Hit the Links for a Healthy Dose of Fun with Play Go...( PALM BEACH GARDENS Fla. July 10 /- ...),Health

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- For seasoned and inexperienced golfers alike, hitting the links provides more than just a fun way to spend an afternoon; it is an enjoyable way to improve overall health.

While simply being outside and enjoying the serene landscape of a golf course will contribute to a healthier state of well-being, playing a round of golf also burns calories and rejuvenates the mind through one of the best forms of moderate aerobic activity - walking.

If golf is your exercise of choice, schedule time each week to enjoy the game. Play Golf America (PlayGolfAmerica.com) is a resource for free and affordable activities at golf facilities nationwide for all ages and skill levels to enjoy.

Health and fitness experts advocate taking 10,000 steps per day, the equivalent of five miles. Walking a 9-hole course enables a golfer to take approximately half the recommended daily steps. Walking the course also enables golfers to burn calories. A player can burn around 2,900 calories by walking 36 holes a week, or two 18-hole rounds. A visit to the driving range can burn 200 calories per hour. According to a study conducted at the Rose Center for Health and Sports Sciences, burning 2,500 calories a week showed an improvement in overall health and a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Even riding in a golf cart for 9 holes will burn around 400 calories, help oxygenate the body, improve posture and renew your spirit.

To further reap the benefits of the game, David Donatucci, fitness director for the PGA of America, recommends including golf-specific strength and flexibility exercises with driving range and course time. "Training your body to use the right muscle groups will increase your chances of avoiding injuries, improving your swing and saving strokes." Including weight-bearing exerci
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