Swinging With Strength Into The Spring Season

By: Alison Cardoza • Sponsored 

Dan Horton, a certified TPI Golf Fitness Instructor at Baptist Milestone, has been teaching golf fitness for over 15 years. He enjoys working with many clients that enjoy the game of golf and want to better themselves physically and mentally on the course. Dan’s client, Purna Veer, who is President and Co-founder of V-Soft Consulting and on the board of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, perfects his game by training with Dan on a weekly basis. Purna is also an avid hiker who has climbed Mount Whitney, Pikes Peak, and to the base camp of Mount Everest. Let’s tap into what it is like to train with Dan and get ready for the game of golf, this spring. 

“It is time to get the golf clubs out and hit the course for some fun competition and improve your game. Believe it or not, golf is a sport. Golf requires strength, speed, eye-hand coordination, balance, and flexibility in order to play the game with excellence. Ideally, your body needs to be fit in order to play the game well. Oftentimes, when our body is weak and not well kept, injuries can occur in the game of golf. Specifically, individuals who play golf regularly are more prone to low back injuries, due to the swing motion’s dependence on the core muscles of the abdomen and back. So, in order to play the game injury free, you want to have some general fitness routines to improve your body.” 

What are some key elements to have in your fitness routine for golf?

“You need to work the key muscles in your glute (backside) and your core (abs/back). These muscles help you develop balance and rotational strength for your golf swing. Lunges with rotational movements are an excellent way to work balance and your glutes, along with using one legged exercises in your workouts. Secondly, you want to use speed in your workouts. Throwing a medicine(weighted) ball or swinging a cable with speed, are ways to increase your club head speed when you swing a golf club. The faster you swing, the further the ball will travel on the course. Finally, you have to stretch your body in order to gain flexibility. Stretching your torso, hips, back, and hamstrings will create a more powerful full swing. If your workouts include the aforementioned areas of exercise, then you will have a better score as you hit the golf course this upcoming season.” 

Swing your way into Spring and try something new this season! 

Alison Cardoza, ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and Fitour Group Exercise Instructor at Baptist Health Milestone Wellness Center. BS Exercise Science and Sports Medicine with a minor in Health Promotions from the University of Louisville. Former UofL Ladybird and NFL Colts Cheerleader.