The Wonderful Benefits Of Playing Golf

How much do you know about the history of golf in the Olympic Games? Did you know that since the beginning of the Olympics, golf has only been included 3 times so far? The first time it was part of the Olympics was in 1900, it was then included again in 1904, but after that golf did not make its return to the Olympics until 2016. Golf will appear again in the Olympics Summer Games in 2020, which will take place in Tokyo.

If you are planning on watching sports on TV, like golf, during the 2020 Olympics, this could have some health benefits for you. Who would have thought that watching TV could have positive health benefits? If you want further benefits, though, you should consider getting out onto a golf course and playing the game yourself. Maybe watching Olympic golf on the television will motivate you to get out there and start golfing, but if that is not enough to get you out there here are some of the great benefits of playing golf that may persuade you to pick up some golf clubs and head to the golf course.

Mental Health

How have you been feeling lately? Maybe a bit down or feeling anxious? Mental health is a super important aspect to your overall health and golf is a sport that can help you feel better mentally. This is for a few different reasons. One reason is that exercising is vital for your brain. So, by participating in a game of golf, you will be helping your mind feel better because you will be moving around instead of just sitting at home. Another reason is that golf involves concentration. You have to think about your swing, keeping your eye on the ball, and where you are aiming. So, the act of having to concentrate so much on this one activity can help your brain when it comes to focusing, and it also means that you are thinking so much about the game that it can distract you from any negative thoughts that you may have been having lately. Finally, being outside and surrounded by nature can also be very beneficial for your brain.

Socializing

If you have been thinking about wanting to make new friends or you want to find a way to get together more often with the friends that you already have, then golf can be an excellent activity for this. Being social is very important because it can also help people feel better mentally. If you have been staying in the house too much and not getting out to interact with people, then by making a commitment to meet people to play the game, it can keep you accountable for actually getting out there, getting exercise, and talking face to face with other people. Golf, of course, is excellent for this because you are not always running around as you do in other sports, so it gives you a chance to have a quality conversation while you are waiting for your turn to play and while walking from one hole to the next.

Physical Health

Speaking of all that walking, this is another huge way that golf is good for you. We have all heard that getting those steps in every day is very important. A study that was included in Golf Monthly “found that golfers covered over six miles during an 18-hole game.” So, when you get to the golf course, it may be tempting to use a golf cart, but you probably need the exercise after a week of sitting at your desk for about 8 hours each day. So, instead of getting in that golf cart, make the healthy choice and choose to walk instead. If you are going to be walking that much on the golf course, you are going want to make sure you have the right golf shoes so that at the end of the game, your feet are still feeling good. The right shoes will not only help you with a lot of walking but also when you are playing the game, and of course, help make you look stylish. Another aspect of playing the game of golf is carrying your golf bag around. Unless you are a pro golfer, you probably don’t have a caddy who can carry your bag for you, which means you can also improve your physical well being by carrying that bag around yourself. Carrying your bag and getting a lot of steps are not the only aspects of golf that can improve your physical health. Other motions that are involved in golf, such as swinging the club and bending down to put your tee in the ground or to pick your ball up from the hole, are also good for your health because they can aid you with burning calories.

Sleep

Sleep-it’s great when you fall asleep quickly and stay asleep the whole night, but when you keep tossing and turning throughout the night, it can be quite unpleasant. Sleep is such an essential aspect of being healthy. If you are struggling with catching those z’s, then this is another reason why hitting the golf course is going to be great for you! By getting a lot of exercise and breathing in all of the fresh air you should hopefully have fewer problems with sleep, so when your head hits the pillow you will fall asleep in no time. While you are sleeping, you should also stay in a state of deeper sleep for a longer period of time.

Minimal Risk of Injury

Golf is thought of as a pretty “low impact” sport. This is beneficial for your health because it means that there is less of a chance that you will sustain a severe injury from playing golf. This is also great because it means that if you have been spending a lot of time watching sports on TV instead of getting out and exercising, then it is a sport that will be less strenuous for you to pick up than if you were trying to start a more strenuous sport. Staying injury-free is a good thing because no one wants to get hurt and also because it means that by not being injured, you can continue to get out there and enjoy the other many benefits of the game of golf.

Live Longer

That’s right! Playing golf has been found to help people live longer potentially. After reading the multiple benefits above that playing golf can have for your health, it might not surprise you that this game has the potential of prolonging your life. A Swedish study that was conducted by the Karolinska Institute found that golfers live up to 5 years longer. The professor who led the study, Anders Ahlbom, stated that “A round of golf means being outside for four or five hours, walking at a fast pace for six to seven kilometers, something which is known to be good for the health.” So, if you want to add years to your life potentially, then you may want to consider starting to play golf.

Not Difficult to Start

If all of the benefits above have not yet convinced you to try out the game of golf, then here is one final benefit of the game. Golf is not generally a sport that is too difficult to pick up, and it doesn’t have to necessarily be too expensive either because golf courses may have equipment that you can rent, when you are just starting. These are beneficial because these factors hopefully will make you feel more at ease about trying the game because you don’t have to be scared that you won’t be able to understand the game and it also means that you will not have to make a sizeable financial investment when you are trying golf for the first time.

Well, there you have it. Playing golf has a multitude of benefits. Stop and think for a moment of a beautiful sunny day. You are standing outside with lots of nature surrounding you. You feel calm and are having a great time socializing with others. Not only are you getting your steps in for the day, but you are also getting fit through the other motions involved in golf like bending down and swinging the club. Plus, you are also feeling less pressure and stress that has accumulated from your week at work meaning, that you are helping your brain. If that all sounds great, then what are you waiting for? Head to the golf course now! The sooner you start, the more possibility you have of being a pro by the time the next Summer Olympics roll around. Even if you aren’t good enough to play golf in the next Olympics, you can still feel great knowing that you are playing a game that has many benefits, and that is helping you feel amazing!