I recall going into college and being asked by numerous people, ‘Do you work out for golf?’ It used to make me mad, and now I can giggle at it due to the influx of golfers and ‘golf fitness’ that has penetrated our world. To answer that question, yes, golfers work out. Now more than ever — with the desire for length and speed. For me personally, the passion for the gym goes beyond the golf course, but I have discovered how it can benefit my game. My swing coaches are HUGE advocates for the importance of the gym for golfers, which I appreciate, because they know how important it is to have a healthy, functioning, athletic body.
Growing up immersed in movement allowed me to realize the importance of taking care of the body we are given. The gym not only allows me to maintain my health, but also gives me a place to push my body. The gym piqued my interest at a young age; I credit my mother for this. When my brother and I were growing up, she used to put us in the dual stroller and go for long runs. She would give us a cup of Cheerios to eat while she ran, although I am sure the majority of them ended up in the direction of our dog, Cole, who would run with her. Since then, she has had to hang up the running shoes, but don’t be fooled; her dedication to working out did not dwindle. She continues to fuel her own athleticism at the gym we have in our house downstairs every day; in fact, I couldn’t tell you the last day she missed a workout. Watching her dedication over the years laid a great foundation for me, proving the importance of pushing the body we are given.
My journey in the gym began as dryland training for ski racing, and has now transformed into a lifelong passion that will outlast my golf career. When I wanted to seriously pursue ski racing, we were encouraged to start dryland training in the gym. The gym is very important as a ski racer, as it has become for many sports. At the time, my brother was in high school and had begun a weight training PE program. He helped to get me started in the gym, sharing everything he learned in class. Ethan and I began our training journey together and have shared countless workouts since. I enrolled in that same weight training PE program in high school, further developing my skills in the gym. With the help of my high school strength coaches and the use of Google and social media, I developed a good foundation in the gym. During my senior year of high school, my best friend Tiana and I got a gym membership to the gym across the street from our school. We trained there every day during our off period. Having a training buddy was so influential at this time, keeping me accountable and pushing me every day in the gym. So Tiana, if you are reading this, THANK YOU for that.
I went into college with experience and knowledge in the gym. I was able to build off that, working with some great strength coaches throughout my college career. Some areas that all three college strength coaches focused on were rotational movements, agility, and mobility. The major strength movements had always been in my repertoire, so expanding into different types of workouts was highly effective not only for my golf game but also for the functionality of my body movement.
I plan to share more of what I am doing in the gym. From different movements to long-term goals, to how the gym coincides with my golf game. I hope you enjoy following as much as I enjoy sharing my journey.
Thank you for reading!
Ryan Flynn
