How Many Calories Burned Golfing 18 Holes | Walking vs Jogging

Walking 18 Holes of Golf: A Great Calorie Burning Workout

Golf is often viewed as a leisurely sport, but walking the course instead of taking a golf cart can provide an excellent calorie-burning workout. So just how many calories can you expect to burn walking 18 holes of golf?

Calculating Calories Burned from Walking 18 Holes

The number of calories burned walking 18 holes of golf depends on a few key factors:

• Your body weight
• Walking pace
• Hilliness of the course
• Amount of swinging/ swinging a golf club

Heavier individuals burn more calories for the same activity than lighter people. Additionally, walking at a brisk pace ups the intensity and calorie burn. Hilly courses require more energy expenditure climbing slopes. Swinging a golf club and hitting balls also burns extra calories.

Calorie Burn Estimate for 18 Holes

For an average person weighing 150-180 lbs and walking at a moderate pace, expect to burn around 1,000 calories walking 18 holes of golf.

Here's a breakdown:

• Walking 5-6 miles: Approximately 600 calories
• Carrying golf bag: Up to 200 calories
• Swinging golf club: Around 200 calories
• Total: About 1,000 calories

Factors That Increase Calorie Burn

Several variables can increase the number of calories burned playing 18 holes of golf:

1. Walking Instead of Using a Cart

Riding in a golf cart leads to very minimal calorie expenditure. Walking the course instead yields a cardio and calorie-burning benefit.

2. Brisk Pace

Strolling slowly uses less energy than maintaining a brisk, energetic walking pace over 18 holes.

3. Hilly Terrain

Walking up and down slopes burns significantly more calories than 18 holes on a flat course.

4. Carrying Your Golf Bag

Using a pull cart requires less effort than carrying your bag with clubs on your back.

Tips for Maximizing Calorie Burn on the Golf Course

Use these strategies for ramping up the number of calories burned playing golf:

1. Walk instead of riding in a cart
2. Maintain a brisk pace of walking between shots
3. Carry your own clubs or push/pull cart
4. Take the stairs instead of cart path if available
5. Limit sitting between shots/waiting for other players
6. Swing clubs vigorously to engage your upper body

The Benefits of Walking 18 Holes

Now that you know how many calories are burned walking 18 holes, what are some of the other benefits of walking an entire golf course?

1. Cardiovascular Exercise

Walking at a moderate pace for 5-6 miles leads to a variety of cardio and circulatory perks:

• Strengthened heart muscle
• Lowered blood pressure
• Improved cholesterol levels
• Increased stamina

2. Stress Relief

Enjoying fresh air and nature while walking provides both exercise and stress relief simultaneously.

3. Mental Focus

The concentration and focus required in golf serves as engaging mental stimulation.

4. Vitamin D from Sunshine

Spending hours walking outdoors allows your body to get some free Vitamin D from the sun!

5. Strength and Balance

Navigating uneven terrain, swinging clubs, and carrying gear engages muscles to improve overall balance and strength.

Is Walking or Jogging 18 Holes Realistic?

While walking 18 holes at a moderate pace is quite achievable for most moderately fit individuals, maintaining a jogging pace would burn even more calories. However, jogging an entire course is likely unrealistic for the average player.

Walking Recommendations

Brisk walking with a properly-packed weight is recommended for maximizing calorie burn over 18 holes without overexertion.

Jogging Considerations

Jogging even just a few holes creates high injury risk and golf etiquette issues from pace of play delays.

Realistically, focus on keeping a vigorous walk rather than an continual jog if aiming for higher calorie expenditure golfing 18 holes.

Golf Compared to Other Calorie Burning Exercises

How does calories burned golfing 18 holes compare to other workouts? Is golf decent exercise?

While golf entails lower intensity movement than hardcore gym sessions, expending 1,000 calories is still comparable calorie burn to other moderate exercise:

Golf vs Running

Walking 18 holes burns similar calories to a 6-7 mile run.

Golf vs Swimming

Swimming vigorously for 60-90 minutes for around a mile burns roughly the same number of calories as walking 18 holes of golf.

Golf vs Cycling

The calories expended walking a golf course equates to cycling 15-20 leisurely miles.

Calories Burned from Golf Can Lead to Weight Loss

Regularly playing golf walking 18 holes brings about several weight loss benefits including:

Burns Calories through Cardio Activity

Brisk walking 5-6 miles for 4+ hours qualifies as cardio exercise that burns calories.

Builds Muscle

Swinging clubs tones upper body muscle which increases resting metabolism.

Motivation to Continue Exercising

The fun, social nature encourages regular activity without feeling like drudgery.

So in summary, calories burned playing 18 holes of golf amounts to a nice workout, especially when walking at a brisk pace. Golf can provide both physical activity benefits and stress reduction simultaneously. While not as intense as some hardcore gym sessions, regularly playing golf walking the full course burns a solid calorie expenditure comparable to other moderate workouts. Plus, it's a lot more fun than pounding the treadmill or swimming endless laps!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.