Golf is a popular sport globally, enjoyed by millions of people of various ages. The game is played on diverse courses, varying in distance, terrains, and climates, with a typical round lasting 4 to 6 hours. Recent research indicates that golf offers a moderate intensity workout, approximately 4.8 Metabolic Equivalents (METs), contributing to physical and mental health benefits. Maintaining proper nutrition and hydration is essential for optimal performance in golf, as it can impact both physical and cognitive functions.
Professional Golfers and Tournament Demands
Professional golfers face rigorous physical and lifestyle demands due to extensive touring schedules across multiple countries and continents, highlighting the potential benefits of tailored nutrition support for their overall health and on-course performance. The 2024 DP World Tour Season offers golfers the opportunity to participate in 45 events spanning 24 countries on 5 continents, with a similar structure observed in the Ladies European Tour comprising 30 events across 18 countries on 5 continents. Tournaments typically span four days, involving 18 holes daily, with a cut after the second round. The demanding nature of the sport underscores the importance of maintaining optimal nutrition and hydration strategies to support players during these competitions.
Nutrition Impact on Golfers Worldwide
Moreover, the impact of nutrition extends beyond professional golfers to encompass over 66 million amateur golfers worldwide who seek to enhance their health and performance through improved dietary and hydration practices both on and off the golf course. Recognising the significant physical and mental exertion required in golf, addressing nutritional needs becomes crucial for enhancing endurance, concentration, and overall well-being among players at all levels. By focusing on targeted nutrition strategies, both professional and amateur golfers can potentially optimise their physical and cognitive abilities, thereby positively influencing their athletic performance and overall health. Hence, promoting tailored nutrition support tailored to the specific demands of the sport emerges as a key area for enhancing the well-being and performance of golfers worldwide.
Course Curriculum
Nutrition Golf
Conclusion
Meet Your Instructor
Prof Graeme Close
Professor of Human Physiology at Liverpool John Moores University where he combines his academic research with nutrition and physiology consultancy to some of the worlds leading sporting organisations. Graeme is currently working with The R&A, The DP World Tour Golf and European Ryder Cup Team. Outwith golf he consults to the British and Irish Lions and England Rugby, and several Premier League Football clubs and players. Graeme is currently the Deputy Chair of the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr) and is a fellow of both The European College of Sport Science and The British Association Of Sport and Exercise Sciences. Graeme regularly appears on television (BBC Trust me I’m a Dr, ITV Truth about food) and radio (BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Merseyside) discussing nutrition for health and sports performance. He has published over 160 original papers and review articles and regularly delivers key note conference presentations a across the world.
Meet Your Instructor
Dr David Dunne
David is a seasoned Performance Nutritionist with over a decade of applied experience in elite sport. His experience in golf includes multiple Ryder Cups, Open Championships and other major event delivery, while his brother Paul is a winner at DP World Tour level. Academically, David holds a PhD in Behaviour Change, Design Thinking, and Technology Innovation in Sports Nutrition from Liverpool John Moores University. His studies followed his passion, translating evidenced based research into practical solutions that solve problems at scale. He has accelerated the translation of his research to practice by co-founding Hexis, a personalised nutrition platform for human performance. He has looked after prominent athletes in the NBA, Premier League football, World Tour Cycling, and Professional Boxing
Meet Your Instructor
Amy O’Donnell
Amy is a Performance Nutritionist for the Ladies European Tour, Challenge Tour, England Golf and consultant to The R&A’s championships (AIG Women’s Open, Curtis Cup) and development teams, and the European Solheim Cup Team. She supports national federations including Golf Ireland and England Golf. She gained a 2:1 BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences and Distinction in MSc Sport Nutrition, both from Liverpool John Moores University. Amy is currently studying for a professional doctorate regarding Golf and Nutrition. Amy is a keen golfer and plays off a handicap of 2.6.
SENr Graduate Registrant
UKAD Level 1 Anti- Doping advisor
ISAK Level 1 Qualified
