Chris Blagden: I am a Category 1 golfer looking to improve my fitness levels. During the golf season (April-October), I will be playing numerous 36-hole competitions where the second round follows immediately after the first, which is pushing towards the ten-mile mark. I find I tire after the first round and consequently my timing and concentration suffer. I am three weeks into a 16 weeks, four days a week programme I took from the website (http://www.therowingcompany.com/training/interactive.php). Could you advise me as to how much training I should do during the golf season so as to keep my end of programme fitness level without tiring myself for the golf? Is it better to do maintenance training or push on with another 16-week programme based on my new 2,000m best of 7:52? Any advice would be a great help. Terry O'Neill: You are quite right in believing that fatigue will affect timing and concentration. A higher level of aerobic condition measured in terms of maximum oxygen uptake will combat this. Rowers have amongst the highest levels of oxygen uptake of all sportsmen; only cyclists have been measured with a higher capacity. Therefore following a training regime for rowing would appear to be a good idea.However, a 2000m rowing race is a combination of about 70-80% aerobic effort and 20-30% anaerobic, and a rowing programme addresses this requirement. Golf is exclusively aerobic and so I would say for you the 16 week interactive programme would need to be modified. I would not see any transferable benefits from training sessions in the AN and TR bands and so I would cut these down. Don't cut them out completely because apart from the actual physical training benefits, if the programmes is not varied and interesting then it becomes boring and will lead to missed sessions and eventual drop out.At the other end I would reduce the number of UT2 sessions and increase the number of sessions in the AT range. This is because training in the AT band is the most effective for improvement of aerobic capacity.As for the training during competition, contrary to what you may think, the fitter you are during your competition period the more energetic you will feel, and therefore less tired.What I would try is during competition consider the 36 holes as low intensity training (UT2-UT1). In between I would do sessions of UT1-AT.7:52 for a first 2,000m is not a bad start and normally you would show some rapid improvement by following the programme. Of course, modifying the programme so you are in better shape for golf means you will not reach your full potential over the 2K distance. Although fitness levels will have a bearing on your ability to focus and hold form, it is not the only factor. Your mental state will also have a huge bearing on your performance. I can help with the physical side but you may consider getting hold of some books or articles on sports psychology. To be at your best there are three areas that require equal attention, the physical, technical and mental. Failure to address any one of these will lead to underperformance.