When it comes to sports in general and golf in particular, there are few among us who don't count Tiger Woods amongst our idols. So, once his intense workout regime was showcased prominently in the national media a couple of years ago, it was no surprise that a golf fitness frenzy took off like one of the superstar's mammoth drives.

These days, when you click around your favorite golf websites or flip through the pages of any golf publication, you're sure to find a several articles and tips on fitness and how it can improve your game. But how do you separate the expert advice from the uninformed?

Well, we've broken it down to three aspects of golf specific fitness that will bring out your inner Tiger.

Flexibility for Faster Club Head Speed

The player with the biggest biceps is not necessarily going to produce the longest drives. Distance is all about club head speed and the best way to generate it is by making a good turn, which is virtually impossible without good flexibility. Simply put, to achieve a superior range of motion, you need to focus on your flexibility.

I customize workout programs for my golfing clients, addressing problem areas and stressing the importance of warming up prior to teeing up. Cold muscles constrict and limit your mobility, and that will negatively affect your swing.

Core Strength to Power Your Drive

Core strength goes hand-in-hand with flexibility to create the ideal swing. Where you need flexibility to create a full range of motion, you require core strength to maintain good posture and stability throughout the swing.

But core strength delivers more than just a mighty drive. It goes a long way to protecting players against all-too-common lower back injuries that can keep golfers off the course.

Endurance to the Finish Line

Anyone who's walked 18 holes knows that a day of golf is not exactly a stroll in the park. Even if you rent a cart, several hours of your favorite pastime can leave you feeling drained, tired and out of breath.

Just ask Joanna Coe. The Mays Landing native and employee of Blue Heron Pines Golf Club is just a junior at Rollins College but has already emerged as one of the top female amateur golfers in the United States with her record-breaking NCAA Division II Championship victory in 2008.

Coe said, "Earlier this summer, I advanced to the semifinals of the US Women's Amateur Public Links.  After a grueling week of intense and long matches, I eventually lost in the semifinals. In evaluating my performance, I realized that I lost some steam midway through the match; both mentally and physically."

Coe began training with me at Tilton Fitness this past summer to improve her endurance and is looking forward to her fall tournament schedule. She added, "I feel stronger and more confident that my physical training will make me a better player."

To enhance your performance on the golf course, remember to warm up, focus on flexibility, develop your core strength and work on endurance. As your fitness level goes up, don't be surprised to see your scores come down.

By Paul Brones

Paul Brones is the fitness director at Tilton Fitness in Mays Landing.  He holds a degree is Exercise Science from Bloomsburg University and works closely with golf professionals to design individual fitness programs for several area golfers. If you’re interested in learning more about golf specific fitness, Paul can be reached at 609-625-9355.