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Last Updated on March 24, 2020
Wondering what the health benefits of golf are?
Are you looking for an excuse to play golf more often?
While many players love to play golf for the sheer enjoyment, it’s important to realize that there are a lot of reasons to play the sport as well. Whether you’re a high school golfer or you’re a senior, the sport offers a great option for people who want to improve their health and the list of benefits is extensive.
The next time you feel like you have better or more important things to do besides play golf, you may want to rethink things. Making time for golf isn’t such a bad thing. Doing so may actually help you become healthier, feel better, and live longer.
If you want to learn more about the health benefits of golf, look no further. Below we’ll tell you exactly why you should start playing the game more often.
Table of Contents
1. Great For Weight Loss
One of the best health benefits of playing golf is the same as what you would get with many other types of exercise in that it helps you to lose weight and burn calories. Golf is especially great for losing weight because it’s a game that takes time to play.
Golf includes a lot more than just swinging a golf club from time to time. It usually includes plenty of walking as well, usually over the course of several hours. This is a great recipe for burning calories at a steady pace throughout your game and as you go from hole to hole.
2. Brain Stimulation
Another great excuse to play more golf is that the game helps to stimulate your brain and has been shown to improve your mental health in significant ways. Golf is much more than just a physical sport and it requires a lot of focus and brainpower to master.
For sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), golf has been shown to have an effect on their mental health. Physical activity and walking, in general, is also great for other brain-related conditions as well because it helps to improve blood flow. Walking has been reported as being great for reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s, and this includes walking around a golf course for a game.
3. Improved Heart Health
If you’re trying to improve your heart function and maximize cardiovascular health, golf may also be the sport for you.
The lengthy amount of moderate physical activity that will be required during a game of golf can be helpful for getting the blood pumping in your heart. You’ll be walking, swinging your club, and carrying your bag for several hours during a game of golf. This type of physical activity can help to reduce the risks of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. This will reduce the risk of diabetes and stroke as well.
As you get older, improving heart health becomes increasingly more important. Because of this, golf may just be one of the best hobbies you can take up as you get on in years.
4. Better Sleep
If you’re ready to sleep like a baby every night, then becoming well-acquainted with a game of golf may be in your best interest. The connection between exercise and a great night’s sleep is well-known and playing golf is no different.
The combination of physical activity matched with a healthy dose of fresh air can have a profound effect on your sleep schedule. You’ll get to sleep more easily and will feel more well-rested when you wake up the next morning.
Having a good night’s sleep is an essential part of one’s overall health, so this is one big reason why golf is well worth playing.
5. Helps Reduce Stress and Improve Mood
The game of golf is also an excellent stress reliever that can help to boost mood and energy levels. If you have a lot of stress in your life it may be well worth playing more golf throughout the year. Golf offers the perfect storm of good stress-reducing factors.
When you’re playing a game of golf you’ll be close to nature and greenery. You’ll also be walking and experiencing physical and mental activity while socializing with friends and other players. As a result, this combination will help you to feel more at ease and will release those sought-after endorphins you may have heard so much about.
6. It’s a Low Injury Activity
While many of the benefits above can be linked to a variety of sports, one of the best things about golf is that it is lower in intensity than some other activities. There is a lower risk of injury when playing golf compared to other sports. Because of this, experiencing its many health benefits is more accessible.
Elderly people or others who can’t get around as well can play golf to lose weight and improve their heart health without as much fear of being injured in the process.
7. Increased Social Interaction
While we touched on this above, it’s worth noting that one of the best things about playing golf is that it is usually a social activity. Being social by playing golf with some friends or even some business acquaintances can be incredibly beneficial.
The reason for this is simply because regular social interaction is very important for improving your overall wellbeing. Building relationships and spending time with others is important for everybody, and golf allows you to spend time playing the game of golf while also chatting with friends about anything. Playing this social activity on a regular basis can be great for overall health and wellbeing.
Experiencing the Health Benefits of Golf For Yourself
If you want to experience the many health benefits of golf, you should do your best to get out on the green more often. While many people love to play golf for fun, you shouldn’t take the health benefits of golf for granted. Golf can make a big impact on your life if you’re trying to become healthier and feel better.
Playing golf regularly isn’t a magic bullet, of course, but it can definitely become a part of a healthy lifestyle. It’s important that you also do all of the other things that help you to stay healthy in your life such as eating a balanced diet, getting plenty of sleep, and eliminating stress.
Want to make sure you’re prepared for your next game of golf? Click here to learn why you should start taking private golf lessons immediately.
