Jan
19
2008

Fighting the Winter Doldrums

Posted by Double Eagle in Goals

Stack and Tilt Golf Swing Videos by Medicus Golf

winter-carts.jpgFor those of us in a winter climate, it’s tough to find the motivation to continue on with golf improvement programs during the cold, snowy weather. I know in my case, it’s so hard to stay focused when it’s going to be so long before I get into a good golf routine again. Sure, there will be a day here and there when the weather isn’t so bad and I can get out and play a round. But I’m talking about really working on it.

The key for me is switching my goals around a little. Sure, my long term goals the same. But whereas in the summer time, one goal might be to stop blocking the ball to the right, in the winter I need to shift to something more immediate.

It’s so easy to lose touch with the here and now while staying focused on the long term. Even though logically, the things I do over the winter are meant to help me in the summer, it’s hard to stay focused on that because the summer is so far away and the passion for golf is overshadowed by the tedium of working out.

So, I need to set some winter goals that align with my summer goals, but serve their own purpose. For instance, losing weight, gaining strength and flexibility, and gaining cardiovascular endurance become the goals themselves.

Now, that’s what I’m doing. Your goals are probably different. However, the fact that you’ve scoured the web for golf blogs and that you somehow ended up here tells me that more than likely, you want to improve your own game.

I’m interested in how you go through the winter (if you live in a place with a winter climate). Do you put the clubs aside for months then break them out in the spring? Do you play all year, even in the bitter cold? Do you put aside the clubs and focus on diet and exercise like I’m trying to do?

I was going to add some suggestions of how to use winter down time to improve your golf game, until I remembered that I already did that. Check it out for some suggestions to help you hit the ground running when spring arrives.

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There are currently 8 responses to “Fighting the Winter Doldrums”

  1. 1

    Olympic Sports Fan said:

    I have an indoor range about 10 minutes from my house. I make sure I utilize it at least once a week. Where as my brother lives in Phoenix and he doesn’t have that problem, lol.

    Posted on January 19th, 2008 at 7:49 pm

  2. 2

    Golf Exercise Program said:

    Mike…what a cool pic! No snow where I’m at (AZ), but had a visit up to Oregon for X-mas and got lots of cold and RAIN! Hope all is well with you!

    Posted on January 19th, 2008 at 10:51 pm

  3. 3

    Double Eagle said:

    All is well, Mike. Trying to recover from the doldrums, but I’m getting there slowly. I hope all is well with you too.

    Posted on January 19th, 2008 at 10:58 pm

  4. 4

    BetterGolfwithFitness said:

    Hey Mike, Hope all is well. I hear you on the Winter Doldrums! My clients become so much less active so I need to come up with creative ways to keep them motivated. I came up with a 6 week Hill Interval Program for the Treadmill (inspired by Marc Calcavecchia’s hiking in Phoenix) that lays everything out for you. It’s available to my subscribers as a free bonus but I will send it to you and any of your readers without signing up (for Free!) Just send an email to Anthony@golffitnessproducts.net with the subject “Teadmill for Golfers”. Ant

    Posted on January 21st, 2008 at 2:01 am

  5. 5

    Andrew said:

    Im a keen golfer. But i don’t play in both summer and winter. I prefer spring and autumn. Where the weather is not to hot or cold, i play the best in those conditions.

    Regards Andrew

    Posted on January 21st, 2008 at 9:16 am

  6. 6

    Double Eagle said:

    Hi, Ant! All is well and I hope the same for you.

    I’d love to give your treadmill program a read.

    There you go, everyone. Shoot Anthony an e-mail and get a free copy of his interval training program.

    In addition, his blog, Better golf With Fitness is one of my favorites for golf fitness information. There’s a link over on the left.

    Thanks, Ant!

    Posted on January 21st, 2008 at 4:14 pm

  7. 7

    TP Golf Online said:

    With temperture ranging from -20 to freezing this week I am looking forward watching the Buick and wishing I was in San Diego.

    I usually hang the clubs up for a few months and come out of hibernation after the snow begins to melt. I have an indoor close by however I avoid it like the plague. I find that when I have gone to the indoor range I try and hit as many shots as I can in the shortest amount of time possible since they charge on the time not the basket.

    Posted on January 24th, 2008 at 4:50 pm

  8. 8

    Double Eagle said:

    Wow, TP. -20 is cold. Now when they say on the weather report that cold Canadian air is coming down into the area, I’ll feel a little better knowing that it warms up a little before it gets here.

    I used to hang up my clubs in the winter, but in the last few seasons, I’ve played in the winter a lot (when I wasn’t having back trouble). This year, I’m trying to do things to keep my game in order, but I’m not fighting the cold just to get out there.

    Posted on January 24th, 2008 at 5:10 pm

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