Dr. Steven Lorick is a golf exercise physiologist and a longtime golf and fitness subject matter expert working with groups like TPI, the Gray Institute and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He’s a U.S. Military Veteran and has worked as COO of Leadbetter Golf Academies and as the U.S. Golf Ambassador for Technogym.
In his current role as President of the Golf Fitness Association of America, he’s working to bring golf professionals and fitness professionals together in a way that benefits golfers and golf facilities alike. Lorick (pictured, middle) recently sat down with PGA Magazine to discuss the strong connection between golf and health and wellness.
What should a PGA Professional understand about the connection between golf and fitness?
Dr. Steven Lorick: The PGA of America Golf Professional is the conduit to golf performance best practices. In most cases, they are the first introduction to the benefits of a healthy body to perform an efficient golf swing that improves performance, reduces injuries and promotes longevity in the game.
How are fitness organizations helping PGA of America Golf Professionals learn more and help their golfers with their health wellness?
Dr. Lorick: The GFAA, the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), and the Gray Institute are building bridges between golf instruction and health and wellness practitioners through evidence-based assessments and custom-made programs. The GFAA is the governing body of golf fitness that embraces all positive avenues to enhance the business of golf performance through featuring best practices in technology, golf science, education, fitness, retail and certification. We’re trying to shine a light on the connection between the ways people move and how that relates to the golf swing so people are able to move better and enjoy golf more.
What’s the business benefit to having healthier golfers at your facility?
Dr. Lorick: According to the National Library of Medicine, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the PGA of America, the benefits of playing golf are lengthy including the reduction of stress, improved cognitive function and mental health, muscle strengthening and calorie burning, and increased longevity and quality of life. Moreover, healthier golfers can invest more disposable income and time to generate more rounds played, lessons taken and increased participation.
Research from Forbes states 90 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs play golf and 80 percent of executives play golf to establish new business relationships, which means new golfers are introduced to the game of golf regularly. The National Golf Foundation showed in a recent study that the participation in golf is up for five straight years pushing the golfer base to almost 26 million, which is equal to the entire population of Australia. Over 500 million rounds of golf played in the last year and a 54 percent rise in new course development stimulates the golf economy in all measurable facets. Simply put, when you feel better you play more.
Like technology being used in lessons or clubfitting, is fitness and wellness something golfers now expect from PGA of America Professionals?
Dr. Lorick: The most exclusive golf clubs and elite fitness training centers are combining their efforts to provide the best-informed services for their members. Therefore, PGA of America Teaching Professionals are empowering their lesson plans with more understanding of the biomechanics of the golf swing and the importance of working with a team of health and wellness professionals to improve their client’s golf performance. The most common components of a team include a PGA of America Golf Professional, a sports psychologist and a fitness trainer. These professionals enable a full analysis of the golfer to improve their golf performance, reduce injuries and to play the game longer.
How can PGA of America Professionals work on their own health to feel better and serve as examples to members?
Dr. Lorick: PGA of America Golf Professionals should follow the same methodology prescribed for their clients to represent a holistic approach to golf performance – the mind, body, and golf swing. The GFAA provides a solution for best practices in the business of golf fitness and is a valuable resource for a path to health and wellness. I’d recommend that every golf professional have an assessment of their strengths and weaknesses with a fitness professional to understand their own bodies, and to see how a team concept in working together with fitness experts can help them improve the health and wellness of their golfers, too.