GREENSBORO, N.C. — With the Wyndham Championship in a couple of weeks, you might have golf on the brain and be making plans to play a few holes yourself.
Before you head out and start swinging that club, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Here to talk all about it is Dr. Mark Cairns with Cone Health OrthoCare.
Quick Links:
Is stretching before you tee off necessary?
"I do think you get some benefit from stretching out before you hit the links. It can help prevent some injuries, loosening up the muscles, allowing you to swing a little more freely and perhaps just as important is it can help your game overall. If you rush to the course and get on the first tee deck you have a tendency to be three off the tee and start your day off the wrong way," said Cairns.
What targeted muscle groups should golfers focus on strengthening?
"The targeted muscle groups you might wanna consider is the core, the abdominals in the low back, a lot of power is generated from there. General strength in the legs will also help you as you move on through the different holes. And then having some flexibility and strength in the arms and the shoulders, it'll help with the endurance."
What are some do's/don'ts that people may not have thought about when it comes to being on the golf course
"You want to enjoy yourself. You don't have to be a great golfer to enjoy it, but you should take care when you're going on the golf course. Make sure you're prepared, make sure you get there in plenty of time, and make sure you stay within yourself knowing what type of golfer you are."
"Be careful, respect the course, don't try and do too much. Don't start out too quickly. Making some big swings right off the bat can certainly lead to injuries before you really get onto the course and enjoy yourself."
We've talked about how to prevent injuries, but what are the health benefits of playing golf?
"Whether you're walking or riding, I think there's some cardiovascular benefits. The golf course is not flat, so if you're walking, you're gonna be up and down hills, you need to be careful, but there's also a great deal of benefit to, to walking up and down the hills. There are some benefits being in the sun and Vitamin D.
Cairns answers these questions and more in the above interviews.
MORE WAYS TO GET WFMY NEWS 2
Download the WFMY News 2 APP from your Apple or Google Play store.
ADD THE WFMY+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WFMY.
Amazon Fire TV: Search for WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app directly to your Fire TV through your Amazon account.