9
Reasons Why Everyone Should Play Golf
Nearly 2.2 million people started golfing in 2015 alone. With that many people hitting the course for the first time, it should be no surprise that there are some benefits to playing. For those who are still on the fence about wanting to play golf, we've gathered this list of nine reasons everyone should grab a set of clubs and grab a tee time. As you'll soon see, there's something for everyone when it comes to the great game of golf, so get ready to find out how this sport can benefit you. Keep reading to find out more!
1. Good Exercise
First and foremost, golf is good exercise. Not only do you spend a lot of time on your feet, but you also do a lot of walking. In fact, most courses will have you walking around 4 miles by the end, so you'll certainly get in your daily step goals.
2. Be in the Great Outdoors
When you play a round of golf, you'll spend that time outside. That means bringing plenty of sunscreen, but it also means you'll get the benefits that come with spending time outside. Some benefits of being outdoors include:
Sleep better
Lower blood pressure
Decreased depression
Boost creative thinking
Less anxiety
Being in a beautiful location where you can take in nature like it's art certainly doesn't hurt, either!
3. Make New Friends
While there's nothing wrong with playing golf with a friend, another benefit of playing golf is that you can make new friends. One of the easiest ways to do that is to head to the course alone. Let the clubhouse know you're willing to join others, and they'll be more than happy to set you up with other willing groups. Before you know it, you'll be heading out for a celebratory drink with a new friend or two.
4. Challenge Yourself
Unlike many team sports, golf is personal. Most of the time, you play against yourself to try to beat your own previous record. This makes it a lot of fun to work hard and try to do better than the last time you played. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to improve your game, so you can keep learning and improving. As you get better, you can set new goals for yourself to knock more and more strokes off your score.
5. Build Character
Part of the challenge of golf is that it can be frustrating at times. However, we see this as an opportunity to build character. When you miss a putt or land in the sand trap for the third time, you have a choice to make. You can get upset which will likely make your game even worse, or you can take a deep breath and recognize that sometimes, life doesn't go as planned. In those quiet moments out on the course, you also have the chance to see the bigger picture. Maybe you don't need to get so upset when your children make a mess in your home office or when your secretary forgets to make you copies.
6. Whole Family Activity
Speaking of your kids, why not bring them along on your next golf outing? If they're old enough, they can get exercise with you by walking the course. If they're too young, then you can take a golf cart to help them out. You can get golf clubs in every size, shape, and color, so there's no reason to limit your kids' golf experiences to the putt-putt course. Let your whole family benefit from golfing and bond in the process.
7. Improve Business Relationships
The best place to make that new business deal may be the golf course. Why? Simple. Golf is a game played by many businessmen. It should be no surprise since it's a great way to exercise and get out of the office for a while. If you're looking to improve your career, it might be time to take up golfing. There are a few ways you can use golf to improve your business relationships. First of all, you can take out colleagues or bosses out for a round. It's a great opportunity to enjoy each other's company and have a neutral location where it's easy to talk about anything. It can also help you make new business relationships. As you're making new friends on the course, you may end up finding other businessmen in similar industries that you can work with.
8. Relaxation
We briefly mentioned that being outdoors can help you ease anxiety, but this needs repeating as the game itself can also help you relax. This is particularly true if you're playing by yourself. When it's just you, your club, and the ball, it's easy to allow the rest of your problems slip away. You can focus only on the problem at hand, which is getting that ball into the hole. Sometimes, it's taking that time away from your problems in the office or at home that allows you to put things into perspective. Then, you can return with a refreshed mind and renewed resolve to calmly resolve problems.
9. Better Health
All of these things put together will help you improve your health out on the golf course. The exercise you'll get and the time spent outside are both huge parts of it, but even improved relationships have a positive impact on your health. One other specific way golf improves your health is by allowing you to get the sunlight needed to get enough vitamin D. This essential vitamin is made in your body but is triggered by exposure to sunlight. Getting enough vitamin D may help you:
Lower your risk of cancer
Boost your immune system
Help body absorb calcium to prevent bone loss
You only need about 15 minutes of sun exposure to gain these benefits, so a round of golf will give you plenty of vitamin D!
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