The PGA Tour had its first golfer test positive for performance enhancing drugs.  Details were not provided due to the tour’s privacy policy.  The player in question is Doug Barron, not a big name, and a player who has struggled with a variety of health issues over the years.  He played little on the tour this year.

Although Tiger Woods has elevated fitness in the minds of many tour players over the last decade, it is really not from the standpoint of hitting the ball further.  He was a very long hitter when he first arrived on tour, but decided to approach his profession as a professional athlete, and prepare accordingly.  This was to avoid injury more than anything else.  Golf can be pretty tough on the body, and we have seen many great players suffer from a variety of ailments over the years. 

Can performance enhancing drugs help your golf game?  Doubtful.  Can it help you hit the ball further?  Certainly, if you get a lot stronger.  Just look at many of the participants in the world long drive competitions these days.  Many are built like NFL safeties or small linebackers.  But, in 2008, the World Championship was won by a small Canadian weighing less than 165 pounds. 

However, steroids are not going to help your putting or your short game.  That is where you score.  And the fact is, you really do not need steroids to hit the ball further.  Most people need to become more flexible first, so they have a longer, more fluid golf swing.  Then a little strengthening and some core work can help add a bit more swing speed. 

So, stick with the more natural ways of gaining strength, and you will see a benefit to your golf game. 

Scott Cole

Well, here in the Northeast/MidAtlantic region of the U.S., the weather has cooled and golf season is winding down, or is it? Maybe you won’t be able to play your local golf course once the biting chill of November hits, but that is no reason to cease working on your game! From now until about mid-December, the weather will still be reasonable enough in the southern MidAtlantic (basically, south of Richmond, VA), and still close enough to take a long weekend to play a little golf. After that, as the season wears on, the further south you must go.

Still, if you don’t have the opportunity to get away for a few days, find your nearby indoor golf range to hit a few balls and maybe work on your short game. Or, check out where you can play a round of golf on an indoor golf simulator.

Most importantly, this is the time of year to work on body improvements that can help your golf swing. As we get older, we tend to lose flexibility and strength if we do not keep up with our workouts. However, studies have shown that it is still possible to build muscle int our 70s and beyond.

It is my belief that this time of year is the best time to really go to work on your body and your golf swing! By combining strength training, stretching, and golf specific exercises along with a thorough understanding of what you want to do with your golf swing, you can make significant improvements in the off season. Then, when Spring arrives, you will have full confidence in your swing, and you can focus on your short game, where you will be able to drastically reduce your scores!

Go see your golf instructor now to set up your plan for Winter Golf Training!

Scott Cole