Amvets Golf Outing at Woody's: Consistency and Fitness Helps in Golf

Golf is often as much about consistency as it is about power. The other day, we participated in AMVETS' local golf outing at Woody's Run Golf Course, where approximately five teams competed in a friendly tournament. We teed off around 10:30 a.m. and wrapped up around 2:30 p.m. It was a great day of golf, camaraderie, and good-natured competition.

The winning team was Team Sunshine, led by the golfer affectionately known as "Sunshine," someone I occasionally golf with. My team, Team Studly Awesome, finished fourth out of the five teams. While our placement wasn't what we had hoped for, we still had an enjoyable day on the course.

One of the interesting conversations during the outing centered on the golf swing. Many golfers, especially beginners, try to hit the ball as hard as possible. While that approach can occasionally produce a long drive, it often sends the ball into the rough or the trees. Several experienced golfers argued that developing a smooth, controlled, and repeatable swing is far more important than simply swinging harder.

Research supports this perspective. Lower-body strength, balance, and efficient swing mechanics contribute significantly to club head speed and driving distance. As golfers develop a consistent swing and make solid contact with the ball, accuracy improves, and distance often increases naturally over time. Rather than forcing power, golfers benefit from building sound mechanics first and then gradually adding speed as their technique becomes more efficient.

The lesson from the day was simple: keeping the ball in the fairway with a repeatable swing generally leads to lower scores and better long-term improvement than trying to overpower every shot. In golf, consistency often beats raw power.

I'm a certified fitness trainer and yoga instructure so if you need a little virtual help send me a message to the right. 

The Scores:

Team Sunshine 42

Team Cowboy 43

Team Kenny South Park 44

Team Studly Awesome 50

Team Orange Crush 56

Physical Determinants of Golf Swing Performance: A Review

• The review found that physical attributes such as lower-body strength, muscular power, balance, and muscle-tendon stiffness are strongly associated with increased club head speed and greater carry distance, both of which are key indicators of golf performance.
• Lower-body strength and explosive power appear to have a greater influence on swing performance than flexibility alone, suggesting that resistance and power training should be priorities for golfers seeking more distance.
• Good balance improves weight transfer and stability throughout the golf swing, allowing golfers to generate force more efficiently while maintaining control during different swing phases.
• Flexibility remains beneficial because it increases range of motion and contributes to a larger "X-factor" (the separation between shoulder and hip rotation), although its contribution to club head speed is generally less significant than strength and power.
• The authors concluded that comprehensive strength and conditioning programs—including resistance training, power exercises, and sport-specific warm-ups—can improve golf swing performance, though additional research is needed to isolate which training methods produce the greatest benefits.

Sheehan, W. B., Bower, R. G., & Watsford, M. L. (2022). Physical determinants of golf swing performance: A review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36(1), 289–297. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003411