Mike Pedersen, BS, CPT
GHF's Golf Fitness Expert

A Decathlete Takes Up Golf-With A Passion

Mike began his athletic career in Track and Field where he was regionally (Pac 10) and nationally ranked in the javelin from 1982 to 1987; Mike made All Pac 10 in 1983. After graduating from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology, he moved on to decathlon competition and was a nationally ranked decathlete for Canada from 1987 to 1989. Mike has been ACE-certified since 1986. He worked as fitness director of a major health club chain and has had his own private fitness business for 13 years.

When his Track and Field career wound down, Mike picked up golf recreationally, then became obsessed with the game. "I bought every video, took every lesson I could, and read books to understand the golf swing." Mike's passion for the sport, plus his ongoing interest in fitness, brought him to his career as a "golf fitness professional."

At first, Mike began studying the golf swing just to improve his own game; then he began applying his knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics of the swing to the individual golfers he works with. He currently runs the Golf Fitness program at Desert Mountain Golf Club, in Scottsdale, Arizona, one of the premier private golf clubs in the United States with five golf courses and a sixth in the works as well as a state-of-the-art fitness facility.

Golf Fitness Author, Teacher, and Coach

Mike has given many seminars on Fitness for Golf to golfers at all levels and of all ages as well as to teaching golf pros. He has written extensively on this subject; published articles include "Get Fit To Play Better Golf" (Sun Golf Magazine) "Golf Fitness: The Missing Link" (Arizona Golf Association Magazine) "Play Consistently for 18 Holes" (Sun Golf Magazine) "Hit It Longer And Straighter" (Arizona Golfer).

Mike is in the developmental stages of writing a golf fitness manual and exploring the possibility of a companion golf fitness video. In addition, he has consulted with many of the top fitness experts in the country to enhance his fitness services.

Mike Pedersen on Fitness for Golfers:

"Fitness has been my life-long passion. I started lifting weights when I was 10--always to enhance my athletic performance, not for bodybuilding purposes. My application for clients is functional fitness: to prepare them for real enjoyment of any recreational activities they may do.

Golf is now recognized as an athletic sport, and golfers are realizing that a fitter, more flexible body will play better golf. The golf swing is an extremely high-speed, torquing movement that needs optimal muscular strength in the abdominals and lower back area. The goal in golf is to maintain good golf posture throughout the swing to make better contact. An unfit, inflexible body has no chance at achieving this.

My goal is to educate golfers of all levels, including teaching pros, about the benefits of having a more flexible, fit body for playing optimal golf through golf-specific strength and flexibility training. Spending hundreds of dollars on equipment and lessons will provide minimal improvement unless the physical limitations of the golfer are addressed.

I have helped hundreds of golfers improve their game by improving their fitness, specifically increasing their driving distance by as much as 50 yards, thereby lowering their scores. Most wished they had approached their game with this philosophy from the beginning. But it's never too late to start: I have seen unbelievable improvement with clients who are 70 and older!"

Here's what some of Mike's clients have to say:

"Since working with Mike, I am driving the ball 25 yards further and I shot Par for the first time!" - Owen Germundson, Minnesota (Age 62)

"I consistently drive the ball 240 yards and sometimes play from the white tees. My index was a 20.1 before I started Mike's program and now it's a 14.2!" - Toni Budilier, Wisconsin (Age 40)

"I've lost 25 pounds in 3 months and can finally make the swing that my pro wants me to make. I wish I'd done this program 20 years ago!" - George Phillips, Virginia (Age 62)

Visit Mike's Website, Golf-Trainer.com

Click here to visit Mike's website for the very best in golf-specific training. Here you'll find customized golf-specific exercise programs, more than 90 exercise instructions and video demonstrations, a free golf fitness profile, golf fitness tips and articles, and much more. Visit today to drive further, improve your accuracy, and lower your score!