How many steps do Tour players take per day?

[golfdu]

Hey guys, I was wondering how many steps do PGA Tour players take per day during a tournament week? And if it's so many, then how are there still some unhealthy looking golfers?

[dennyjones]

A lot of the courses the pros play are over 7000 yards.   I'd be surprised if every step was 3' so I'd guestimate that they would get their 10k in each day they play 18.   

I don't believe all of them do cardio and/or strength training.   Some eat healthy but just like the general populous,  there is a variety of lifestyles.    A lot of people joke that John Daly's exercise is lifting a pint....

[ZappyAd]

Just saw this today from ping - they are tracking steps for some of their players this week.

https://twitter.com/PingTour/status/857352421852491776

[nevets88]

1 hour ago, golfdu said:

Hey guys, I was wondering how many steps do PGA Tour players take per day during a tournament week? And if it's so many, then how are there still some unhealthy looking golfers?

You can exercise all you want, but if you go nuts at the buffet table, none of that is gonna matter. Gotta moderate the calories in. Have to guess all that traveling and variable scheduling doesn't help in maintaining a consistent diet.

I've posted the results of my smartphone's pedometer app for 18 holes somewhere in this site, think it was around 17K steps for a full round, that includes walking to/from car, paying for green fees, and a bad golfer's army golf pattern.

[Buckeyebowman]

Screw moderation! Live large! Did you see the cookout they have at the Zurich on Wednesday? OMG! They would have to roll me out of there!

I did hear that when the US Open was at Chambers Bay the players were walking a little better than 10 miles per day!

[golfdu]

So based on everyone's replies and Ping's tracking statistics of their staff players, it might be around 15,000-20,000 steps and most definitely >10,000. I have this golf fitness hypothesis that walking that many steps a day is what every serious golfer should do to improve their endurance on the course and lower their scores. 

[Papa Steve 55]

"unhealthy looking"

They don't fit your image of healthy?

[Buckeyebowman]

I remember reading an interview, years ago, with either Tom Kite or Corey Pavin, I don't remember which, but I think it was Kite. No matter, they both looked like Casper Milqtoast on TV!  They were in the golfer's hotel room, and the player changed his shirt before they left to go to the range, or lunch, or whatever. The interviewer said he was astounded at the physique! Not a trace of fat with incredible muscle definition!

This led him to ask the golfer about fitness. He mentioned that he got to play in a lot of pro-ams and charity events, many featuring stars from other sports. He mentioned NFL guys in particular. That they are used to riding in a cart, and when they have to walk you can see them dragging ass pretty bad in the latter part of a round. They just aren't used to being on their feet that long! One quote I do remember. "To be a pro golfer, you have to be a really good walker!"

I used to walk 100% of the time, but I can't do that any more. My knees are shot! Thank God my hips are still good, or at least I think they are. My right one has started giving me Hell after 18. These days I'll take a cart with my buddy, but walk a hole here and there just to heat up the legs.

I still enjoy walking, I just can't do it as much as I used to.

 

[JonMA1]

My iPhone has an app that measures and records walking & running distances. Most days are around 2 or 3 miles but throughout are days when it spikes to over 10,000 steps. Those are days when I've played golf. I don't know how accurate the app is. There are also a few days when it says I've taken 20,000 steps. 

My courses max out about 6800 yards. Even though I don't play those tees, I still have to walk those distances, plus the distance between greens and tee boxes, and unfortunately zig-zagging from one side of the fairway to the other.

As far as unhealthy looking, I don't believe someone's physique is always indicative of how heart-healthy they are. Sure... generally speaking, heavier folks are usually not as healthy. But having low body fat doesn't mean you can compete in a triathlon. And I've seen guys who look overweight run up and down a basketball court with the same effort and stamina as the guys who look to be in shape.

[iSank]

As a scorecard holder for the LPGA Lotte I walked around 20,000 steps and when I did two rounds in one day my app showed 39,000 steps. 

When I walk 9 holes after work Strava says it's 5k as in 3.2 miles.

 

its fun out there!

[Shorty]

On 29/04/2017 at 7:24 AM, golfdu said:

 And if it's so many, then how are there still some unhealthy looking golfers?

Because walking at a slow pace for 9km a day is not enough to counter the effects of an unhealthy diet.

[Architex]

The reason there are "unhealthy" looking guys on tour is most likely poor eating. It is simple math. Even though you burn 5k calories a day if you take in 7k then you are going to put on the pounds. I also think the transient aspect of tour golf makes it harder to eat healthy when you are eating out for every meal.

[nevets88]

Here's a pedometer reading from a round of golf awhile back:

Then add in walking around the rest of the day: