Authors:
Neil Ernest Wolkodoff 1, Gerald Martin Haase 2 and Ben Nathaniel Pennymon 3
1 Colorado Center for Health & Sport Science, Denver, Colorado.
2 University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.
3 Common Ground Golf Course, Aurora, Colorado.
Introduction
Golf has surged over the last ten years as a recreational sport activity. Over the two years of the pandemic, golf growth spurted upward as it allowed participants time outside in a recreational environment with a robust set of perceived health and social benefits [1, 2]. However, do the perceived benefits match reality regarding health or fitness contribution?
There has been continuing debate about whether golf is a sport or an activity and what is the level of physical benefit. Limited studies have attempted to ascertain how golf contributes to health. Prior investigations have used metrics such as steps, distance, heart rate, movement patterns, and in rare cases, actual energy expenditure via expired gases to view health or fitness benefit [3, 4, 5]. While not conclusive, as golf is a complex activity with many dimensions of play, the investigations have strongly indicated that golf contributes to health as a moderate-exertion physical activity [4, 5, 6]. It is better than just walking, in large part due to the increased metabolic demands of the terrain, and total energy expended and the golf swing itself.
Complete Article:
https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2022.16.3.1403
The study involved 10ย golfers completing nine-hole rounds using three transport modes while wearing a portable metabolic system.ย
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the study on golf transport, energy expenditure and mental focus measure?
The study comparedย energy expenditure, oxygen consumption, heart rate, mental focus, and golf scoreย across three modes of play: motor cart, pushcart, and electric trolley. Ten golfers completed nine-hole rounds under each condition while wearing a portable metabolic measurement system.ย
How is energy expenditure estimated from oxygen consumption for golf transport, energy expenditure and mental focus?
Energy expenditure was determined from measured oxygen consumption during play. The researchers collected oxygen consumption inย L/min, converted this toย kilocalories per hour, and also recorded relative oxygen consumption inย mL/kg/min, providing a direct physiological estimate of the metabolic demands of each transport mode.ย
How might walking or transport mode influence performance outcomes in golf transport, energy expenditure and mental focus?
Walking modes were associated with greater energy expenditure and better reported mental focus than using a motor cart. Golfers also averaged approximatelyย one stroke better relative to par when using the two walking modes, although this difference was not statistically significant.ย
How can VO2 Master be used to study golf transport, energy expenditure and mental focus?
A portable VO2 Master Analyzer allows researchers to collect respiratory and metabolic dataย during actual golf play rather than only in a laboratory. This makes it possible to quantify oxygen consumption and energy expenditure while golfers walk, push a cart, use an electric trolley, and perform normal golf activities on the course. The published study used a portable metabolic system during each nine-hole trial.ย
Which factors can change energy expenditure in golf transport, energy expenditure and mental focus?
Transport method is an important factor, but energy expenditure can also vary with theย golfer’s fitness and body size, course terrain, walking distance and pace, environmental conditions, equipment carried or pushed, and duration of play. In this study, average expenditure wasย 211 kcal/hr with a motor cart, 236 kcal/hr with an electric trolley, and 288 kcal/hr with a pushcart.ย
How should mental focus or task performance be measured alongside golf transport, energy expenditure and mental focus?
The study combined physiological measurements withย actual golf scores and a mental-focus survey. Participants rated their focus for tee shots, second through fourth shots, and short-game shots from within 100 yards. Using both objective performance outcomes and standardized subjective assessments provides context for interpreting metabolic demands alongside golf performance.ย
How can findings from golf transport, energy expenditure and mental focus guide golf conditioning?
The findings suggest that walking a golf course can provide meaningfulย moderate-intensity physical activityย without necessarily compromising performance or focus. Golf conditioning programs can therefore prepare players for the aerobic and physical demands of walking a course while maintaining the concentration and technical execution required throughout a round.ย
Which study limitations matter most for golf transport, energy expenditure and mental focus?
The most important limitation is theย small sample of only 10 regular golfers, which limits how broadly the findings can be generalized. Golf is also highly variable: course terrain, weather, golfer ability, pace of play, and individual fitness can influence physiological demand and performance. The scoring difference between walking and motor-cart conditions was alsoย not statistically significant, so it should not be interpreted as proof that walking improves golf scores.ย
How could a practitioner reproduce the protocol for golf transport, energy expenditure and mental focus?
A practitioner could have golfers complete comparable nine-hole rounds using aย motor cart, pushcart, and electric trolley, while wearing a portable metabolic analyzer and heart-rate monitor. Oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, and heart rate can be recorded throughout each trial, while golf scores and a consistent mental-focus questionnaire are collected for comparison. Conditions should be standardized as much as practical across trials to make comparisons more meaningful.ย
What is the key takeaway from Energy expenditure compared to mental focus & score in three modes of golf transport/play?
The study found thatย walking the golf course increased energy expenditure without appearing to negatively affect mental focus or scoring. Pushcart play produced the highest average energy expenditure, while electric-trolley play produced the highest reported mental-focus score. Overall, the researchers concluded that walking modes offered greater potential health and fitness benefits than motor-cart play.ย
