Having set the standard in most things in modern golf, it seems appropriate that the influence of Jack Nicklaus should have extended to fitness.

And, contrary to common belief, the transformation from Ohio Fats to the Golden Bear had to do with reasons of health rather than commercial gain.

"I didn't do it for the galleries," insisted Nicklaus in a recent interview. "I did it for my health." He went on to explain: "Throughout the 60s, when I was on the heavy side, my doctor kept saying `Jack, you'll know when you have to lose weight. You're playing great but some day you'll get tired and you'll know."'

As it happened, the moment of truth for Nicklaus, came after the Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale in September 1969 when he felt decidedly tired on returning home to the US. So he told his wife Barbara that he intended to lose weight. And he did - about two stones.

It was also a time when longer hairstyles, a la the Beatles, were in vogue. The upshot was that the world's greatest golfer of the time effectively reinvented himself, projecting a trendy new image when he appeared at Augusta National for the US Masters the following spring. "Sure I enjoyed looking better; everyone does," he said. "But I didn't do it for anybody but myself."

The physical change in Nicklaus marked a watershed in golfers' attitudes to fitness. From being regarded as a gentle pursuit for which only the minimum levels of fitness were necessary, it began to be viewed in far more serious terms, certainly by the better players. And this became as true of amateur exponents at Walker and Curtis Cup levels as among their brethern at professional level.

More recently we have had leading players such as Tiger Woods and David Duval taking on rigorous fitness regimes in the belief their competitive performance will be enhanced. "I always felt I could play to win," said Woods recently. "I had a desire to win; I wanted to beat you but sometimes my physical abilities weren't there."

He went on: "That's why I needed to get my physical abilities up to where my mind was. My mind won me a lot of tournaments but, physically, I always felt I wasn't as good as I could be. That's what I've been working on to get to where I am now."

This emphasis on physical wellbeing among the game's leading practitioners is also being recognised on this side of the Atlantic. And it was emphasised during the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth in May when the European Tour announced a four-year deal for the Nestle Nutrition Physiotherapy Unit.

The launch was welcomed by twice US Masters champion Bernhard Langer who said: "We all acknowledge the high level of fitness required to remain at the top of our sport. In this regard, the development of the Physio Unit has been of paramount importance to the players."

But is there anything on offer here which can improve the lot of the average golfer? Nestle believe there is, under a number of headings.

For instance, they claim that the importance of good nutrition is often overlooked. While a round of golf can be physically and mentally draining a continuous supply of energy is necessary, especially over the climactic holes. This is where energy and endurance levels are put to the ultimate test.

Most of us take the view that there are good foods and bad foods and that a so-called good diet means giving up things that are "bad" for us. Modern nutritionists take the view, however, that food is neither good nor bad in itself. While priority should clearly be given to nutrient-rich foods which cater for the special needs of training, there is room for all foods, especially those which are socially popular.

Do you start to feel fatigued towards the end of a round of golf? Do you start to lose concentration when you need it most? The answer may lie in your diet.

The serious competitor is recommended to consume mostly complex carbohydrate foods on the day before a tournament starts. These would be foods such as whole-grain cereals and breads, pasta, rice, potatoes or beans. They will significantly enhance energy and endurance levels in the heat of battle.

Simple carbohydrates such as fruits, fruit juices and other sweet foods can also be used for energy, but not quite as efficiently as complex carbohydrates.

So, the recommended foods are: Before the round - Apples, grapes, pears, green vegetables, breakfast cereals, pasta, nuts, brown rice and energy bars; During the round - Bananas, dates, raisins, chocolate and energy bars; After the round - Biscuits, chocolate bars, bananas, cornflakes, buns, or a glass of fruit juice.

A good fluid intake should also be a crucial part of a player's competitive strategy. Ideally an athlete should drink sufficient fluid to compensate for all sweat loss during an event, but a more realistic goal is to drink what is practical and comfortable.

Water is a good fluid for most sports but in sports of longer than one-hour's duration there may be benefits from adding carbohydrate to the mix. Either way, a sweet-tasting drink is likely to be consumed in greater quantities than plain water.

It is vital to begin the refuelling process immediately after finishing play. This is when your body is best able to replace the glycogen used up during the tournament. Ideally, you should begin to eat and drink as soon as you come off the golf course and before you even go to the shower.

And remember, the answer to simple questions such as "what, when and how much to eat?" requires an elementary knowledge of dietetics and physiology, some similarity with the nutritional content of foods and an awareness of the body's reaction to effort. There are only individual solutions which depend on one's state of health, level of fitness, desired performance, habits and preferences.

The benefits of a good diet will be enhanced by a routine of exercises which are designed to lower the risk of injury and make the round of golf even more enjoyable. But it is recommended that before any of these are undertaken, the body temperature should be raised by one degree celsius. This is achieved by running for about five minutes until you have the feeling you're beginning to sweat.

All stretches should be held for 15 seconds and repeated five times. Move into and out of each stretch slowly, stay relaxed and do not bounce.

1 Hamstrings. Sit on the edge of a chair, sofa or golf-buggy seat. While keeping right leg completely straight, slowly lean forward. Be sure to maintain a straight back and bend forward at the hips. Repeat with left leg.

2 Iliotibial Band stretch. Lie on back and hook a golf club around the underside of the right foot. While keeping knee straight, slowly raise the foot towards the opposite/left shoulder. Repeat with right leg.

3 Hip stretch. Lie on back with knees bent. Place left ankle on right knee. Slowly push left knee away. Repeat with other leg.

4 Hip/Buttock stretch. Lie on back with knees bent. Place left ankle on right knee. Slowly pull left knee towards right shoulder. Switch legs. Repeat with other leg.

5 Trunk rotation. Lie flat, knees bent so feet are flat on floor. Slowly rotate knees to left and then back to right.

6 Lying crossover. Lie flat on back with left leg straight. Grasp right knee and pull across body towards left hip. Keep shoulders flat on floor. Switch legs.

7 Low Back stretch. Lie on floor. Grab both knees and slowly pull towards the chest.

On top of this warm-up routine, the golfer may wish to add some muscle-strengthening exercises to enhance strength, consistency and posture. All strengthening exercises should be done slowly and controlled. Start with sets of 10 repetitions

1 Abdominal crunches. Lie on back with knees bent. Cross arms across chest and slowly raise the shoulders up, so that the shoulder blades clear the floor.

2 Obliques. Lie on back with knees bent. Cross arms across chest and slowly raise the right shoulder towards the left knee. Repeat to opposite side.

3 Side bend. Hold a golf club overhead. Slowly bend sideways to the right. Return to upright position and repeat to the left.

4 Quadriceps. Stand behind chair, hands on the chair. Bend your knees completely and stand up again, slowly. Twenty repetitions to start; more when you can tolerate.

The above programme is taken from the booklet Fit for golf produced by the Nestle company in conjunction with their new, partnership arrangement with the European Tour. As their senior vice-president Evan Kaloussis pointed out: "The right training and the right skills are important factors in performance, but a balanced diet is also very much a part of the package."