Discussion: alternating seems like a go...

alternating seems like a good system. are you logging golf too? A friend (runner, physical therapist, etc.) told me she caddies for her husband and its quite a workout. I told her about your routine and she was very impressed.

Ha ha. Yes, for most regular golfers, just carrying clubs is a big deal. Most use a golf cart, or at least a push-cart for their bag of clubs. So they're all impressed when I admit that I not only carry my bag over my shoulder, but walk a couple of miles to/from the bus.

But you and I and most a/p'ers have a bit more rigorous idea of what constitutes real exercise. And just strolling around a manicured lawn for a few hours doesn't cut it.

Yep doesn't cut it!

well, if i were lugging a bunch of heavy clubs around for miles I sure as heck would log it. sort of a mix between weight training and general conditioning.

I agree....now that I'm over 75. But I didn't used to log golf; this year I am. But lifting a bag of clubs 100+ times in an afternoon definitely has a weight-training component.

I'm not a golfer, but for years I volunteered as a standard bearer for the LPGA tournament which came to town every year (until a couple of years ago). I didn't have to carry clubs (although I carried the standard, much easier than carrying clubs I'm sure), and I didn't have to swing clubs, but at the end of each round, I was pretty beat -- walking 6 miles or so, even at a slow clip, often in warm weather, and being on my feet for 5+ hours.

Once there was a rainout and the golfers had to play 36 holes the next day. As I was finishing my 18 holes (to have another volunteer take over for the next 18 holes), I felt bad for the golfers having to go another round, between the physical exertion of walking another 6 miles and being on their feet for another 5 hours or so, and the swinging of the clubs, plus the mental exertion of maintaining their focus for another round. It made me realize how physical of a sport golfing actually is, even if it doesn't have the intensity of most other sports.

Pretty cool that you were the center of attention at an LPGA tournament. Did you ever screw up the score on the standard as you walked along?

Well if you're not in shape for golf, as I am not right now, walking 18 holes can be a real exhaustive day. But later in the season, after 40-50 days of walking 18, I can easily walk 36 holes, carrying my bag, and still go out for dinner afterward. As with anything when you're old, it's just a matter of training.

Yes, that was a great volunteer job, being right at the center of the action. Probably did that 8 years or so straight, until sadly the LPGA pulled out of their annual Rochester stop. We standard bearers would pay close attention to how each golfer was doing on each hole, so we were pretty on top of things, plus we weren't officially supposed to change the score under the walk-along scorekeeper told us. In 99% of the cases, we really didn't need to be told, we knew. In a small number of cases, like if penalty strokes came into play or someone was many strokes over par on a hole, we'd make sure to confirm with the scorekeeper that we had it right.

Well I hope you were still single in those days. And were able to 'enjoy' all the female attention you earned.

With that experience, would you ever volunteer for PGA duty, even if you had to travel and pay your own expenses? My golf buddy and I went to one day of the Ryder Cup when it was played at Medinah. Couldn't believe what a spectacle it was; TV just doesn't give you any idea. To coin a phrase, those guys are GOOD!

But you still have the feeling of personal contact with the players. At one point Phil hit an errant shot into the woods near me. And I walked over to the ball and waited. Sure enough, Phil Mickelson appeared out of nowhere. And for a moment or two, it was just me and Phil in the woods together...until the crowd descended on us. A path through the crowd was cleared, and he predictably hit a spectacular shot through the trees to the green.