Play Golf Forever: post-round golf cool down for the over 50s

Suzanne Clark, author of new book 'Play Golf Forever', stresses the importance of a post-round golf cool down for the over 50s, maybe even in the bar!

Suzanne Clark, author of new book 'Play Golf Forever', stresses the importance of a post-round golf cool down for the over 50s, maybe even in the bar!

Long-time physiotherapist, Suzanne Clark, has written a book called Play Golf Forever: a Physiotherapist’s Guide to Golf Fitness and Health for the Over 50s, a sister title to her earlier Play Tennis Forever.

Suzanne has founded an organisation called Fitter Forever to advise over 50s sports lovers how to stay fit and healthy enough to cock a snook at Old Father Time. The books explain in layman’s terms how your body works as you play golf or tennis, and how you can help yourself by, among other things, strengthening key muscles to prevent injury. It also stresses the importance of the post-round cool down, which you can even do while others are ordering your winner's drinks at the bar!

Post-round cool down After the round (perhaps even in the bar!) is a great time for the important cool down, working on the flexibility of your muscles while they are nice and warm and, as such, receptive to being stretched. Never stretch a cold muscle as that can lead to injury.

One really important stretch that you can even do sitting down is on the hamstrings in the back of your legs, which quite often become tight with age. Stretch one leg out in front of you, and very slowly run both hands down that leg until you feel it pulling at the back of your leg. Hold it for a count of 30 seconds, then slowly come back up – ideally three times on each leg.

You can also stretch your hip muscles and quadriceps at the front. Stand up in a position where you can hold on to something. Hold one leg at the ankle, keeping the knee back if you can, and just stretch it up gently until you feel it pulling at the front, again for a count of 30 seconds. Aim to do this three times on each leg if you are able to.

We have created a short video series highlighting some of the key things Suzanne told GM's very own over 50s golfer, Jezz Ellwood, on a recent visit to the Golf Monthly offices. Check out the other videos here...

Pre-round five-minute warm-up

Exercises from the comfort of your chair

Resistance band swing exercises

Improve your balance

Important Medical Disclaimer If the reader or viewer has any existing medical conditions or requires individual advice, they should check with their GP or appropriate healthcare professional before undertaking any exercise or stretching programmes. No responsibility is assumed for any loss or damage caused, or allegedly caused, as a result of following the advice given.

Jeremy Ellwood
Contributing Editor

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf


Jeremy is currently playing...

Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft

3 wood: Ping G425 Max 15˚ (set to flat +1), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 65 S shaft

Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft

Irons 3-PW: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Putter: Ping Fetch 2021 model, 33in shaft (set flat 2)

Ball: Varies but mostly now TaylorMade Tour Response