7 Of The Many Benefits You Can Get From Playing Golf

Golf has come a long way since it was first invented and played by the Scottish in the 15th Century as today there are thousands of courses littering our countryside and millions of players worldwide. Golf was once the preserve of the elite and wealthy whereas today clubs are open to all, and there are players from both sexes and every different demographic of society. But what has driven the popularity of the game?

Here we are going to take a look at 7 of the most important benefits you can get from playing golf.

In the modern world where many of us are on the go 24 hours a day we sadly don't spend enough time outside in nature. We spend most of the hours in a day working in an office and then it is home by train to look after the children who will then likely spend their evening sitting at their computer or viewing social media. Golf, on the other hand, offers a minimum of 4 hours outside in the wonderful countryside where the air is clean and the chatter of birds will accompany you on your round. What's more, being at one with nature allows you to relax which will improve your mental health.

A sad reflection of our modern lifestyle is that a large proportion of the population is now overweight or worse, obese. We lead sedentary lives often sitting on our backsides for hours a day, whilst we are still consuming the calories that we would need if we had an active lifestyle. Experts at theleftrough.com advise that the beauty of golf is that an average course measures about 6,000 yards and this doesn't even include the inevitable zigzagging across the fairways, so you can count on a minimum of 5 miles walking for every round. Suddenly you will start to get fit which will bring benefits to the rest of your life as you shed those pounds and feel better in yourself; so just remember to stay strong and resist the urge to use a buggy!

Although many people will beg to differ, golf is actually a strenuous physical activity. It is often played in the heat of the summer and as we mentioned before you will be walking at least 5 miles on hilly terrain. Furthermore, there is the act of swinging the club, which when done two to three hundred times per round, including practice swings, actually means that a fair amount of physical work has been done. After a long round, most people need to put their feet up and will find that they sleep like a baby. So, if you are having trouble sleeping, playing golf could be a win-win for you really!

Golf has developed a handicap system which means that anybody can play competitively from Tiger Woods to an average club golfer. The system works because the better player will give a certain number of shots per round to the other players based on their respective abilities or handicaps. The idea is that if each player plays to their optimum level then they will finish in a draw. The upshot of the handicap system is that you can play with anyone and have an enjoyable competitive game without being at the same level.

Golf is one of the most sociable sports there are, as more often than not it is based around a club environment. It is a great place to meet new people if you are moving to a different area and there will be plenty of activities organised beyond golf. Often there will be themed dinner and dance nights and a bar that allows members to get to know one another. On the golf side, there will be numerous competitions and tournaments that you can enter, and even if you are a non-golfer you will still be welcomed into the fold and can use facilities such as the gym or a creche.

Golf has an enduring appeal because you can always get better. Even if you are a scratch golfer you can still go further under par, and there are so many nuances that nobody will ever master everything there is to learn about the game. This means that players continually come back for more and the sport becomes a hobby and a pastime that can be played well into old age.

As we have discovered, there are many benefits to playing golf from the recreational side of things to the fact that you get to spend time outdoors enjoying nature. It is a great social game that can be played by all ages and it can be as competitive as you want it to be. So, if you are looking for something new in 2020, then why not give golf a go?!