Walking Golf for Fitness: How I’m Losing Weight and Getting Healthier on the Course
My name is Josh. I’m 44 years old, a husband, and a dad to two kids, 5 and 9. I’m also the founder of Pivot Golf.
One day, Pivot Golf is the goal. The full-time gig. The thing that replaces the 50–60 hour weeks I currently spend running a region in construction. But for now, this is real life: early mornings, long workdays, family time in the evenings, and squeezing in golf wherever I can.
And lately, that “wherever I can” has turned into something more.
It’s turned into a reset. A reset by getting healthier on the course.
Where This Started
About a month ago, I stepped on the scale at 220 pounds.
Not terrible. Not alarming. But also not where I wanted to be, especially knowing how hard I work, how little time I waste, and how much I want to be present for my family long-term.
Fast forward to today: I’m at 215.
That didn’t come from a crash diet. It didn’t come from a new supplement or some complicated routine.
It came from walking.
More specifically, walking my rounds.
The Reality of Time
If you’re reading this, you probably understand the biggest challenge isn’t motivation.
It’s time.
My days start around 4:00 AM. Before anything else, before work, before emails, before the chaos of the day, I get on the treadmill and knock out a couple miles. Nothing fancy. Just movement.
Coffee follows. Always.
Then I head to the course at first light.
Nine holes. Walking.
I’m back home before 8:00 AM, shower, breakfast, and straight into work mode.
Evenings? That’s family time. No exceptions. Whether it’s being at home, helping with homework, or sitting at tumbling practice, that’s where I’m supposed to be.
Then we do it again the next day.
Weekends look similar. Early tee time. Walk the course. Back home to make breakfast for the family.
Because as much as I love golf, and I really do, family comes first. Always.
Why Walking Changed Everything
Here’s the part I didn’t expect:
Walking didn’t just help physically.
It changed how I experience golf.
Most courses around here are built around carts. Gas or electric, it doesn’t matter. That’s the norm. And if you’re walking, you’ll get looks. People question it. Some even act like you’re slowing things down or doing something unnecessary.
Let them.
Because what I’ve found is the exact opposite.
Walking has made me more connected to the game.
More focused.
More present.
When you walk, you don’t rush. You don’t jump from shot to shot. You actually see the course. You think between shots. You reset. You process.
And maybe most importantly, you earn every yard.
The Push Cart Advantage
I’m not carrying a bag. I’m not trying to prove anything.
I use a push cart.
And honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.
It turns the round into something sustainable. It keeps the strain down but the movement constant. By the end of 9 holes, you’ve put in real work without it feeling like a workout.
It’s sneaky like that.
You’re just playing golf… but your body knows better.
Health Without Overcomplication
This isn’t about turning golf into a fitness program.
It’s about stacking habits that fit into a life that’s already full.
I don’t have two hours to spend in a gym every day.
I don’t have the luxury of blocking off time that doesn’t exist.
But I do have control over how I use the time I already have.
So I stack it:
- Early morning movement
- Walking instead of riding
- Staying consistent instead of going extreme
No gimmicks. No shortcuts.
Just showing up.
Why This Matters
I’m not doing this to hit a number on a scale.
I’m doing this because I want to be around.
For my wife.
For my kids.
For the life we’re building.
And selfishly, I want to keep playing golf the way I love to play it.
Not riding around, half-engaged, squeezing it in.
But actually experiencing it.
The Bigger Picture
This is just the start.
I’m not where I want to be yet, not physically, not mentally, not even with Pivot Golf.
But I’m moving in the right direction.
And I think there are a lot of guys out there in the same spot:
Busy careers
Young families
Limited time
Still trying to hold onto the things they love
This series is for you.
No perfection. No unrealistic expectations.
Just real life, real routines, and a better way to use the game we already love.
Follow Along
I’m going to document this as it goes, what’s working, what’s not, how the game changes, how the body responds, and how it all fits into a life that doesn’t slow down.
If you’re trying to get healthier but don’t know where to start…
Start by walking.
If you’re already playing golf…
You’re halfway there.
Let’s see where this goes.
