A personal recommendation:

Fitness is nothing to fear. The best way to become fit is to do what is comfortable for you. Swimming one to two miles a day is probaly the best to become fit, and improve your golf game. Some may pefer a 5 mile run, or a 25 mile bike ride. All these can be extremely helpful, but for now not in my plans. Still there are ways to improve fitness without a lot of effort. You may ask how I know this.. or maybe you don't care, either way I'm going to tell you how I know. I went through a cardilogy rehab. The methods they offer where all easy, but I tried to make them hard. My perception has always been that if my exercise was not causing me pain then it wasn't working. Sad that it took science to show how wrong that perception is..nuff about my background to be qualified to offer others suggestions of things that will improve their fitness.

A Couple of Tips From Katherine:

One of the biggest challenges for older golfers is posture, on and off the golf course.

Practice this simple exercise standing in front of the mirror.

Stand tall and pull the navel towards the spine. Slightly tuck the tailbone under and lift the ribcage up towards the ceiling. Roll the shoulders back and extend the cervical spine (the neck) as long as possible.

Breathe deeply for five to 10 breaths. Relax and repeat five to 10 times.

Practice this pose for better posture everyday and you will quickly see the benefits on and off the golf course.

Another one of my (not to be confused with Katherine's) personal stories:

I was recovering from having a pacemaker implanted. Wow, was I suprised how it effected my golf swing and distance. I found myself using a 4 iron to hit a 140 yard shot.

OK, I admit I started buying into my limits due to physical health, and the normal progression of aging. Before you start shedding tears let me tell the rest of the story.

I was sold on the idea of age being my problem. My range of motion, due to aging, was restricted, and the solution was to buy lighter shafts for my clubs. The lighter clubs would allow me to increase my swing speed. I am always researching, and doing my research I will often avoid the pitfalls of marketing gimmicks’ designed to make a sale from the gullible. The way to avoid marketing gimmicks is to find an expert that understands you can make money helping people with facts as easily as you can by tricking them.

Here is what I found through my personal research.

Aging will restrict our range of motion, but only if we allow it. The solution is not buying into lighter clubs. The solution is to do some very easy excerises (yoga) as taugh by an expert like Katherine Roberts. Katherine is a delightful person to talk with, and it does not take much conviencing that what she offers works. I purchased her series of tapes,3-Pack Par, Eagle, Birdie DVD Set, For me it turned into a good investment. Certainly cheaper than buying new clubs, and much more effective.

Let me explain the immediate benefit. Her first tape she says to make a turn with your arm extended to a point on the wall, and then following her routine repeat the process. Surprise your range of motion will be greatly enhanced. The benefits will be noticeable on the golf course, less topping the ball, increased distance, and better accuracy.

Why?

Topping the ball often comes from lack of body flexibility (restricted). Increased range of motion adds club head speed, additional club head speed equals increase distance. Better accuracy come from a fuller “natural” body turn allowing you to naturally square your club face.

Needless to say I found her tapes extremely helpful, my distance improved, chips, putts, and many shots now somehow track the flag. I have much to learn (really the learning is easy it is the forgetting that is hard), and the game keeps getting easier. My 9 iron is now 130 yards, and the 6 is about 165. More importantly the shots are tracking. My current effort is figuring out my distance for each club, and working on my comfort zone. It is hard for me to step up to a par three that is only 175 yards, and decide between a 5 or 6 iron. A good problem to have.. you should try it yourself, you have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

This for me has been a "Fountain of Youth" experience. I invite you to ask questions.. no charge.