Golf & Calories Burned

clg1241
clg1241 Posts: 41 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I golf a few times a week. When I golf early in the morning as a single I play the course in about 3 hours. When I play later in the day it takes 4+ hours to play. I do not understand why I burn more calories playing at the slower pace.
In my mind the calories burned should be the same. I walk the same distance and shoot around the same score either way. I think there should be a difference in the cardio value since I walk faster and don't wait for other golfers to make their shots.
I don't know enough to determine whether I should be adjusting the amount of calories burned or not. I understand MFP is a guide not specific to myself. I would still like to understand this better.

Replies

  • thereshegoesagain
    thereshegoesagain Posts: 1,056 Member
    edited July 2016
    Do you throw more clubs in the afternoon? That would burn more calories. lol
  • PinkyPan1
    PinkyPan1 Posts: 3,018 Member
    I don't get it either. For instance, yesterday I golfed 18 holes by myself in the am. I pull my clubs and completed the course in 2 hours with a calorie burn of 526. In the evening my husband and brother in law golfed with me the exact same course in 3:13 mins. I was allotted a calories burn of 854. It makes no sense to me. I kick butt in the morning power walking and golfing. I use Runtastic and log my golf manually to get the estimated calorie burn. I have no clue on adjusting the calories. I rarely eat back my exercise calories but on golf days I do consume more food.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    How are you measuring calories burnt?
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    When I golf, I just use the step counter on my phone and take "credit" for the calorie burn for the steps. I could never figure out why/how I burned more calories playing the same course only slower. I walk the course, pull/push my clubs with a hand cart and just count it as steps. I know I walked those steps.
  • spring913
    spring913 Posts: 158 Member
    pondee629 wrote: »
    When I golf, I just use the step counter on my phone and take "credit" for the calorie burn for the steps. I could never figure out why/how I burned more calories playing the same course only slower. I walk the course, pull/push my clubs with a hand cart and just count it as steps. I know I walked those steps.

    I think that's the best way to do it right there. The amount of calories you burn swinging a club is negligible. The exercise is the walking. I can whip around a course in a group with a power cart and not feel one bit tired. If I walk it? Different story.

    As for MFP I think the reason is because the calorie burn algorithm is so simple and is based on the time doing the activity. It doesn't understand that shorter time = higher intensity. That's why for most cardio exercises you also have to input your intensity.
  • clg1241
    clg1241 Posts: 41 Member
    I think my Microsoft Band calorie count is a little high, MFP is based on averages, so I will just work out an average between the two. This whole thing is just a guide anyway.
    Thanks for the input.
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