Fitness Correlates Of Golf Performance, Exercise Enjoyment, And Mood In Senior Women Golfers

Abstract

Senior golfers (≥50 yrs of age) constitute approximately 5 million of the 20 million “committed” U.S. golfers (National Golf Foundation, 2016). This number emphasizes that golf is a lifelong physical activity. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationships among golf-specific fitness measures, golf performance, exercise enjoyment, and mood alteration. METHODS: Female senior golfers completed golf histories, 17 golf-specific fitness screening tests (TPI-fit; Titleist Performance Institute®), golf swing analyses, and the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES). Heart rate (HR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) scores on the Profile of Mood States were measured before and after a 6-min walk test (6MWT). Pearson correlations were calculated. RESULTS: Descriptive characteristics, means ± SD: Age (yrs) = 64.1 ± 8.0; Body weight (kg) = 71.1 ± 14.3; TPI-fit and golf swing analyses = 17.3 ± 4.4, 13.1 ± 7.9, “lower is better”; 6MWT (ft) = 1906 ± 213 (67th %ile), RPE = 13.1 ± 2.0 “somewhat hard”, HR (b/min) = 127 ± 20, %HRmax = 81 ± 15 “vigorous.” Age was not correlated with any variables, except months of playing golf per year (r = -0.56, p = 0.03) with older golfers playing fewer months than younger golfers. Age when beginning golf participation was positively correlated with handicap, average scores for 9- and 18-holes, and number of golf swing errors (rs = 0.71, 0.68, 0.65; ps < 0.03). Golfers’ body weights were correlated with better TPI-fit scores (r = -0.64, p = 0.01) and average scores for 9- and 18-holes of golf (rs= -0.67, -0.65; ps ≤ 0.02) representing greater strength or leverage during the golf swing. Golfers with better TPI-fit scores tended to have higher exercise enjoyment (r = -0.42 p = 0.09). TMD scores on the POMS improved (97.4 ± 13.9, 89.5 ± 15.2; p = 0.06) after only 6-min of high intensity walking. Greater 6MWT HRs were correlated with greater TMD improvements (r = 0.49, p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Senior women golfers with more years of golf experience, or who were heavier, performed better on TPI golf-specific fitness and swing tests. The women also reported enjoying exercise and desirable changes in mood after aerobic exercise. Future studies of senior women golfers are needed to continue examining the role of golf participation in seniors’ fitness levels and overall subjective well-being.