Is golf exercise? The health benefits of less vigorous sports
A heated debate has sparked among fitness enthusiasts and health professionals, as the executive chairman of the luxury gym Equinox, Harvey Spevak, recently declared golf an inadequate form of exercise. This statement has caused a stir, especially among golf enthusiasts, who are questioning the classification of their beloved sport.
"You’re hitting a little white ball around a golf course — using a golf cart and drinking at the ninth hole," Spevak told The Wall Street Journal. "It’s fun, it’s recreation. But I don’t think it’s exercise."
The controversy arises from the differing opinions on what constitutes exercise. NHS England's guidelines define proper exercise as 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity weekly. However, the question remains: is golf vigorous enough to meet these standards?
The 2021 Health Survey for England identified activities like climbing, hockey, martial arts, running, and squash as vigorous. Aerobics, badminton, boxing, cycling, football, hill-walking, skiing, swimming, tennis, and gym workouts are also considered vigorous if they make one "out of breath or sweaty."
Golf, despite its popularity among young people since the Covid pandemic, has been criticized for its leisurely pace. A fit person may not break a sweat during a round of golf, and the sport's technical demands can vary for beginners. However, research conducted in 2023 challenged this notion, suggesting that golf offers more health benefits than walking.
The study, published in the journal BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, found that an 18-hole round of golf had a slightly more positive impact on lowering blood pressure and levels of blood sugar and cholesterol compared to activities like brisk walking or Nordic walking. An 18-hole round, taking three to five hours, burns between 1,200 and 1,500 calories if the player walks the entire distance and carries their clubs, covering a distance of four to five miles with resistance.
Darts, another sport often dismissed as a casual pastime, has been making a case for its physical demands. In 2006, the England Darts Organisation attached a pedometer to then-World Champion Martin Adams, revealing he covered 25 kilometers over a nine-day tournament. Adams, a professional darts player, emphasized the sport's stamina and physical exertion, stating, "We work anything up to 13 or 14 hours a day. Calf muscles so tight you could play the drums on them."
However, Dr. Alan Ruddock, an associate professor of sport physiology, disagrees, arguing that darts doesn't meet the criteria for exercise due to a lack of significant physical disruption from homeostasis.
Tai Chi, a series of slow, meditative movements, is described as "moderate" exercise by the NHS. Barry McGinlay, a Tai Chi world champion, highlights its benefits, including improved physical health, mental clarity, emotional regulation, and long-term well-being. He acknowledges that Tai Chi can be practiced as a sport but also exists beyond the realm of sports.
Bowls, often labeled as a "light" exercise, is another sport that defies the label. Peter Thompson, chief executive of the English Indoor Bowling Association, describes bowls as a precision sport requiring skill, coordination, balance, and fine motor control. Lisa Graham, managing director of the Bowls Development Alliance, emphasizes the sport's physical demands, including strong hand-eye coordination and the need for accurate judgment of line, weight, and green conditions.
The debate over whether golf, darts, Tai Chi, and bowls qualify as exercise continues, with varying opinions and interpretations. The key lies in understanding the intensity and physical demands of each activity, as well as the individual's perspective on what constitutes a beneficial workout.
