Golf practice is waning but my core strengthening is increasing.  Any momentum I had a week ago is gone and I only have 2 weeks to my next tournament!! My last run was Saturday, and after 7 miles in the hot humid weather, I could barely swing my speed stik. So how will I save my game without hitting the links? 

Last night I worked on side push-ups. I got this idea from a book called Core Performance Essentials. 

I picked up the book at Costco a few years ago and figured it was a good value compared to a personal trainer. Now I always knew that my core body could use a little work (ha ha), but until I tried some of these, I didn’t realize just how bad it was. Push-ups? No problem. Side push ups, big problem!

It took me about a year of non-continuous effort to get to the point I could do a decent side push up. Now I do three sets on each side- it’s easy to gauge your improvement over time with these exercises because my point of reference is almost always ZERO reps capability when I start. Most of the routines I either was not doing, never heard of, or did wrong. And that’s after years of working out off and on with trainers, friends and different gyms. 

The book has 4 illustrations for all the exercises, and 4 levels of difficulty for each one. For those who like to skip the reading and get to the beef, there is a couple of pages of spreads that show all the exercises. Then as you are able to hit a certain level, there is a slight modification for the exercise to make it harder. It’s color photos with color coding for levels or stages,  and everything is all together so it’s easy to follow. 

I follow up all strengthening programs with lots of stretching, simulating specific golf movements. 

For the ladies, if you suffer from a terminally soft tummy like me,  these golf shorts are great for whatever kind of body you have. They give when you need it, and are snug when and where you don’t. By Bugatchi Women, they have something called elastane which gives it some stretchability. You don’t have to wear them for golf. They look great with everything. They look like classy shorts, and no one ever needs to know they actually stretch. 

Sorry guys, there is nothing comparable for you. However, here’s a bunch of really nice men’s golf shorts.

From the Fairway, By Christine Speedy. 

Trends in Women’s Golf Apparel will continue to evolve

With the increasing realization of how much money women spend on golf related items, we’re also seeing a huge increase in variety of golf apparel. A recent issue of Golf for Women featured 8 urban outfits, with plenty of brand names I’ve never heard of. My new favorite brand-  Bugatchi Uomo- wasn’t even around 4 years ago.

 

I took a look in my closet and have no less than 13 different brands of golf shirts alone.  Half the brands I wore in the past are barely on my radar today.  Most men I know buy one or two brands almost exclusively, though they may have a larger variety they acquire through gifts, golf tournaments and such.  Why aren’t women as loyal to a specific brand as men?

 

The sad truth is that although it is improving, we haven’t seen the core elements needed to be loyal to a single brand: quality, style, fit, variety, and availability in the right size.  All that is changing. Sarah Hand McAleer, formerly of Tommy Hilfiger and Cerutti 1881, was brought in to help boost the Greg Norman women’s line in 2005. In February Greg Norman skorts were offered at our local Costco, showing the broad market reach they are achieving. Bugatchi Uomo has the widest variety of colors for ladies shirts that I’ve ever seen, and the spring collection is a mix of classic lines and fashionable ‘lifestyle’ clothing for both on and off the course.

 

And how about shirt giveaways at golf tournaments? The planners still act as if the only golfers who play are men.  Maybe 1 in 500 will have a ladies shirt option.

It’s still hit or miss at our local golf specialty stores, but the collections at Pro Shops have gotten much better and may be your best bet for local purchases.

 

Local event - April 24-27 LPGA Stanford International Pro-Am

Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, Aventura, Fla.

Christine Speedy is CEO of CEOgolfshop.com and an Executive Women’s Golf Assn. member. From the Fairway is published monthly in South Florida local print publications.