How Many Calories Do You Burn Playing Golf
Playing golf is more than just an enjoyable pastime, as it requires different skills and challenges both physically and mentally. While often considered a more leisurely sport, golf can be an effective workout that helps burn calories. The number of calories burned during a game of golf varies depending on factors such as your weight, whether you are walking or riding a golf cart, and the overall intensity of your game.
Understanding how many calories an average golfer can burn during a round of golf can help you gauge the sport’s impact on your overall fitness. Additionally, knowing how factors such as carrying or pushing your golf bag and the type of terrain can influence calorie burn can assist in choosing the most effective golf workout for your individual needs. By incorporating golf into your fitness routine, you can potentially burn more calories than you might have initially thought.
Key Takeaways
- Golf is an enjoyable sport that can help burn calories effectively.
- Factors such as weight, walking vs. riding, and intensity impact calorie burn.
- Carrying or pushing your golf bag and terrain type can influence your workout.
Understanding Calories Burned
During a round of golf, the number of calories burned depends on several factors, such as whether you walk or ride in a cart, carry your golf bag, and the intensity of your activity. The terrain you play on can also impact the calorie expenditure.
When walking 18 holes, which equals about four undulating miles, you can burn around 1,400 calories. This figure may be more if you carry your golf bag and swing your clubs, as the intensity and effort increase. On the other hand, if you walk and pull your clubs in a cart, a 200-pound person would approximately burn 515 calories per hour.
Riding in a golf cart for 18 holes lowers the number of calories burned compared to walking. In this scenario, the average person burns between 900 and 1,300 calories. Walking and carrying your golf bag burns roughly 500 calories per hour, while riding in a cart burns around 300 calories.
Playing golf in a typical 18-hole round can burn approximately 800 to 1,500 calories. For context, an adult male with moderate daily activity should consume 2,200 to 2,800 calories, while adult females need 1,800 to 2,200 calories.
It is important to remember that these numbers are approximate; individual results may vary based on factors like body weight, fitness level, and personal habits. Nonetheless, golf is a great way to stay active and burn calories while enjoying the sport.
Factors Influencing Calorie Burn in Golf
Player’s Weight
The number of calories burned during a round of golf depends on the player’s weight. The heavier a player is, the more calories they will burn while playing golf. This is because their body has to work harder to move around the course and swing the clubs. So, if you weigh more, you will generally burn more calories during your golf game.
Walking vs Riding
Another factor that influences calorie burn in golf is whether you choose to walk or ride in a cart during your round. Walking and carrying your golf bag burns more calories than using a golf cart. For example, walking and carrying your bag for 9 holes can burn about 721 calories, while riding a cart for 18 holes burns only 411 calories. Opting to walk instead of ride is an excellent way to increase your calorie expenditure during golf.
Skill Level
Your skill level can also have an impact on the number of calories you burn while playing golf. A more skilled golfer will generally have a more efficient, controlled swing, which burns fewer calories than a beginner golfer who may have a more erratic swing. As you improve your golf skills, you may notice a slight decrease in calorie burn as your swing becomes more efficient. However, this should not discourage you from continuing to play golf as it is still an enjoyable and beneficial form of exercise.
Equipment Impact
Manual vs Motorized Carts
When playing golf, the choice between manual and motorized carts can impact the number of calories you burn. Walking and carrying your golf bag can lead to approximately 1,400 calories burned during an 18-hole round, due to the additional effort and weight being carried (source). On the other hand, using a motorized cart lessens the physical activity required, therefore reducing the calorie burn.
To maximize the calories burned during a round of golf, consider opting for a manual pull cart instead of a motorized one. This way, you still get the benefits of walking the course, but also burn additional calories by pushing or pulling the cart. Keep in mind, the more hilly and varied the terrain, the more calories you will burn.
Type of Clubs
The type of clubs you use can also influence the number of calories burned during a golf session. Lightweight clubs require less effort to swing, whereas heavier clubs demand more energy output. However, the difference in calorie expenditure between using lightweight and heavier clubs is relatively minimal.
It is essential to prioritize proper club fitting to match your physical ability, personal preferences, and playing style. While the calories burned may not vary significantly between different club types, using the right club can help to improve your overall performance, accuracy, and control during a round of golf.
In conclusion, the equipment you use during a round of golf can impact the number of calories burned. Opting for manual carts and ensuring the appropriate club fitting can help to enhance your overall golf experience, and provide a more significant calorie burn.
Calories Burned in Different Golf Formats
Stroke Play
In stroke play, golfers complete 18 holes and total the number of strokes they take. The player with the lowest score wins. Walking 18 holes is approximately four undulating miles, and doing that while swinging and carrying your bag can result in burning around 1,400 calories. If you weigh 200 pounds and walk while pulling your clubs, you can expect to burn 515 calories per hour.
Match Play
Match play is a format where each hole is a separate competition, and players compete to win the most holes. Since the game’s duration is generally shorter than stroke play, you may burn fewer calories. However, the calorie burn will still depend on factors such as your weight and the intensity of your activity. For example, a 155 lb (70 kg) individual can expect to burn around 300-350 calories in an hour of match play, while a 220 lb (100 kg) individual can burn around 430-500 calories during the same amount of time, assuming similar exertion levels and course terrain.
Scramble
A scramble is a team golf format, typically with 2-4 players. Each player hits their shot, and the team selects the best one to continue play from that spot. The process continues until the ball is holed. A scramble typically moves along at a faster pace than traditional golf because the best shots are chosen, reducing the number of strokes played.
The number of calories burned in a scramble will depend on your weight and how much you walk or ride during the round – the faster pace may mean fewer calories are burned overall compared to stroke or match play. However, the activities involved in playing (swinging, walking or riding, and carrying or pulling your clubs) will still contribute to a moderate caloric burn throughout the round.
Benefits Beyond Burning Calories
Playing golf not only helps you burn calories, but it also offers additional health benefits that contribute to an overall healthier lifestyle. In this section, we’ll explore how golf improves your cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility, and mental wellbeing.
Cardiovascular Health
Golf is an excellent form of low-impact, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. When you walk the course and carry your clubs, your heart rate increases, promoting better blood circulation and improving your cardiovascular health. Consistent physical activity can help reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
Strength and Flexibility
Swinging a golf club requires strength and flexibility in various muscle groups, particularly in your core, arms, and legs. As you practice your swing and play regularly, your body becomes stronger, more flexible, and better equipped to handle daily tasks or participate in other physical activities. Additionally, carrying your golf bag engages the muscles in your upper body, helping to further strengthen and tone your arms and back.
Mental Wellbeing
The mental aspects of golf are just as important as the physical ones. Golf can be a therapeutic and stress-relieving activity, as it encourages you to focus on the present moment and tune out distractions. Being in nature and enjoying the beauty of the golf course can also have a calming effect on your mind. Moreover, the sport promotes camaraderie as you get to socialize with fellow players, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
Remember, playing golf not only helps you burn calories but also offers various health benefits for your body and mind. By incorporating golf into your routine, you’ll be on your way to achieving a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
Accuracy of Calorie Counters
When playing golf, the number of calories you burn depends on various factors such as your weight, the intensity of your activity, whether you walk or ride a cart, and the terrain of the golf course. While estimates suggest that you burn around 300 calories per hour when riding a cart and 500 calories per hour when walking and carrying your golf bag, these numbers can vary for each individual.
Calorie counters, whether wearable devices, mobile apps, or online calculators, attempt to give you a rough estimate of your calories burned during an activity; however, their accuracy may not be perfect. Some calorie counters use your personal information like weight, height, age, and gender along with an activity’s MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) value to calculate the calories burned. For example, the MET value for high-intensity golf is approximately 5.4.
Factors that contribute to variations in the accuracy of calorie counters include:
- Personal Fitness Level: Your metabolic rate and muscle mass can impact the number of calories you burn during any activity. More fit individuals tend to have a higher muscle mass and burn calories at a different rate than less fit individuals.
- Course Complexity: The elevation changes and distances between holes on a golf course will affect the intensity of your activity and the number of calories you burn.
- Weather Conditions: Hot, cold, or windy weather can change the difficulty of a golf game and influence your energy expenditure.
- Golf Bag Weight: Heavier bags require more energy to carry and can influence the number of calories burned.
Keep in mind that calorie counters serve as a helpful tool to gauge your energy expenditure but may not provide an exact count of the calories burned during a round of golf. Understanding the factors that affect your specific calorie burn during play can help you make more informed decisions about your golf game and overall fitness.
