Manitoba Golf Guide

M A N I T O B A 03 GOLF GUIDE 2021 rotation in a golf swing puts a lot of stress on your spine and hips." Which is to say a golf swing places a lot of demands on your body – especially after months of relative inactivity. "Ideally, you want to almost overtrain your body in the off-season to deal with the demands of the golf swing," he says. "But most people don't do that. So, when you do go to the range, pace yourself. Don't rake and hit one ball after another as fast as you can. Ease your way in." The same sentiment also applies to playing that first long-coveted round of the year (which you already may have played without incurring any sort of injury). Again – in most cases – little or no preparation has been put into readying the body to swing a golf club at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour. To compound matters, a high percentage of golfers – especially in today's COVID-19 era, where arriving at the course early to warm up is a no-go – just run up to the tee, grab their driver and swing away without stretching. That's a no-no, says Buffie. "If you can, warm up before you stretch," he advises. "Go for a short, brisk walk, run on the spot, or do some jumping jacks or push-ups. Once you've done that for a few minutes, then start warming up." Once again, the key is to ease the body into a state where it can comfortably accommodate the dynamic twisting and turning of your swing. "Keep your warm-up simple. Any stretching you do should be rhythmic, not static. You want to ramp up slowly, doing exercises like hip circles and leg swings," Buffie says. "Gently stretch out your groin, hamstrings and quads, and do some thoracic rotation to loosen up your spine with a club behind your back in a seated position. That will loosen up your mid back." Once you've done those things, it's time to take a few swings. "Take slow rehearsal swings, graduating from 25 per cent slowly up to about 75 per cent. You want the swings to be rhythmic and fluid. It's all about preparing your body for the demands of swinging a golf club." What advice does Buffie have on the best way to prevent injury? "Get assessed by a professional," he says. "If you've had any injuries or have any pains, they'll pinpoint what the problems are and will prescribe an individual program that's tailored to what your needs are." Regardless of whether you've been in a winter- long, golf specific fitness program or are starting from ground zero, Buffie says the same approach should be taken to getting back into playing golf after a long layoff. "Ease your way back into playing," he says. "Your body will thank you, and you'll give yourself the best possible chance to enjoy a fun, healthy golf season." M A N I T O B A Photo courtesy Sport Manitoba The key to any kind of warm-up activity is to keep it simple and make sure it's rhythmic rather than static. Bring this ad in and receive Located in Morden, Manitoba (1 hour from the perimeter) 204.822.4992 | golfminnewasta.com 4 GREEN FEES FOR THE PRICE OF 3

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