Playing Golf in the Presence of Parkinson’s and Some Motivational Quotes for Exercise

“But in the end it’s still a game of golf, and if at the end of the day you can’t shake hands with your opponents and still be friends, then you’ve missed the point.” Payne Stewart

“You swing your best when you have the fewest things to think about.” Bobby Jones

Introduction: It is winter in North Carolina and mostly the weather is cold, cloudy, much more rain then normal, and just not conducive to playing golf. Nevertheless, last Saturday, I went to the driving range, and during a snow flurry, hit 100 golf balls. Then on Sunday, joined 2 of the 3 regular guys for a great-fun round of 18 holes (defying our standard rule of not playing when it is colder than 50 degrees outside). Therefore, I thought it time to write some random thoughts about golf, some thoughts linking golf practice/playing with Parkinson’s and some motivational quotes to help you exercise.

“It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.” Hank Aaron

Playing Golf One Day by Yogi Berra: The one-and-only baseball legend Yogi Berra telling a golf story (this made me smile).

Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus: My two favorite golfers were Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. What I found so amazing was their fierce competitive times, which turned into an incredibly loyal and deep friendship. Below are a few of my favorite quotes from them.

“The older I get, the better I used to be.” Lee Trevino

Comments About Golf, and Golf with PD: “Golf can provide cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, flexibility, balance and coordination, and there is a cognitive component. As a form of exercise, golf is truly a microcosm of how-to-live-your-life.” Click here to read entire blog post

Comments from Golf and Parkinson’s- A Game for Life (click here to read blog post): Off-and-on for the past 50 years, I’ve played/loved the game of golf. If you’ve read the quotes here, you realize that golf is both an honorable game and incredibly hard to master (I’m still learning how to play)…You use every muscle/joint/ligament/tendon in your body to hit the golf ball. You can substantially boost the level of exercise if you are physically able to push a golf cart or carry your golf bag and walk. You frequently play golf with others; however, you mostly are competing against your most recent good/bad-scoring round of golf.

Many people think of golf as a passive sport that doesn’t offer much in terms of physical fitness. Golf actually provides cardiovascular exercise, strength training, flexibility, balance and coordination. As a form of exercise, here are some benefits of playing golf for managing Parkinson’s: (a) tremendous benefit for balance; (b) positive effect for range of motion; (c) increase in lateral flexibility; (d) walking 18 holes of golf is ~5 miles; (e) provides strength training; (f) great way to exercise your brain (concentration); and (g) golf is relaxing and fun.

Parkinson’s is insidious and primarily presents as a movement disorder; it advances with indifferent ‘baby-steps’ that slowly evolves over many years. Until a cure for Parkinson’s is reported, exercise is an essential life-advancing-salve to help shield you from your disorder. There are so many positive benefits to exercise; for someone with Parkinson’s, exercise is even more life-preserving and health-affirming.

Find an exercise that works for you, and embrace its health benefits. Use exercise to provide a neuroprotective net over your Parkinson’s. Stay active. Remain dedicated. Be strong. Strive for health and happiness. Keep going. Don’t ever lose hope.

“A lot of guys who have have never choked, have never been in the position to do so.” Tom Watson

Motivational Quotes to Help You Exercise:
“Because you are alive, everything is possible.” Thich Nhat Hanh

“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” Muhammad Ali

“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.” Jerry Rice

“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” Unknown

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.” Aristotle

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” Tommy Lasorda

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” Steve Prefontaine

“If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” Thomas Jefferson

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” Mahatma Gandhi

“Making excuses burns zero calories per hour.” Unknown

“Create healthy habits, not restrictions.” Unknown

“It’s going to be a journey. It’s not a sprint to get in shape.” Kerri Walsh Jennings

“No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.” Tony Robbins

“Strive for progress, not perfection.” Unknown

“All great achievements require time.” Maya Angelou

“We cannot start over. But we can begin now and make a new ending.” Zig Ziglar

“Nothing will work unless you do.” Maya Angelou

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” Unknown

“Don’t let the scale define you. Be active, be healthy, be happy.” Unknown

“Work out. Eat well. Be patient. Your body will reward you.” Unknown

“To enjoy the glow of good health, you must exercise.” Gene Tunney

“If you ever lack the motivation to train then think what happens to your mind & body when you don’t.” Shifu Yan Lei

“Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind.” Jackie Joyner-Kersee

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” Lou Holtz

“Remember. Every day, some ordinary person does something extraordinary. Today, it’s your turn.” Lou Holtz

“The greatest power God gave us is the power to choose. We have the opportunity to choose whether we’re going to act or procrastinate, believe or doubt, pray or curse, help or heal. We also choose whether we’re going to be happy or whether we’re going to be sad.” Lou Holtz

“There are certain things in this world we all have in common such as time. Everybody has sixty seconds to a minute, sixty minutes to an hour, twenty-four hours to a day. The difference is what we do with that time and how we use it.” Lou Holtz

“You were not born a winner, and you were not born a loser. You are what you make yourself be.” Lou Holtz

“After hitting 150 golf balls at Birkdale golf course driving range yesterday, this is what I can conclude about the game of golf: The difference between a terrific golf shot and a terrible golf shot can be a subtle change in swing mechanics. Furthermore, ball-club-body position and many other minuscule differences in how the golf club contacts the golf ball determines both its flight and fate. Although occasionally it can be annoying, golf is truly an amazing and wonderful sport.” Frank C. Church

Cover Photo Credit: https://www.pebblebeach.com/golf/pebble-beach-golf-links/