Golfing is more than a way to pass the time. The social, athletic, and aesthetic components of the sport result in an activity which provides a number of important mental and physical health benefits. Thanks to the low-impact nature of the sport, there are few ages at which people cannot enjoy this fun and healthy activity. Folks who attend a golf club can expect to enjoy the following important benefits:
- Well-being as facilitated by social involvement: Humans are social creatures. We crave group activities and events, whether in the form of a competition or simply as recreation. Joining a golf club provides community and a sense of belonging as you get to know the familiar faces who spend time there. Whether at a Sunday brunch, a special event, or simply out on the green, there are plenty of places to make new friends and grow your support system.
- A thorough workout: As any golfer will tell you, swinging a metal club over and over again to hit a ball vast distances is no easy task. While not overly taxing to any specific joint, this activity ends up working out most of the muscles in the body. To make the strength training even more complete, carry your own bag. A golf bag with a complete set of clubs typically weighs an impressive 30 pounds.
- High caloric expenditure: 18-hole golf courses promote a higher metabolic rate simply by virtue of their length. A full round on a premier golf course involves walking five to six miles. Add in the hills which many courses involve and the up to 14 clubs a player can have in their bag and you have a serious test of endurance. In Deerfield Golf Club in Newark, Delaware, golfers have 145 acres of beautiful grounds to explore.
- Balance of mental engagement and relaxation: A premier golf course provides opportunities both to hone one’s mental acuity and to enjoy the rejuvenating aspects of natural scenery. Golfers must make such calculations as estimations of distance, decisions on which club to use, compensation for the wind, and more. They do this, though, while immersed in a scenic location which naturally boosts serotonin.
Whatever your age and abilities, you can benefit from the beauty and the challenges of golfing, so do not wait — get out of the house and onto a course today!