Golfers probably already know this, but here are five good reasons to tell your non-golfing other half why you need to hit the fairways.
Being in nature: There is little doubt that the chaos and uncertainty of recent times have been challenging for mental health. One of the benefits of golf is being out in nature. You can switch off your tech and focus on a task. According to the mental health charity Mind, spending time in green spaces or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit your well-being. Getting outdoors has been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anger.
There’s one other important aspect here: Vitamin D. This nutrient is equally important for both mental and physical wellness. Golfers receive the benefits of sufficient vitamin D production in the body through increased exposure to sunlight.
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Moderate exercise reduces anxiety: Golf is a moderate form of exercise proven to reduce anxiety and depression. Further more, playing golf helps to combat anxiety by keeping your brain in an active problem-solving mode. You can focus more on the game and less on the things that cause you to feel anxious or sad. And, with most rounds accumulating at least 10,000 steps, you can always claim it will help you live longer!
Social interaction: Golf can be a solo game played against the course, but it is typical to play in groups of two to four golfers. Playing sports with other people helps boost your self-esteem and social skills, benefiting your overall mental well-being.
Competition: Friendly or with a little edge, competition can be good for you. When done correctly, a competitive round of golf encourages you to challenge yourself and improve your skills.
Golf teaches resilience: Golf is a tricky sport to master consistently, with expert timing, flexibility, speed, technique and balance required as you swing a club somewhere in the region of 80 - 110 mph. It's inevitable that you will hit poor shots as well as good. It requires humility and mental strength to recover from such miscalculations. Golf teaches us to accept victories and failures equally and carry on to the end. Each of the 18 holes is another chance to persevere, to strive. It is an excellent mindset to parallel. Resilience is essential to cope with the inevitable ups and downs of life.