Putting the “Fit” in Fitness
You know the feeling – standing over that 6-foot putt, heart pounding, palms sweating. If you can just sink this one, you’ll shave a stroke off your score and maybe even walk away with a satisfying par. But when you step up and take the shot, the ball veers off course, brushing the edge of the cup before rolling several feet past. Ugh, another frustrating three-putt.
We’ve all been there, haven’t we? As golfers, we’re constantly seeking ways to improve our game and lower our scores. And one of the most overlooked – yet potentially most impactful – areas is our physical fitness. That’s right, getting “fit” can be a game-changer when it comes to your performance on the links.
At Eagle Ridge Golf Club, we believe that a comprehensive fitness regimen is essential for taking your golf game to the next level. Whether it’s building strength and power to crush those tee shots, improving flexibility to generate a fluid swing, or enhancing endurance to stay sharp through 18 (or 36) grueling holes, getting your body in peak condition can reap tremendous rewards.
The Metrics That Matter
Now, I know what you might be thinking – “I play golf, not train for the Olympics. Do I really need to worry about all this fitness mumbo jumbo?” Well, my friend, the numbers don’t lie. [1] According to the experts at Consummate Athlete, your “Fitness Score” or “Chronic Training Load” (CTL) is a key indicator of your overall preparedness for golf performance.
CTL is essentially a rolling 42-day average of your daily training load, as measured by a metric called Training Stress Score (TSS). TSS takes into account both the duration and intensity of your workouts to give you a single number that represents the overall stress you’re placing on your body.
So, what’s a “good” CTL or Fitness Score? Well, that depends on your goals and experience level. [1] The Consummate Athlete team generally recommends a CTL in the range of 90-110 TSS per day for elite and expert-level mountain bikers who are training intensively for major events. For the rest of us mere mortals, a CTL in the 50-80 TSS per day range is probably more realistic and sustainable.
The key is finding the sweet spot – not too much training stress that leads to burnout, but enough to see meaningful improvements in your golf performance. And as [2] the Chicago Golf Guy discovered, even small tweaks to your equipment and swing mechanics can make a big difference when you have the fitness foundation to support them.
Becoming a Consummate Athlete
Of course, the journey to golf fitness nirvana isn’t always easy. As [1] Consummate Athlete’s Peter Glassford points out, those of us with busy lives, full-time jobs, and families have to be strategic about how we allocate our limited training time and energy. It’s not just about racking up as much TSS as possible – it’s about finding the right balance and pacing yourself for the long haul.
That’s where Eagle Ridge comes in. Our state-of-the-art fitness center and expert team of trainers and coaches are here to help you develop a customized plan to get your body golf-ready. From targeted strength training to improve your swing power, to mobility and flexibility work to enhance your range of motion, to cardiovascular conditioning to sustain your energy levels, we’ve got all the tools and expertise you need.
And let’s not forget the mental aspect. [1] As Glassford wisely notes, “there is more to bike riding and racing than intensity and duration multiples and averaging them over 42 days.” The same goes for golf – your mindset, focus, and ability to manage stress can be just as important as your physical fitness. That’s why we also offer mental performance coaching to help you develop the mental toughness and resilience required to excel on the course.
So, if you’re serious about taking your game to new heights, it’s time to get serious about your fitness. With the right plan and support, I’m confident you can transform your body and your scores. Who knows, maybe that 6-foot putt won’t feel quite so daunting the next time you line it up. Are you ready to get fit and start lowering those scores? Let’s do this!
Sources
[1] Consummate Athlete. (n.d.). How High Should My CTL or Fitness Score Be? Retrieved from https://consummateathlete.com/how-high-should-my-ctl-or-fitness-score-be/
[2] Chicago Golf Guy. (2012, November 20). Club Champion: Better Fit = Lower Scores. Retrieved from https://chicagogolfguy.com/2012/11/20/club-champion-better-fit-lower-scores/
