SPORTS SCIENCE IN MEDICINE

TABLE 2: INDIVIDUAL HEART RATE TRAINING ZONES USED TO PRESCRIBE INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SESSIONS

Training levels

Level 1: 60-70% HRmax Level 2: 71-80% HRmax Level 3: 81-90% HRmax

Heart Rate Zones (119 – 139 b.min-1). (140 – 158 b.min-1).

Description Easy training Steady training

(159 – 178 b.min-1). Moderate to hard training Level 4: 91-100% HRmax (179 – 198 b.min-1). Maximal training

As well as providing personalised feedback to the golfer, the information from the training diary was summarised and for- warded to the golfer’s coach and physio- therapist to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to the golfer’s support. As the start of the golf season approached, train- ing plans were altered to include addi- tional: (i) golf specific exercises (reducing the time allocated for cardiovascular fit- ness to a maintenance programme - a minimum of 20 mins of cardiovascular exercise twice a week) and (ii) education on hydration and refuelling. Finally, at the end of the twelve month cycle (~September) golfers were encouraged to review their golf performance and their winter training with their coach, physio- therapist and physiologist.

CONCLUSION It is important to recognise that the intermittent nature of this support provi- sion is not ideal, and will no doubt have had an affect on some golfers’ ability to adhere to the training advice provided. This is especially true for those who had not participated in any sport/exercise

outside of golf for a number of years – for many this meant not since leaving school. However, over time (and through the use of invaluable tools such as emails and text messaging) many of the golfers did embrace the concept of fit for golf, and increased their weekly cardiovascular exercise across the board.

Over the years ELGA’s science and medi- cine support has continued to develop and now includes both educational and applied support in the areas of sport psy- chology and dietetics. Whilst it is impos- sible to directly relate the fitness improvements observed (Figures 1 and 2) to enhanced performances on the golf course, ELGA’s consistent success in pro- ducing golfers selected to represent Great Britain and Ireland, and the number of former ELGA amateur golfers who have won full playing rights to play on the Ladies European Tour (such as Top 100 Order of Merit golfers: Rebecca Hudson, Felicity Johnson, Danielle Masters, Fame More, Kirsty Taylor and Sophie Walker) has ensured that this important support provi- sion continues to date. From October

2005, the EIS was given responsibility for the physiological support of ELGA’s elite squad. However, the physiological support for ELGA’s developing young golfers (ie. those in the Select and Birdie Squads, with an age range of 12-16 years) is still provided through consultancy support from MMU.

THE AUTHOR

Clare Pheasey BSc, MSc is a BASES re-accredited applied physiologist, current- ly working as a senior lecturer and pro- gramme leader for the BSc Sport and Exercise Science course at Manchester Metropolitan University (www.cheshire. mmu.ac.uk). Her previous posts include three years as the physiologist and sport science and medicine coordinator for British Disability Swimming leading up to the Athens Paralympics and five years working for Sport England and UK Sport during the establishment of the EIS. As well as continuing to provide physiological support to two British Paralympic swim- mers, Clare is also currently lead physiolo- gist for the English Ladies Golf Association (Select and Birdies squads) and English Golf Union’s (U21, U18 and U16 squads).

References 1. Draovitch, P. and Westcotte, W. (1999). Complete Conditioning for Golf. Human Kinetics 1999. ISBN 0880119861 2. Hetu F, Christie C and Faigenbaum A. Effects of conditioning on physical fitness and club head speed in recreational golfers. Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise 1998; 30(S):240 3. Thomas JR and Thomas KT. Senior women with lower and higher golf handicaps: how psy- chological and physical characteristics relate to performance. In M.R. Farrally and A.J. Cochran (Eds), Science and Golf III (p200-206). Human Kinetics 1998. ISBN 0736000208 4. Thompson C, Blackwell J, Kepesidis I and Myers-Cobb K. Effects of an eight-week condi- tioning program on fitness and club head speed in older male golfers. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2002;34(S),157 5. Tsai Y, Smoliga James M, Sell TC, Myers JB and Lephart SM. Validation of an eight week golf-specific exercise program to improve golfer physical characteristics and performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2005;37(S),187-188 6. Bird S and Davison R. Physiological Testing Guidelines (3rd edition). BASES 1997. ISBN unobtainable 7. Palmer C, Burwitz L and Smith N. Adherence to an aerobic training programme in junior elite netball players. Journal of Sports Sciences 1998;16:99–100

Figure 3: A screen capture of the weekly training diary completed by golfers, with feedback comments. 12 sportEX medicine 2008;35(Jan):10-12