Cardiovascular Fitness

By Diarmid "Scotty" McVicar, RPT, CWCE

When we talk about cardiovascular training, most of us think of superbly fit athletes, such as long distance runners, tri-athletes, or cross country skiers.

For those readers who are old enough, think back to The Commonwealth Games in 1954 at Empire Stadium in Vancouver and The Miracle Mile. Remember Roger Bannister of England sprinting past John Landy of Australia to win the gold medal in the one-mile race? That was the first time two men in the same race had run under 4 minutes for the mile.

Shortly before that race, Dr. Roger Bannister had been the first person to run a mile in under four minutes. At that time it was reported that his pulse rate was 35 beats per minute.

Generally the norm for a pulse rate is around 72 beats per minute.

The lower the pulse rate, the better the cardiovascular fitness. This means that the heart is more efficient. The circulation of the blood, which is the result of the heart pumping, supplies oxygen to muscles to make them work.

What are the general benefits of good cardiovascular fitness?

It increases muscular strength
It increases endurance
It clarifies your mental processes
Improves your quality of life and can even extend it

So what does cardiovascular fitness have to do with golf?
The better the cardiovascular fitness, the longer a golfer can walk without fatigue setting in. When the big drive is needed, the extra energy is present to assist the golfer in executing the stroke. When standing over a putt, which may mean winning or losing a hole, the golfer who is in good shape will control his or her breathing and have a better chance of concentrating and making that putt.How do we improve our cardiovascular fitness, and in doing so help our golf game?

Start slowly as the winter progresses, and increase your cardiovascular fitness through regular exercise, walking, biking, climbing or running. The activity should be done for at least 20 minutes, 3-5 times per week. The activity should be selected based on your physical condition. If you are overweight and have not exercised, 3 days per week at a good pace is more than adequate. Plan out a schedule as to how many times you want to work out. Get a buddy to work with you. Working alone is very boring and leads in most cases to people stopping the activity. Keep a chart with your heart rate at day one and check it once per week and make note of it. Do not expect immediate improvement; progress takes time.

Most golfers will find that, with the improvement of their cardiovascular fitness, they will play better and longer. A "bogey, bogey, par, double bogey" finish will look more like "par, par, par, bogey".

The Brent Morrison Golf Academy is located at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, 1025 Qualicum Road, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1M5. (250) 752-8786. For more information on instruction programs for adults and juniors, contact the Academy office.

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