Until 28th February, Malmaison Birmingham at The Mailbox is offering FREE joining fee, FREE first month’s membership and two FREE sessions with a Personal Trainer at its gym, Gymtonic. This applies to peak and off peak memberships, conditions applying.

A noted golf writer did an interview with Greg Norman, quite early on in the Australian’s career. It was for the publication of Norman’s autobiography. Norman was already a multiple winner on the European tour but this was just before he started on his period of World domination, years of being ranked No 1. The writer put the question to Norman – ‘Why this book now? Why not wait until your career is perhaps over? Norman’s response – he wanted to get the book over with so that he could concentrate on the Golf and at the time, Norman was just starting to work with one of the authors of this book.

The latest research conducted by The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA), has found that the NHS is not providing proper care for people with musculoskeletal conditions (MSCs) like arthritis. Therefore, many of the estimated eight million people who are affected by MSCs in the UK are left enduring pain and suffering unnecessarily.

Golf and Fitness now seem to be brother and sister, notably at Tour Professional level. The benefits of conditioning, of a healthy lifestyle and most notably flexibility are there for all to see and have produced significant earnings increases for a number of the best players in the World. What happens at Tour level always filters through to the amateur game so you are sure to have thought about fitness and for more and more players, even of average handicaps, its a change in lifestyle which has already started.

GOLF BOOKS - 'Fit for Golf by Boris Kusmic and Jim Gorant is an excellent book from one of the top Personal Trainers on the US PGA Tour. If a client roster which has included Vijay Singh and Ernie Els doesn't grasp your attention then you are missing out on what is THE factor in playing better golf these days for top amateur and professionals alike. Will this book be of help?

The game of Golf now has inextricable links with fitness, notably, but not only, because of the exploits of a certain Tiger Woods. Back in the 60 s, Gary Player trotted round the globe winning wherever he went partly because he was a very fit man - as he still is now. Last month, we featured Steve Backley who is to take his athletic knowledge and pass it on to the ever fitter and stronger present generation of professional. This article is not about the methods of the Top professionals. It is an in depth look at what they do and what a club member can take and use to make their golf game better.

In the last 10 years, the world of Fitness has changed, mostly for the better. The body conscious part of Fitness is nothing to do with how Golf and Fitness have become intertwined but it will be difficult, even at the poshest gym, to not be told about toning and shape or to have beautiful people as icons you should look up to. At some of the big health and fitness clubs, you can do just about anything, all for a monthly membership fee which for a few operators is not a yearly subscription but a charge that you pay when you decide, month on month.