Seabrook	UPDATED: Thursday, April 05, 2007
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Walking golf is the way to play

Posted on Sunday, April 01, 2007

Local players beat norm among ‘unhealthy’ statistics

By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Last August, Golf Digest reported that America’s golfers are in terrible shape. The magazine asked a representative sample of 514 golfers (80 percent male, average age 52.7, average handicap 15.6) questions about their health, exercise, diet, and golf habits.

“The results almost made us drop our hot dogs and hi-cal drinks and sit up in our Barcaloungers: Quite simply, we’re in a terrible state,” reported the magazine. The most surprising result—the number of overweight golfers— weighed in at a whopping 66%.

Despite the dismal statistics, the Tribune found a hearty dose of healthy golfers at Seabrook, within close range of four courses and has its own putting green on campus.

“We have a good amount of people who play here. Local people go to the courses they always went to and others generally go to Twin Brook, Jumping Brook, Shark River Hills, or Spring Meadow. There seems to be foursomes going out to play left and right,” says Judy Seger, community services manager at Seabrook.

More telling than the number of people who play at Seabrook is the way they play. “I see many of these young people riding golf carts today. The game of golf is really meant to be played while walking and I think my generation has a greater appreciation of that,” says Jim Doherty, who has been a PGA Pro for 45 years.

Golf course therapy
One such golfer, Carol Smith, says, “Playing golf and walking around the course definitely helps me stay in shape, but I also belong to the fitness center at Seabrook.” Smith plays every Tuesday and Thursday at Lakewood Country Club and Spring Meadow Golf Course during the season, which kicks into high gear this month.

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Other golfers at Seabrook, such as Ann Zarrello, enjoy the outdoor aspects of the game and have been looking forward to spring. “I find golf to be very relaxing. Being outdoors on the golf course— walking, getting fresh air, and playing the game—is like therapy,” she says. “I always feel better when the weather is good and I’m able to play golf.”

Zarrello says through the winter she substitutes the dance floor for the golf course. “I go line dancing when I can’t play golf. Monday we have lessons, and Thursdays I attend the SCAN line dancing class,” she says. SCAN learning center is a non-profit organization providing a wide range of educational opportunities for older adults in Monmouth and surrounding counties.

While she says it’s a fun way to get exercise, she admits, “I’d rather be on the golf course.”

Going for the green
Zarrello gets a head start on the season along with Smith and other golfers at Seabrook’s annual golf pitching contest, April 27.

Pitch shots involve hitting a lofted club towards the pin. Improving your pitch shots can drastically improve your overall pitch. The contest is held on Seabrook’s Great Lawn, where flags are placed at 20, 50 and 100 yards. Whoever pitches their ball closest to the flag wins.

Equally important to your golf game is putting and the Seabrook putting contest is on May 18. While Smith won the 20- and 50-yard pitching contests last year, Zarrello formerly won the putting competition. “It’s a fun way to meet other golfers,” Zarrello says.

The putting contest takes place at the putting green, which has three holes on turf. According to Seger, the season kick-off events attract nearly 30 to 40 people and are great fun for those involved.

Tips for staying on top of your game
Golf involves an extreme amount of bending, twisting, lifting, and stretching. Although season starters are a great way to warm up your game, be safe and warm up your body even more with physical conditioning, practice, and a healthy diet.

As we get older, our bodies lose flexibility and strength making us even more prone to injury. The three most common causes of injuries are excessive play, poor swing mechanics, and poor physical conditioning.

Here are a few helpful tips to get your ball rolling this golf season:

Stay active.
Get involved in a regular low-impact exercise routine including activities such as walking, swimming, riding a stationary bike, and lifting hand weights. This will help keep your muscles and your cardiovascular system in good working condition.

Practice.
Find a place to swing your club indoors. This helps you stay limber, prevents stiffening, and sustains your swing groove and muscle memory. Ready to practice with the ball? These days many places have indoor driving ranges allowing you to practice year round.

Warm up.
Every year injuries occur because people don’t take the time to warm up. Golf is a strenuous sport and it’s easy to strain, tear or pull muscles that haven’t been warmed up. So be sure to perform a few stretches before picking up your club to stay loose.

Eat right.
What you put in your body will determine how your body will perform for you. A well balanced diet plays a big role in how your body will hold up. Eat fruits (apples, bananas) and grains (cereals, energy bars), to keep your energy level constant. Don’t eat a big meal before a round. And drink lots of water.