The effect of the game of golf on cardiopulmonary fitness of middle-aged men

Includes bibliographical references (pages 43-46)This study was designed to investigate the effect of\ud golf on cardiopulmonary fitness of middle-aged men. A\ud total of six healthy middle-aged men were tested using\ud two methods for determination of the value of golf to\ud cardiopulmonary fitness.\ud The first method used Karvonen's criterion of 60% of\ud one's working heart rate range plus resting heart rate for\ud 30 continuous minutes. Pulse rates were taken at specific\ud times to determine amount of time spent working at or above\ud criterion level for exercise heart rate.\ud The second method involved collecting and analyzing\ud expiratory gases over a golf course of 18 holes. From\ud samples collected, golf's energy cost was determined and compared to the energy cost of generally accepted cardiopulmonary\ud fitness activities. Prior to collection of data, subjects were brought to\ud the laboratory for determination of body composition, submaximum\ud treadmill test, and to inform them of the course\ud protocol.\ud From analyses of heart rate and energy cost data, it\ud was concluded that golf could be used by middle-aged men\ud as an activity to achieve cardiopulmonary fitness providing\ud they carried their own clubs while walking on a course of\ud extremely varied terrain. However, the energy cost determinations\ud indicated that within the continuum of activities\ud which promote cardiopulmonary fitness, golf was at the lower\ud end