🔘 The Silver Tees: Elite Golf Fitness Programs for Seniors

By Jim Penman

Jim is a 61-year-old golfer who lives in the North Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta. Originally from the UK, he settled in the Atlanta area over 20 years ago and currently plays regularly at White Columns Country Club.

Article 1: Competitions for "Average" Senior Golfers in Metro-Atlanta

Article 2: Golf Fitness Tools for Seniors

Last month’s Silver Tees article described the two main golf-centric fitness programs I use personally in an attempt to enhance my performance on the course. This month, I am covering a very different approach to golf fitness which I stumbled on recently.

The Aeon Wellness Club (https://aeonwellnessclub.com) opened up in mid-2025 and is located at 899 McFarland Parkway, Suite 400, Alpharetta, GA 30004. This Boutique fitness facility was co-founded by Steven Burroughs who happens to be the trainer I worked with when first committing to golf-specific fitness about 7 years ago. Steven is himself a keen golfer and his interest in the game has ultimately led to him developing extensive, specialist knowledge in how to prepare others to play the game to their maximum potential. 

The Aeon facility is by no means catering to just golfers, but they do have some unique services to offer those who are serious about their game. In fact, about one third of all Aeon’s current customers are working with Steven and his team on personalized, golf-specific training programs.

Although Steven and I don’t work directly together any longer (mostly due to scheduling conflicts on my part), we’ve kept in touch over the years and get together for a round once in a while. The following is a Q & A report following my recent visit to his new facility. Hopefully this gives an insight into what sort of programs are on offer to those with a serious interest in maximizing, from a purely physical perspective, their ability to play the game.

I have to say that based on what I witnessed during my visit to Aeon, the golf training programs on offer there are not for the faint of heart, or wallet for that matter. This is about as far away an experience as you could hope to get from the likes of a gym membership at somewhere like Planet Fitness. It is clearly not for everyone and let’s face it, will not be affordable to many – various programs are on offer at the facility but expect your monthly gym outlay to be about the same as for a pretty decent car payment. However, for those willing to invest the necessary time and cash in what is pretty much a “Concierge-Level Experience”, the rewards are there to be had.

Here is the account of the Q&A session I had with Steven during my visit…..

Q1. Outline your experience in the development of exercise programs specifically targeting golfers

• Former Division II collegiate athlete, providing firsthand understanding of rotational power, workload management, and performance longevity

• 15+ years’ experience as a performance coach working with athletes, executives, and active adults

• Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) certified 10+ years

Q2. Describe the golf-centric programs and specialist equipment available for golfers at your new training facility in Alpharetta

At our new Alpharetta facility, everything we offer for golfers is built around one idea — helping them move, swing, and play better for the long term.

We run golf-centric training programs that focus on mobility, rotational strength, speed, and conditioning for walking and finishing strong over 18 holes. Each program is assessment-driven and designed to support a golfer’s swing coach, not replace them.

From an equipment standpoint, we use specialist tools you don’t find in typical gyms — dedicated turf lanes for rotational work, medicine balls and speed implements for power development, cable systems for swing-specific loading, and joint-focused tools rooted in Functional Range Conditioning.

We also integrate advanced metabolic testing to dial in conditioning and recovery, so golfers know exactly how hard to train and how to avoid fatigue. The result is a facility designed specifically for golfers who want measurable performance gains without unnecessary wear and tear.

Q3. What are the key parts of the body to target when training for an improved golf swing or golf swing maintenance?

Ankles, hips, thoracic spine and shoulders are the most important components from a mobility standpoint. Hips and trunk are most important from a stability standpoint. The appropriate areas to focus on become player specific after an extensive initial screening which all new customers undertake.

Q4. Outline a typical training routine that one of your more committed amateur golfers might undertake over say a 1- or 2-week period.

Committed Amateur Golfer (Handicap ~4–12)

Weekly Structure (High Level)

• 3–4 structured training sessions per week

• 1–2 rounds of golf or focused practice sessions

• Daily short mobility/prep work (10–15 minutes)

• Emphasis on movement quality, power, and recovery, not fatigue

Q6. What sort of short warm-up program do you recommend for golfers immediately before they play a round?

We like to recommend golfers do all of their Controlled Articular Rotations (CARs)  for each joint focusing on full joint range of motion and control.  From there, we recommend a short 8- to 12-minute warm-up that focuses on breathing, hips, spine, and light rotation. The goal is to feel loose and fast — not tired — so your body’s ready to rotate and produce speed from the first tee.

Q7. What are some of the most common and biggest mistakes you see amateur golfers make with their fitness training?

 1. Training Hard… but not training FOR golf

The Mistake

• Following generic strength or “bootcamp-style” workouts

• Chasing soreness, sweat, or calorie burn

Why It Hurts Golf

• Builds strength that doesn’t transfer to rotation or sequencing

• Increases stiffness in the hips, spine, and shoulders

• Often leaves golfers fatigued for practice or rounds

What We Do Differently

• Every exercise has a clear golf-specific purpose

• Training supports the swing — it never competes with it

2. Ignoring Mobility Until Pain Shows Up

The Mistake

• Treating mobility as optional or “just stretching”

• Waiting until back, hip, or shoulder pain forces action

Why It Hurts Golf

• Limited hip or T-spine motion shifts stress to the lower back

• Speed and consistency drop as the body compensates

What We Do Differently

• Mobility is trained with control and intent, not randomly

• We build usable range of motion that holds up under speed

3. Overtraining Speed Without the Foundation

The Mistake

• Swinging speed sticks or max-effort drills too often

• Chasing clubhead speed without strength or control

Why It Hurts Golf

• Leads to early fatigue and swing inconsistency

• Raises injury risk, especially for the back and elbows

What We Do Differently

• Speed is layered after mobility and strength

• We focus on efficient sequencing, not forced speed

  
  

4. Neglecting Conditioning for the Full Round

The Mistake

• Only training strength and mobility

• Assuming walking and endurance will “take care of itself”

Why It Hurts Golf

• Late-round fatigue leads to poor decisions and mechanics

• Swing speed and posture break down on the back nine

What We Do Differently

• We train aerobic capacity and fatigue resistance

• Golfers finish rounds stronger and more consistent

5. Training Too Much — or at the Wrong Time

The Mistake

• Training heavy the day before a round

• Not adjusting workouts based on how much golf is being played

Why It Hurts Golf

• Residual soreness limits rotation and speed

• Practice quality and confidence suffer

What We Do Differently

• Training volume adapts to the golf schedule

• Recovery is planned, not reactive

6. Treating Fitness as Separate from the Swing

The Mistake

• Fitness and golf lessons exist in separate worlds

• No communication between coach, trainer, and body

Why It Hurts Golf

• Physical limitations sabotage swing changes

• Progress stalls despite “working harder”

What We Do Differently

• Training supports swing goals and changes

• The body becomes an asset, not a limitation

7. Believing More Is Better

The Mistake

• Adding workouts, drills, or gadgets without a plan

• Constantly switching programs

Why It Hurts Golf

• Creates confusion, fatigue, and inconsistency

• Progress becomes hard to measure or repeat

What We Do Differently

• We prioritize clarity, simplicity, and consistency

• Progressions are intentional and sustainable