How to stay fit as you age, according to Bernhard Langer

Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.

Bernhard Langer has seemingly done the impossible as he continues to best Father Time. Although he is on the wrong side of 65 (he turned 67 this summer), he continues to play some spectacular golf. While most people his age are moving up to the forward tees at their retirement community courses, Langer is still competing on the Champions Tour.

It should come as no surprise that Langer has one of the most decorated resumes of all time on the senior circuit. Since he turned 50, he’s won 46 times — including an absurd 12(!) senior major titles. Combine that with his 42 Euro Tour wins, three PGA Tour wins and two Masters titles and you’ve got one hell of a trophy case.

Even with all that hardware, though, Langer refuses to slow down. Even after tearing his Achilles this spring, he continued to play a full Champs Tour schedule over the summer, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Ascension Charity Classic.

So, how has Langer maintained such great fitness and health into his late 60s? At the U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club back in June, he shared a few of his secrets with us.

Langer’s fitness tips

1. No booze

Alcohol is a vice that many indulge in, but it’s not always good for our bodies. According to the National Institute on Aging, drinking frequently “increases the risk of harmful consequences, including injuries and health problems.” Avoiding those health problems is key for maintaining physical fitness, so Langer steers clears of alcohol for the most part.

“I don’t drink alcohol at all,” Langer said. “I drink a little bit, but very, very little.”

2. No smoking

Smoking is another popular vice for many — and the negative health effects are well-noted. It’s also something Langer avoids at all costs in order to maintain his health.

“I don’t smoke [at all],” he said.

3. Stay active every day

As we age, we must stay active to maintain the fitness that came naturally when we were younger. Taking days off from being active has much more consequence than before, so it’s important to keep active as much as possible.

“I exercise and stretch every day,” Langer said. “I have done for ever since I can remember. I think that certainly helps to be reasonably fit, to have some stamina, and to feel better. Just the body functions better when we move the body. If we become too sedentary, sooner or later you’re going to pay the price for it. I talked to my PT, physical therapist, and he said, if you lay two weeks in the hospital, just two weeks, don’t do anything, guess how much strength you lose? Fifty percent. I was shocked. That only encourages me to do more, do something every day, instead of just laying around for a few days in a row.”