As many golfers know, playing a game of golf can be mentally stimulating and physically challenging. But let’s be honest, most golfers play for the fun and competitiveness of the game. Sure, golf is not always seen as a sport that requires sprinting or fast-paced actions, but it still exercises the body and mind. Here are a few mental and physical health benefits the game of golf has to offer:
Get outdoors: Going out to the golf course requires golfers to get outdoors. Some golf courses are as large as 200 acres with vast plains of greenery and stunning water views. Spending time outdoors provides many mental and health benefits (especially if you have been stuck at home!). Constant exposure to green areas can help relax the body, reduce stress and even aid in alleviating anxiety. In addition, moderate exposure to sunlight allows the body to absorb vitamin D which promotes bone growth, reduces the risk of depression, and heart disease. Vitamin D is very important when it comes to keeping the immune system working properly.
Drink more water: More exposure to sunlight and physical activity requires more water consumption. Drinking more water will also help maintain your body’s fluid balance, temperature regulation, digestion, and nutrient transportation.
Good company: Golf is a great way to socialize with friends and family, meet new people, and connect with a community. It is not as intense or fast-paced as other sports so there is plenty of down time to interact with fellow golfers. Golf is also commonly used for casual business. After all, studies have shown a great number of business deals are closed on the golf course!
Stay nimble: The game of golf is a low-impact sport. A golfer’s body is not subject to the intense stress and strains of more energetic activities such as running, which can lead to injury and long-term joint damage. This makes golf an ideal activity for players of all ages, especially seniors who can still enjoy the sport with minimal risk of injury.
Burn calories: Covering 200 acres requires a lot of walking! Skipping out on renting a golf cart and walking the course can cover distances between three to five miles (on average). Your swing alone will exercise your arms, legs, back and abdomen. If you want to burn even more calories, opt to carry your own clubs! Even if you choose to rent a cart, all the walking, carrying, and swinging involved will burn up to 1000 calories in a single round. Not only does this burn many calories, it will increase your heart rate which increases blood flow, naturally lowering your risk for heart disease.
Brain power: Increasing your heart rate will help blood flow to the brain, which improves nerve cell networks and helps delay mental illnesses such as dementia. The mental stimulation of keeping score, improving strategy, and fostering hand-eye coordination keeps the brain active and sharp-witted.
Improve vision: It requires keen vision to zoom in on that little white ball yards away. When you go golfing, you learn how to hone in on small targets from long distances. When a golfer tees up their ball, they are presented with the opportunity to evaluate the sharpness of their vision while working on improving their hand-eye coordination.
Better sleep: Due to the amount of energy expended during a round of golf, golfers will sleep more profoundly and are able to remain in a deep sleep (also known as REM sleep) for longer periods of time. More time spent in a deep sleep state is necessary for cell regeneration and repairing muscle tissue.
Whether your game was on point or you took too many mulligans, the benefits of the game of golf remain the same for all. Now you can feel even better when taking some time off work for a “self care day” on the golf course!
