The best equipment you have for your golf game is free, unique and irreplaceable. It is your body, and if you do not take good care of it, will break down and fail you. You would not consider misusing your expensive titanium golf clubs, so why would you not take the absolute best care of your body that you can? After all, what good are those clubs if you are laid up in bed?

Learn a good stretching routine before you ever consider playing your first round of golf. Most professionals will agree that stretching is the very minimum you should do to keep yourself healthy, whether you golf or not. Yoga or other types of stretching regimes can be adapted specifically for golf as well, so there is no excuse for being improperly trained or stretched out while out there on the course.

 Basic Stretches For Your Upper Body

1) Upper Chest Stretch (Stretches: anterior shoulder, rotator muscles)
     Standing with your feet slightly apart, grasp your hands behind your back and rise
     your arms as far as you comfortably can. Hold this position for a full count of ten
     seconds and then repeat. Aim for completion of five reps.

 2) Back Stretch (Stretches: lower back, gluteus, and hamstrings)
      Lie on your back and grasp your legs behind the knee, pulling up toward your chest,
      gently. Hold position for ten seconds, repeating ten times.

 3) Shoulder and Arm Stretch (Stretches: shoulder girdle)
      Find a ledge or stationary bar, placing both hands palms down, shoulders width
      apart on it. Bend your knees slightly, allowing upper body to drop down. Come
      into the stretch at your own comfort level: either drop down further to increase or
      remain where you are if it is enough. Hold for ten seconds, repeating five times.

  4) Forward and Back Arm Stretch (Stretches: Obliques, Back)
       Start with your feet shoulder's width apart. Bending forward slightly from the
       waist, extend left arm to front, right arm to rear. Hold both arms at shoulder height
       for the count of ten and repeat five times. Switch arm positions, repeating another
       five times.

    5) Shoulder Stretch (Stretches: Shoulder girdle, triceps)
        Lift your arm to shoulder height and then bring it across the front of the body. Bend
        elbow ninety degrees, grabbing the elbow with your opposite hand. Apply gentle
        tension for ten seconds and then release. Repeat this five times with each arm.