers “One MET equals 3.5 milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute — which is what our bodies require at rest. The more effort an activity requires, the higher its MET value. (Walking briskly at, say 3.5 miles per hour, burns 3.8 METs per minute.) That value is the same for most of us, regardless of fitness level. “

So, the scientific math goes something like this (assuming you weight 220lbs).

• 1 MET = 3.5 ml/kg/min, therefore for a 220 lb (100 kg) man for 60 min:

• 3.5 ml/kg/min = 350 ml/min or 0.35 L/min

• 1 L/min = 5 kcal

• 0.35 L/min = 1.75 Kcal /min x 60 min = 105 kcal

A kcal is a calorie.  So that means:

Carrying clubs – 4.5 METS x 105 calories = 473 calories per hour

Pulling clubs – 4.3 METS x 105 calories =  452 calories per hour

Cart – 3.5 METS x 105 calories =  368 calories per hour

If you weigh less than 200lbs (100kg), you will burn less calories, if you weigh more, you will burn more calories.  Your current fitness level doesn’t matter in the calculation.

Don’t want to do the math (and I wouldn’t blame you)?  The quick and easy formula to use:

Calories burned by exercise = ((METs * 3.5 * weight in kg) / 200) * duration in minutes

Prize winner – WGC March Madness Challenge

We had a few challenges with the website, but a good time was had by all.  Congrats to Steve P. from Pittsburgh, PA for the high score in the WGC March Madness Challenge.  Steve was the only one to pick Greg Ogilvy to go all the way.

A signed copy of my book is on the way!  Hit’em long and hit’em strong.

Golf humor

There is so much negativity in the press these days that I have decided to NOT watch the news or check the stock market but instead to smile more. A friend of mine sent this piece of golf humor that made me grin. My new goal – a golf joke every week.

The Irishman

One day an Irishman who had been stranded on a deserted island for over 10 years, saw a speck on the horizon. He thought to himself, “It’s certainly not a ship.”

And, as the speck got closer and closer, he began to rule out the possibilities of a small boat and even a raft…

Suddenly there emerged from the surf a wet-suited black clad figure.

Putting aside the scuba gear and the top of the wet suit, there stood a drop-dead gorgeous blonde!

The glamorous blonde strode up to the stunned Irishman and said to him

“Tell me, how long has it been since you’ve had a cigarette?”

“Ten years,” replied the amazed Irishman.

With that, she reached over and unzipped a waterproofed pocket on the left sleeve or her wet suit, and pulled out a fresh pack of cigarettes.

He takes one, lights it, and takes a long drag. “Faith and begorrah,” said the man, “that is so good, I’d almost forgotten how great a smoke can be!”

“And how long has it been since you’ve had a drop of good Irish whiskey?” asked the blonde.

Trembling, the castaway replied, “Ten years.”

Hearing that, the blonde reaches over to her right sleeve unzips a pocket there and removes a flask and hands it to him.

He opened the flask and took a long drink. “‘Tis nectar of the gods!” stated the Irishman. “‘Tis truly fantastic!!!”

At this point the gorgeous blonde started to slowly unzip the long front of her wet suit, right down the middle…

She looked at the trembling man and asked, “And how long has it been since you played around?”

With tears in his eyes, the Irishman fell to his knees and sobbed,

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Don’t tell me you’ve got golf clubs in there too!”