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‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. It’s an old adage, but it arguably holds more truth today than ever before.
No matter what sport you play, there’s no longer any excuse for poor preparation. The support, information and gear available to athletes has never been more advanced — and that certainly applies to golf.
Here are seven ways you can ensure you get the most from your game, even before you set foot on the 1st tee.
The days of a banana being the extent of a golfer’s nutrition strategy are gone (although it is a handy in-round snack, as are protein-packed cereal bars or trail mix). If you have a morning round, go for cereal with yoghurt and fruit for plenty of fibre as well as sustainable, slow-release energy.
If you’re playing after lunch, avoid hard-to-digest heavy foods such as burgers and chips which will make you feel tired and go for a chicken salad, a small pasta dish with some vegetables or a wrap. Oh, and caffeine is a useful stimulant for physical activity.
Being custom-fitted for your equipment – rather than buying off-the-shelf kit – is a very good idea. But smaller things can have a big impact too. Take five minutes to check you’ve got all the things you need in your bag; if you don’t, it adds unnecessary stress to your round. Do you have enough balls for the round (and if you want to really help yourself, make them all the same brand so the feeling off the putter face especially is the same)?
Even if it is a course you know well and you’ve playing well, going out with fewer than half a dozen balls just adds unnecessary pressure. Have you got enough tees? Any fewer than 10 is asking for trouble. Is your glove in its usual place? Is your lucky marker there? At a new course, is it worth buying a Strokesaver to give you a guide to distances to hazards and greens on every hole? And, have you got the right kit if the weather turns…
Castore’s golf collection means there is absolutely no excuse to tee it up wearing inappropriate apparel or being unprepared for all eventualities – especially with our brand-new LVS Venting Technology.
It provides advanced temperature regulation when training in layers, so you can stay cool on the course whether it is a beautiful sunny day or you need some chill, wind and rain protection too.
LVS technology’s engineered knit construction delivers exceptional breathability while its ProTek water-resistant technology simultaneously offers protection against light rain. The LVS range offers the ultimate upper body layering strategy.
See next section for detail on each garment.
Why wouldn’t you warm up your muscles before a physical activity? Even the most basic stretch – and don’t forget your lower body and hamstrings in particular – gets your body ready to hit a good first tee shot… and we all know how that can set the tone for the day. Warming up increases blood flow to the muscles, lubricates the joints and releases stress-relieving endorphins.
Be realistic about how long it will actually take to get to the course – and how much time you need between arriving and reaching for your first club. You want time to get your shoes on, pop in to clubhouse for the bathroom and/or the pro shop, have that stretch, and an unexpected chat with someone you bump into. Rushing is seriously bad preparation.
You need to warm up the most important organ of all; the brain. Part of this can come from a tranquil journey to the course, with the right sort of music on. Part of it comes from the knowledge all your other prep has been good, giving you the best chance to play well. And part is setting the right sort of targets and expectations for your day. Every golfer at every level hits indifferent shots – it’s how you react to them. Prepare your mind for that.
And when you’re on the course…
Staying hydrated is naturally important, and with many clubs having water fountains dotted about, not difficult. A protein shake can also keep you feeling full as well as hydrated and release some energy.
