Golf is excellent exercise. It helps you strengthen and tone your arms and provides a good cardiovascular workout. But if can also induce injury if youre not careful.

Golfers enjoy spending money on their game. Theyll think nothing of paying high greens fees at a top course or spending a couple of thousand dollars on a new set of superior clubs. But one thing thats often overlooked is the importance of fitness to the game. Yet lack of basic fitness leads many golfers to report strained arm muscles, sore backs, sore shoulders and elbows.

Before setting out for your golf game, its important to warm up. That doesnt mean swing your driver around for 5 to 10 minutes. It means approaching a game of golf in the same way you would a jog or walk. Start with some simple stretches to get the muscles limber, and then add some jumping jacks or a quick walk. If youre inside, spend 5 minutes on the treadmill, and swing your arms while you do it.

In between games, there are many things you can do to strengthen your muscles and ultimately reduce injury. Exerts recommend working out with weights 2 to 3 times a week. This will, of course, strengthen your muscles, but will also reduce the risk of injury. If the muscles are tight and toned, youll be less likely to suffer shoulder injury or elbow soreness.

Many golfers report sore backs after a day on the greens. You can reduce back pain by having a strong core. This term is a new one in fitness, but it basically means strengthening your back and abdominal muscles. This core building, fitness experts believe, helps people conduct their daily business with a minimum of discomfort (ie., no sore back after a day of sitting or riding in a car). Building this core also helps the golfer because a day at the greens includes twisting, which uses both back and ab muscles. If untrained, they both can be sore at the end of a day of golf.