Tiger Woods’ Masters win on Sunday has reinvigorated the game of golf. Everyone is talking about the first major of the season and it seems the excitement and jubilation of the 43-year-old winning his fifth Green Jacket, has come just at the right time.
Monday marked the beginning of the first ever Golf and Health Week. Launched to raise awareness around the health benefits of golf for people of all ages and abilities, this dedicated campaign is garnering attention on social media and being backed by the sport’s governing bodies and clubs around the country.
THE ABSOLUTE BENEFITS OF THE GAME
We love everything about golf, so no need to try and convert us, but for others the benefits of our favourite sport far outweigh the negatives. So if you’re looking to take up golf for the first time, or hoping to get back into it, now is the perfect time to get out on the course.
Good for the body…
- Golf is a great way to get out and experience the incredible benefits of low impact exercise and fresh air. During your average 18 holes, you can expect to walk 12,000 steps or 8 kilometres.
- Last year an article published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine revealed that regular rounds of golf could help to reduce the risk factors for illnesses such as heart disease and strokes.
- It has been confirmed that golfers live an average of five years longer than none golfers.
- Golfers also have a lower risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
Good for the mind…
- Getting out on the course during a busy week might not seem possible, but if you can carve out a little time in your schedule it could be beneficial, not just for your physical health but also your mental wellbeing.
- Studies have shown that spending time in nature and around greenery can help to reduce stress and have a positive effect on mental health.
- Golf is a great sport for all ages, but as you get older the mental side of the game is amazing for keeping the mind active and “exercising” the brain.
- The social aspect helps people to stay connected and is a great way to meet and maintain new friends.
- Overall, golf can help to improve self-esteem, confidence and reduce anxiety.
Professor Jenny Roe, a leading environmental psychologist and Director of the Center for Design & Health, University of Virginia has confirmed how getting out on the course could be even more beneficial than working out in a gym.
“I think to get out and play golf you are really helping manage your mental health in a very holistic way,” Roe says in an article on
golfandhealth.org.
She adds that, “Contact with nature allows us to recover from brain fatigue, reduces our stress levels and improves our mood. In turn, improved mood is linked to what’s called the ‘broaden and build’ hypothesis, with an increased capacity for creative thought and cognitive flexibility that can – potentially – lead to new thought-action repertoires on and off the golf course, and improved performance.”
So what are you waiting for??? Get your clubs out and get to the course right away. The doctor has pretty much ordered it!
