Yoga and stretching for golfers: what the studies say and where to do it on holiday

Yoga and stretching are the answer almost everyone gives to the question "how do I keep fit for golf?". The published research is more cautious: warming up matters, stretching on its own far less than people believe. For exercises suited to your own condition, the reference remains a qualified instructor or a physiotherapist; on holiday, several golf hotels offer classes and dedicated spaces.

What the studies say

• Warming up. A 2022 research protocol (BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation) reports that recreational golfers are 3.2 times more likely to report an injury if they do not warm up, and that the most commonly affected sites are the spine, elbow, wrist, hand and shoulder.
• Stretching. A 2025 study of 439 South Korean professional golfers (Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research) found that stretching alone has a limited protective value, while a longer warm-up and changes to the swing seem to contribute more. The authors point out that the study is cross-sectional and does not establish a cause.
• General guidance. The UK's NHS states that stretching after activity helps you cool down gradually, improve flexibility and prevent injuries, and advises stopping immediately if you feel pain.

The numbers behind the caution

In the 2025 South Korean study, 33.7% of the 439 professionals reported spinal injuries: 15.5% in the cervical region and 21.9% in the thoracolumbar or lumbar region. The authors themselves flag the limitations: the data are self-reported and therefore subject to recall error, and only 10.3% of the players contacted responded. The most concrete finding concerns those who already had back problems: for them, a longer warm-up and changes to the swing helped avoid drops in performance. These are data on professionals, and they cannot be applied automatically to an amateur.

The studies cited concern warming up and stretching, not a specific advantage of yoga over other forms of movement. It remains a pleasant way to move on rest days, and several hotels offer it.

Where to do it on holiday: four addresses

Lake Garda: Grand Hotel Fasano

At the Grand Hotel Fasano in Gardone Riviera, the historic jetty becomes the venue for free yoga and Pilates classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 am. The hotel recommends three nearby courses: Gardagolf, Arzaga and Bogliaco. Those playing an early tee time can pick one of the three mornings "free" of golf for the class, or the other way round.

Apulia: Masseria Torre Coccaro

At Torre Coccaro in Fasano, individual yoga and Pilates lessons are free; the Aveda spa is carved into natural caves, and there is a Technogym gym with glass walls overlooking the olive trees. About a kilometre away, according to the hotel, is the San Domenico Golf, an 18-hole championship course.

Sardinia: Forte Village and Romazzino

Next to its thalassotherapy circuit, Forte Village has a park for yoga, meditation and Pilates. At Romazzino on the Costa Smeralda there are an outdoor Technogym gym and a yoga and Pilates studio; among the hotel's experiences are private lessons with a professional at Pevero.

How to choose a class, in practice

1. Tell the instructor that you play golf, along with any pain or injuries: they are the right person to adapt the class.
2. Prefer classes on non-golf days, or before the round if the schedule allows: two demanding activities in the same morning can be too much.
3. Stop if you feel pain. That is the NHS advice, and it applies in the studio too.
4. Ask whether the class is group or individual and whether it is included: at Fasano and Torre Coccaro it is free, elsewhere it may be paid.
5. Check the times: at the Fasano the classes are three mornings a week at 8 am.