Tee Time!
Scads of stars like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Cheryl Ladd, Sean Connery, and Samuel Jackson spend countless hours working on their craft – their golf game, that is. “We spend hours together, all around the world playing golf,” Zeta-Jones comments on how important enjoying each other’s company is in a marriage, adding, “Some of our biggest decisions are around golf.” Hubby Michael Douglas agrees and is a huge supporter of her, saying she would be so good if she applied herself. “I shot a 95 the other day,” Zeta-Jones boasts, adding, “Legit – no jiggery-pokery. And I was very happy.”
Let’s face it, golf is hip and it’s not just your mom and dad’s sport anymore! If you’ve ever envisioned yourself hitting an incredible Tiger Woods-style drive, get out there and give it a try! It’s great exercise (if you walk the course), you spend quality time with family and friends, countless deals are being made everyday in between swings, and it’s challenging and fun.
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“Don’t let anxiety become an obstacle for starting,” instructs Celebrity Fitness Expert and Founder of Exude Edward Jackowski, who recently penned, “Fit to a Tee” ($16, barnesandnoble.com). “No one starts off particularly well, so it’s accepted in golf that not everyone is at a high level of greatness.”
What can you expect as a family unit from playing together? “Not only is golf a relatively inexpensive way to spend 2-4 hours together, but it also develops ethics and morals for kids, as it is a game of etiquette,” notes the Long Island native and father of two, who explains, “You must follow procedures, rules, and protocol – all of which build patience and perseverance.”
GETTING STARTED
As with any new hobby, reading as much pertinent material as possible and watching it on television make for a sound start. “You need to educate yourself about what you’re going to be doing,” says Jackowski adding, “But you should begin with a half-hour lesson with a teaching pro at a driving range.”
Expect to shell out $55-$65 for each lesson, but receiving proper instruction right out of the gate will fend of forming bad habits, making it well worth the investment.
Even more important than brushing up on terms, equipment, and skills, is having a fitness foundation. “Golf necessitates flexibility, strength, and endurance,” Jackowski emphatically states. “Flexibility allows you to create a proper swing, which in turn allows you to hit the ball farther. Strengthening your abdominal and core helps with posture, balance, and swinging more efficiently, and endurance will get you through 18 holes, feeling the same as you did on the ninth.”
If your fitness factor isn’t where you’d like it to be, don’t worry. “Golf is a good way to start an exercise regimen,” says the 6-foot fitness fanatic, “If you’re not hitting the ball as far as you’d like, it spurs motivation to raise the fitness bar in order to help your game.”
FAST RESULTS
Golf can be frustrating, but according to Jackowski, with a commitment of playing just twice a month, you can realize quick results such as becoming a better putter that will bring your game to a new level. If you begin on the range, switch to the course once you’re hitting with consistency, regardless of how far. Forego keeping score until you and your family have developed skills with the driver, irons, chips, and putting.
“You never, ever master the game of golf. It always owns you. But it keeps you coming back because you want to hit the ball farther or chip better, and that keeps you improving.
This pattern carries over to all facets of life – work, school, and studying, and you’ll probably make a few friends along the way!”
TEE TIPS:
- A good golf swing requires shift, turn and hit.
- Workout three times a week to improve your game.
- If you’re already fit, raise the intensity of workouts by increasing the duration, speed or resistance (i.e. lift the level on the treadmill, walk on an incline, etc.).
- Wait for weights! Kids can add strength with pushups and chin-ups – no weights until age 17!
- Be consistent: choose a convenient time to exercise and golf so you can commit to it regularly.
- Stretch! It reduces injury, promotes circulation, and feels good!