Courtesy: The GolfExpert.com

I had an email from Anne Chouinard the other day. Anne is the director of golf at the Canadian Golf Academy in beautiful Prince Edward Island (where some of Canada's best golf courses can be found).

She's the swing coach for Lori Kane who plays on the LPGA tour.

Anne was replying to a question I had posed to her about how golfers could get tuned up for the spring (and, hey, that's one month from today!!), specifically through good golf exercises or stretches.

She put her reply succinctly. "Any activity is better than sitting on the couch", she told me. Wives of the world are cheering everywhere.

"I would recommend some cardio three to four times a week, 30 minutes at a time, some flexibility exercises three to four times a week and some kind of strengthening program under supervision." That should keep you pretty busy!

A general training program would be better than nothing for most people, she said. "If this is not possible, at least people should be active walking, doing yoga, Pilates, or something like that".

Of course, many of us have heard about core training which seems to have been "discovered" by the fitness industry just for us golfers.

As I understand it, core training really involves strengthening the abdominal muscles, side muscles and back muscles.

And when you think about it, starting the downswing with the lower body does involve those very muscles.

And, for heaven's sake, don't bring up John Daly. I guess there's an exception to every rule.

Working out for many people is a tough discipline to acquire. And make no mistake; it is discipline that is needed to establish the workout habit, especially as Anne Chouinard outlines it!

But the rewards are worth the effort ten times over.

Tiger Woods is the prime example of the modern player today. A well rounded fitness regime, attention to diet and no cigarettes. And, yes, that means that Big John is the prime example of the modern exception today.

Be that as it may, there's a very good reason that Tiger works out and takes care of his body. Energy and lots of it.

It's the physical energy needed to walk a course four days straight while playing under intense pressure.

But it's also the mental energy that comes from a healthy body. Your mother was right when she told you "healthy body, healthy mind" as she shoved the peas and carrots back under your nose.

You do have more mental energy, alertness and decisiveness when you are physically fit and in great shape.

Anne also suggested that hitting balls indoors during these final weeks of winter is fine so long as it's done properly, preferably with the supervision of a teaching pro.

Common sense, of course, but how many of us wait until we've got half a dozen rounds or more under our belts before we call up our pro and book a lesson?

Jack Nicklaus used to hook up with his lifelong teacher, Jack Grout, well before a PGA season began and go over everything, starting with the grip.

"The key is, if we expect results, we must put in the time and have a plan that makes sense", says Anne. "Also, fitness training should not be seen as a chore. You can truly have fun training!"

This is great news for those of us who are (gasp) part of the aging baby-boomer crowd. Fitness is even more important. And not just for golf, either.

Here's something else your wise old mother might have said to you: "if you don't have your health, you don't have anything".

Thanks, Mom. Right again...