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Are you fit? Do your pants still fit?

I love a couple beers and a couple cigars when playing golf, but I have come to realize that I play better and enjoy my rounds more with a little fitness prep.  It's not enough anymore for me to chug a couple tabs of Vitamin A (Advil) and grip it and rip it.  A recent article in the Wall Street Journal suggests that we can use our golf game as a barometer of our health.  In addition to the not-surprising news that most golfers are overweight, many suffer from back pain, and a significant percentage have played hung over (there is no greater sin than missing your tee time because you were over-served the night before), the article contains an excellent tip:  stretch before you play.  Link to www.mayoclinic.com, plug "golf stretches" into the search box and watch the slide show for 18 easy-to-do stretches designed to improve your flexibility for golf.  I am a big fan of Miranda Esmond-White's Classical Stretch program (I watch her on Iowa Public TV every Monday, Wednesday, Friday morning at 6:00 am.)  A former Ballet Canada dancer  she trains a number of Olympic and professional athletes.  I used her stretches before every round (10-15 minutes) during my mid-January golf trip this year and I swear they helped.  Not only did I feel good on the course without having picked up the sticks for a few months, I felt better afterward as well.  She is perky and has that cute Canadian accent; her web site does not offer much free info, but she does offer golf-specific tips during her program.  BTW, the current Golf Digest also has an article on biomechanics and the importance of stretching and strengthening the hips, some Miranda focuses on as well. We feature fitness tips in our youth clinics also.

Tiger & Phil...love 'em or hate 'em

Tiger vs. Phil. With these two golfers there are two sets of people and ME. The first set of people is the "love 'em" set and the second is the "hate 'em" set. There is no in between except for ME. However I can see the argument on both sides.

Let's compare the two: They both have beautiful wives to go with their beautiful swings; a strong commitment to family; they value their privacy; they can hit the golf ball very far and they lead an extremely comfortable lifestyle due to their incredible golfing ability.

The differences are more glaring and are the source of the love 'em/hate 'em mentality. Tiger is in excellent physical condition and let's just say Phil isn't. Phil is as waspy as they get and Tiger is descending from many ethnicities. Tiger is righty and Phil is lefty. Phil graciously answers the media's questions for the most part and Tiger storms off the grounds like a spoiled brat who didn't get the GI Joe when the round didn't go his way. Tiger has 12 major championships and Phil has 3. There are many more differences no doubt. However, the most profound difference is their demeanor the golf course.

While watching yesterday's broadcast of the Masters, you could see exactly the difference I am referring to. Phil struggled early and often and showed angst but with respect and as I read in the Newark Star Ledger, after the 7th hole, his wife went over and gave him a hug. Sounds corny absolutely, but it worked for him as he went 1 under the rest of the way birdieing two of the last four holes to gain some momentum for today possibly. Tiger on the other hand, started off cautiously and seemed in control. However, every time he missed a putt or hit a slightly wayward shot, you could read his lips (not appropriate for this blog by the way) or see him toss his club in disgust. Tiger's angst tends to annoy me but I understand that he expects to hit every shot perfectly. I don't know where Elin was but I'm pretty sure Tiger didn't want a hug. Tiger bogied two of his last 4 holes and that may motivate him.

I am one of the few people who happen to like both Phil and Tiger. I think Phil's attitude is great and I probably associate myself more with him than Tiger. I mean, I can picture Phil strolling down the fairway sucking on a popsicle, waving with that "aw shucks" look on his face and at the same time picture Tiger stalking the fairway turning spectators into icecles with that "if I don't make this triple breaking 65 foot downhill sidehill putt for birdie i'm gonna kill someone" look on his face. I can appreciate both modes of operation. I think Tiger's intensity is intimidating and it works for him and aside from his pure golfing talent, it's the only reason I like him. Phil and his "Golly-Gee-I'm so happy to be where I am" attitude endears him to many slightly overweight golfers who wish they could trade places with him. But I get it on both ends and I wouldn't try and sway anyone one from one belief to the other.

Any golfer knows, you try to do the things that make you play the game better and enjoy it more. Different strokes for different folks.  I don't think anyone would argue that both Phil and Tiger always give it their "all" and they do not leave much in the bag.  They always play to win and we love second guessing them when things don't go their way.

Personally, when you boil it right down, I prefer to operate what little golf game I have somewhere in between the attitudes of Phil and Tiger's. Hopefully my 9 year old son will too...but throw in the hot wife just for good measure!