What Can I Eat After the Front Nine?
So many golfers complain about running out of mental and physical energy toward the end of their rounds. They’re having a good round and then finish the last three holes with bogey, double bogey, and bogey! Nothing can be more frustrating! As golfers, we tend to blame this type of poor, end-of round performance on ‘mental’ game problems instead of looking more closely at how we’re ‘fueling’ ourselves and the impact nutrition has on our physical and mental energy when we play.
It is important to have enough energy to begin and finish a round strong for more consistency and lower scoring. Having the correct dietary information will promote eating the right foods before, during and after your round, and will play a vital role in your overall performance.
As important as the ‘pre-game’ meal is for golfers, eating properly with a well-balanced diet that meets all of your nutritional needs during the full week is even more important. Minimizing your fat and sugar consumption while planning for sufficient servings of protein and carbohydrates in your daily meals is just as important as what you eat before your round. Nevertheless, strong consideration should be placed on your ‘pre-round’ meal and keeping your body fueled during your round if you want your 18th tee shot to be as powerful as your 1st.
So, take note of the following nutrition basics to enjoy better energy and more consistent performance throughout your full round of golf:
– Eat a nutrition bar, piece of fruit (apple, banana, raisins) or some nuts (walnuts, almonds) at the turn or any time you feel hungry during the front nine.
– Avoid greasy foods that are high in fats like hamburgers, hot dogs, and potato chips. Instead, most golf courses offer ham or turkey sandwiches as a better option.
– Keep yourself properly hydrated by drinking water regularly before, during and after your round will help keep you full of energy and mentally focused. Water is usually the best answer but, if you want a flavored beverage, once in a while try a sports drink that is low in sugar.
– It is critical to refrain from drinking sodas and alcohol when you practice and play. Both will cause dehydration, which will decrease your endurance on hotter, more humid days. This can also lead to life-threatening problems such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke!
