My wife is a goddess, as was proof this past week when it comes to golf injuries. I am thankful for having such a great girl. You see my college buddies and I who have keep in touch over the years planned a golfing get away. We had planned this golfing get together for the past year. Then it happened my golfing back started to act up putting some doubt on the trip. We all had looked forward to this weekend of playing golf, shooting the breeze and yes perhaps a little side betting on our golfing.

My wife encouraged me to go on this trip believe it or not, maybe I should wonder why she wanted me out of town, but also help me to get my golfing back in shape. A dancer by trade the only golf she has watched is when she happens to come into the family room and someone like Tiger Woods is playing on TV.

Back pain and Golfers Elbow are just two or the most common Golfing Injuries. Here are the other Top Ten, Shoulder Pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, DeQuervain's Tendinitis, Knee Pain, Trigger Finger, Wrist Impaction Syndrome, ECU Tendon Subluxation, Fracture of Hamate Bone.

During my college days I had dreams of playing on the PGA circuit while playing on the golf team. It seems that I was better suited for business than playing golf in the same league as the professionals. It's funny how when you are twenty you don't sustain any golf injuries compared to being over forty.

As I turned thirty the strain on my back seem to increase as I used my driver. Now that I am over forty, if proper exercise is not done I am going to have bad back problems. My wifes advice is very important if you want to keep playing often and want to get to the golf course a lot.

"Honey"… this is how my wife talks when she wants me to pay attention. "Whether you're playing golf or dancing, you need to pay attention to core strength, stability and flexibility." Since she was wearing alluring leotards, I could only sit spellbound and listen. "You need to do strength training to tighten up your abs (could that be hint?) since all your power comes from your center" (she motioned to her stomach, then did an imaginary golf swing) showing me how my abdominals effect my back and hips. Hmmm… maybe she was onto something. "And", she continued, now on flow, "you have to stretch before you play, the better your strength and flexibility, the better you'll feel during and after the game". I couldn't argue with her, and especially not when she smiled, that's the gleam that caught my eyes years ago. So I took my wife's advice, although she doesn't know a divot from a shank and heaven forbid if I mention a foursome. But keeping a body in shape was her specialty I began to implement her advice, into my daily gold regimen; strengthening my midsection, stretching before tee time, trying (in general) to live healthier. Believe it or not, it not only helped my golf game, but my overall outlook, I could drive longer and straighter and playing eighteen holes didn't wear me out.

My college buddies are now envious of were my golf game is at as a result of what my great wife has taught me about core strength. Now the golf injuries should be a thing of the past as I stride to keep in better shape and live a healthier lifestyle. Keeping up the daily exercise and especially the stretching before each game should make it so.