Or, more to the point, at least for those of us who can no longer be accurately described as young, how do you recover from a round?

And I don't mean mentally recover!

When I've played a round of golf, no matter how well or how badly, I ache like billy-o. My legs in particular stiffen up like crazy and I become useless. Even this morning after playing a sub-3 hour round of golf the evening before I still ached and my legs, ankles and even heels were stiff.

Since a round of golf can easily be four hours, to which we can add on an hour's travel, and that's without factoring in some practice time, I'm gone for typically around five hours. If I'm subsequently useless for the rest of the day I don't mind that too much but if that extends in to even part of the next day I start to feel a little selfish so I'd really like to find a way to recover a little quicker.

Is this just my experience or does anyone else get the same?

I think you need to walk more often, not just on the golf course. Take the wife and kids and hike around town every evening. Once your body gets used to the effort, you should recover more quickly.

No one would describe me as a health nut or a fit athlete. I have, however, spent a large part of my lifetime walking golf courses, walking to the store, walking through parks, etc... As a 60+ year old I have my pains and aches but you get used to them.

As to post round routine, I collect $3 in bets from my golf buddy, the Little Irish Bastard, then I put all my tees, balls, glove, etc... into the bag, throw it in the boot, drive 5-25 minutes home and drink a couple beers if it is after 5pm (anywhere in the world! )

Lately my post-round ritual has been burrying my head in my hands and trying to figure out how I managed to shoot as poorly as I did.

JPJ I hear what you are saying. I feel a bit worn down after walking and carrying for 18, especially in the legs. One thing I have noticed that makes an appreciable difference is food--snacking, re-fueling whatever you want to call it. Not that I like eating stuff on the course, it's actually kind of a chore if you are walking and schlepping. But I find I have more energy immediately after and less fatigue the next day. Try it maybe. Not talking about a light snack or a nibble here and there, I mean really make a point of taking in some calories beyond just satisfying the usual hunger sensations, and preferably a good mix of fat protein carbs. I think drinking a lot helps too.

Wes11point5 wrote:

Lately my post-round ritual has been burrying my head in my hands and trying to figure out how I managed to shoot as poorly as I did.

My ritual as I'm leaving the course lately is to make up a laundry list of reasons why I don't care, why I don't need to be good at this.

I would also recommend eating some protein after the round, as quickly as possible (less than an hour after) to help repair the muscles. It does not have to be a whole meal, eg a couple of slices of ham or turkey (100-150 cals).

Also, if you have time, soak in a bath tub with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate). Look it up: Epsom is in England after all!

There are some fine ideas there, folks. Thought there might be something along the lines of specific before-and-after stretching exercises, but still the other specific ideas sound, well, sound.

sjduffers wrote:

Also, if you have time, soak in a bath tub with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate). Look it up: Epsom is in England after all!

I know the place well. My first girlfriend hailed from near there (Ah, Angela, you strange girl, I wonder where and how you are now!).

I do sometimes try a soak in a hot bath, albeit with a different addition rather than Epsom salts, but have yet to feel much benefit afterwards.

My post-round ritual is pretty standard each time:

Shallow, slow breathing exercises with a full-bodied, flavorful cigar.

Supplement this with alternating arm curls using a small glass filled with cheap scotch on the rocks. You can vary this by using large pints of cheap beer on occasion.

Vary with conversations involving the phrases "should have" and "if i only" and you have a good 2 hour recoup routine.

legitimatebeef wrote:

Not talking about a light snack or a nibble here and there, I mean really make a point of taking in some calories

So how much food are you suggesting?

When I'm not rushing off to a post-work round I'll usually make a sandwich to take with me (strong Cheddar cheese and Branston Pickle, if you must know), perhaps a packet of crisps (sorry, 'chips'). I always take water...but can't promise that I'll always drink it.

birdieXris wrote:

... using a small glass filled with cheap scotch on the rocks. You can vary this by using large pints of cheap beer on occasion.

cheap beer I can abide, but not cheap scotch. come on xris, you're better than that. life's too short. do your bowtie justice and sip the good stuff.

jpjeffery wrote:

legitimatebeef wrote: Not talking about a light snack or a nibble here and there, I mean really make a point of taking in some calories So how much food are you suggesting? When I'm not rushing off to a post-work round I'll usually make a sandwich to take with me (strong Cheddar cheese and Branston Pickle, if you must know), perhaps a packet of crisps (sorry, 'chips'). I always take water...but can't promise that I'll always drink it.

If you walk for over 4 hours and play 18 holes, you spend well over 1000 calories doing so, perhaps up to 1300-1400 depending on your own weight and bag weight (and hills!). You probably want to replenish about half that during that period, so say 500-600 calories, which can be for example a sandwich (400) and a banana (100). I use some nuts: almonds, walnuts... But, the sandwich would be more efficient if it had some protein in it: cheese has just a little bit of it, ham, turkey or similar would be better.

And please, do make sure to drink your water if you walk: otherwise you are guaranteed to be stiff and sore. I drink perhaps 3 bottles of water when I walk: true, it's usually in the 70-90F range, ie 20-30C...

Duke of Hazards wrote:

birdieXris wrote: ... using a small glass filled with cheap scotch on the rocks. You can vary this by using large pints of cheap beer on occasion. cheap beer I can abide, but not cheap scotch. come on xris, you're better than that. life's too short. do your bowtie justice and sip the good stuff.

The good stuff is at home and sipped neat... I ain't payin the price for that at the 19th hole. Haha.

If your legs/feet/ankles are aching the day after, on a regular basis, the first thing I would look into is your shoes. Since it's not just your legs, but also your heels and ankles, I think you may be lacking proper support/cushioning from your footwear.

If it's just general stiffness, usually due to a build up of lactic acid, it should actually be worse the 2nd day after your round, and then improve after that. The best way to combat this is to elevate your legs, so that they are above your heart. This improves/increases blood flow back to the heart where the bad stuff can be filtered out. Someone else mentioned a bath with epsom salts, which is also helpful. A heating source on your legs, such as a heating pad or electric blanket would help also.

mjaber wrote:

If your legs/feet/ankles are aching the day after, on a regular basis, the first thing I would look into is your shoes. Since it's not just your legs, but also your heels and ankles, I think you may be lacking proper support/cushioning from your footwear.

This is true. I walk and carry all the time. The only thing that used to bother me was my feet afterwards. That's changed since I switched to more comfortable shoes.

birdieXris wrote:

Duke of Hazards wrote: birdieXris wrote: ... using a small glass filled with cheap scotch on the rocks. You can vary this by using large pints of cheap beer on occasion. cheap beer I can abide, but not cheap scotch. come on xris, you're better than that. life's too short. do your bowtie justice and sip the good stuff. The good stuff is at home and sipped neat... I ain't payin the price for that at the 19th hole. Haha.

Balvenie Double Wood -- 12 years old.

Wes11point5 wrote:

birdieXris wrote: Duke of Hazards wrote: birdieXris wrote: ... using a small glass filled with cheap scotch on the rocks. You can vary this by using large pints of cheap beer on occasion. cheap beer I can abide, but not cheap scotch. come on xris, you're better than that. life's too short. do your bowtie justice and sip the good stuff. The good stuff is at home and sipped neat... I ain't payin the price for that at the 19th hole. Haha. Balvenie Double Wood -- 12 years old.

I'm a johnnie black man as far as scotch, but my bourbon is Elija Craig 12 year since tasting it at the WAHC a couple years ago.