I’ve always said there’s a sport or activity out there for everyone. Whether it’s walking the dog, hoovering your house or shooting a round of golf, we should all be active in some way.

Golf isn’t something I do regularly so I reached out to some friends to find out why they love it so much. Golf may not be considered a physically demanding sport but think about it, you’re walking around in the fresh air for several hours. Unless you opt for a golf cart, which you shouldn’t unless you have a disability or injury! I bet an 18 hole round of golf will burn off some calories.

Of course, not all hobbies or activities need to be physically demanding. Your mental health is just as important and as most golfers will tell you, a game of golf is mentally stimulating. There are many other positives to a round of golf so grab your clubs, golf caps and check them out below.

Injury

I’m three months off turning 40 so over the last few years I’ve been focusing a lot on low impact activities. My days of hitting the payment are well and truly over and I opt for lots of stretching and rebounding instead. Golf is also one of those low impact activities where you walk on a soft, gentle surface. It’s popular with older people because you can still burn calories with a low risk of injury.

Stress

Golf allows you the pleasure of walking in fresh air and to socialise with friends. With each hole, you may face mental challenges, which in turn releases endorphins – the natural mood-enhancing chemicals in your brain, making you feel happy and relaxed.

Brain

Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer’s Society, says: ‘Whether it is going for a jog or walking the golf course, keeping physically active is a great way to keep your heart and your brain healthy. By keeping active you make sure your brain has a good, strong blood supply, which is essential to help it function better now and in future.”

Vision

Golf improves hand-eye coordination and you learn to look in on small targets from long distances. It takes quite an effort to zoom in on that little white ball at times!

Relationships

Where I used to work, I was told many business deals were closed on the golf course! Golf can be a very enjoyable and social sport. I know people who go away on trips with friends and it’s a great opportunity for them to bond. So they might go out for a curry and a few pints afterwards but hey, haha!

Sleep

If you’ve read some of my previous posts, you will know that sleep is the foundation of my life! If I don’t sleep well, I don’t have the energy to train. If I don’t train, I’m grumpy and no one wants to see that! Sleep helps your muscles rest and repair too. Fresh air plus exercise equals the perfect combination for improved sleep. Playing golf gives you both of those things!

So there you go. Whether you’re male or female, give golf a shot if you’re after a new hobby or activity. As you’ve just read, it’s packed full of health benefits for the mind, body and soul.