Playing for Life: Golf, Hormones, & Midlife Performance artwork

Golf · Amy Garza, MD | Midlife Hormone Expert, Golfer

Playing for Life: Golf, Hormones, & Midlife Performance

by Amy Garza, MD | Midlife Hormone Expert, Golfer

Your game changed and you don’t know why. You didn’t change your swing. You didn’t stop practicing. But somewhere after 40, the distance started going. Your focus disappears on the back nine. You’re tired walking the 15th when you used to finish strong at 18. Your confidence drops after a couple of bad holes and doesn’t come back. Here’s what nobody in golf is telling you: the problem isn’t your swing. It’s your body. Hosted by Dr. Amy Garza, MD, a board-certified physician, hormone specialist, and former collegiate golfer now competing again in midlife, this podcast connects what’s happening in your body to what’s happening on the course. With over a decade of clinical experience optimizing hormones, metabolism, and performance, Dr. Garza brings real medicine into a space that has been dominated by swing tips and guesswork. Each episode starts with what you’re experiencing in your game -- loss of distance, back nine fatigue, inconsistency, mental collapse -- and breaks down what’s actually driving it. Hormones, metabolism, nervous system regulation, sleep, and recovery all show up on the course long before they show up in a lab. You’ll learn why golfers in their 40s, 50s, and beyond often feel like they’re getting worse despite doing everything right, and what it takes to actually reverse that. This isn’t just about playing better. It’s about understanding how your body is changing in midlife and how that impacts your energy, focus, confidence, sex drive, and long-term health. You’ll also hear the conversation most golf and health spaces avoid; how these changes affect your relationship. When one partner’s health shifts, both people feel it, on and off the course. This podcast covers topics like hormone optimization, testosterone and estrogen, metabolic health, body composition, nutrition for golf performance, recovery, sleep, and longevity, always grounded in real scenarios from the course. From the first tee to the back nine to the 19th hole, you’ll start to see your game differently, because you’ll understand your body differently. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking... *How can I maintain my focus throughout an entire round? *How can I increase my distance off the tee without changing my swing? *How can I stay mentally sharp and focused on the back 9? *What can I do to consistently lower my scores and improve my performance? *How can I optimize my body and feel my best after 40? *How can I boost my energy, mood, and sex drive as I age? *What do hormones have to do with physical performance? *How can I leverage my health to enhance my performance on the course? *Are my sex life and my golf game connected? *How can I perform at my peak in midlife? *How can my diet help improve my performance on the golf course? *What’s the best way to fuel myself during a round to maintain energy and focus? *How can I make walking the course more beneficial for my health and overall game? *How can I make golf part of a consistent exercise and fitness routine? *How can I prevent injuries and stay healthy while playing and training for golf? You’re in the right place. Follow the podcast and never miss an episode.

Latest episodes

Showing 12 · updated from the feed

11. How to Build Functional Muscle & Improve Your Game

Are you tired of spinning your wheels in the gym without seeing results, or watching your distance drop on the course despite consistent practice? Building muscle in midl

Jul 14
16 min

10. Why Muscle in Midlife Matters for Your Health & Golf Game

In midlife, maintaining muscle mass is critical for keeping your golf game sharp and supporting your day-to-day function. In this episode, I explain why muscle matters mo

Jul 7
13 min

9. Testosterone & Relationships: What Happens When Only One Partner is Treated

Sometimes, hormone therapy affects more than just energy and vitality; it can shift the dynamics in your relationship when only one partner is treated. In this episode, I

Jun 30
15 min

8. Sleep & Recovery: Your Back 9 Playbook (Part 2)

If you’ve got a round coming up that really matters to you, the night before matters more than you think. From deep sleep repair cycles to REM consolidation of motor skil

Jun 23
17 min

7. Fuel & Hydration: Your Back 9 Playbook (Part 1)

Still crashing around hole 12, even after a strong front nine? I’ve got you covered in this episode with part one of my back nine playbook. In this episode, I walk you th

Jun 16
13 min

6. Why You Fade Mid-Round + 4 Ways to Finish Stronger

Do you notice yourself feeling great through the front nine, but by hole 12 or 13 your swing feels wrong, you lose distance, and you’re left feeling cooked? In this episo

Jun 9
15 min

5. How to Discuss Midlife with Your Doctor

From heavier periods to changes in mood, libido, or muscle recovery, these subtle shifts we start to experience in midlife are often dismissed. I share how to interpret y

Jun 2
21 min

4. The Truth About “Normal” Lab Ranges

Labs are one piece of the story, but your personal history is the real signal. Just like tracking swing speed over time, your hormone levels are meaningful only when comp

May 26
14 min

3. Guys, Don't Skip This One! Why Progesterone and Estrogen Matter for Your Golf Game

It may be surprising to some, but both men and women are affected by progesterone and estrogen -- and it's affecting your body, your mood, and your golf performance. Whet

May 19
15 min

2. Testosterone for Performance: Every Golfer Needs It

Have you ever felt like your golf game just isn’t what it used to be? Maybe you're tired faster, or that last stretch of holes feels tougher. It’s not just aging. Your se

May 19
17 min

1. Unlock Better Golf in Midlife (Start Here)

If you’ve noticed your golf game isn’t what it used to be, you’re not alone. Whether it’s energy slumps, loss of distance, or even confidence issues after a couple of bad

May 19
12 min

Start Here and Play Better Golf After 40

It’s not your swing. It’s your body. Welcome to Playing for Life: Golf, Hormones, & Midlife Performance, the podcast that connects what’s happening in your body to what’

May 15
1 min

Chart trend

Position in the Golf chart (US), last 90 days.

#35
all-time peak
3
days in the top 50 since May 2026

Chart positions

Where Playing for Life: Golf, Hormones, & Midlife Performance ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 2, 2026).

#195 ▼ 38 Golf US

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About Playing for Life: Golf, Hormones, & Midlife Performance on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Playing for Life: Golf, Hormones, & Midlife Performance, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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