6 Health Benefits of Playing Golf
While golf is not seen as the most physically demanding sport, it is still a sport and has lots of health benefits people may overlook. The truth is that a day of golfing could allow you to burn as much as 2800 calories depending on the type of player you are. That’s about a pound of body fat. It’s also a low impact exercise, which can have many benefits for certain people. Let’s take a look at some of the health benefits of playing golf.
#1 It can Help Keep your BMI Under Control
One of the main benefits of golf is that it is a gentle way to keep your BMI under control. Proper diet and general lifestyle will also play a role but playing golf once or twice or a week is a great way to burn some energy. It's also a lot more pleasant than spending an hour on the treadmill.
#2 Mental Health Benefit
Another benefit of playing golf is on your mental health. Golf is a very contemplative game, and the slower pace is great for people dealing with anxiety and stress. This also gives you the chance to reconnect with nature, which also has tons of benefits on the mood. Many studies have shown that being exposed to green areas could help reduce stress, anxiety, and relax the body.
It allows older people to stay active and have social bonds. Or you could bridge the gap with younger players. Everybody can get involved and age isn't much of a factor, so that could be a great way for grandparents to connect with children or grandchildren in a fun atmosphere.
#3 Low Impact
Another health benefit of golf is that it is low impact, which is again perfect for seniors or people dealing with joint issues. People suffering from arthritis cannot do things like jogging, which can be one of the most amazing things for your joints. But golf can provide you with just the right amount of activity without risking an injury. You can play at your own pace as well, which reduces that risk even more.
You also could get yourself a golf monitor and indoor golf setup and get all the benefits from home. They provide the realistic experience that you need and will allow you to fine-tune your game whenever you want and at your own speed.
#4 Build Relationships
Golf is one of the most social sports there is. It is a great way to make friends, and some of the best friendships have been formed on a golf course. There's a reason why so many business deals have been made on golf courses. The downtime and silence in golf games allow people to get into profound discussions. It can also give you a better idea of someone's character.
#5 Strengthens the Bladder
You might be surprised by this one. It has been found that playing golf could help people dealing with incontinence issues. Since golf players have to regulate their bathroom visits, it forces them to work their pelvic floor muscles, which is essential for controlling the bladder. This is another reason why golf can greatly improve the quality of life of seniors.
#6 Great for the Brain
Playing golf can gently increase your heart rate, which has many benefits, especially for the brain. A higher heart rate means a higher blood flow to the brain, and more blood to the brain means better and stronger neural connections. More activity also means that your blood will be better oxygenated, which contributes to clearness of thought and focus. Golfing could also help you ward off the symptoms of dementia.
As you can see, golf has tons of health benefits that you should take into consideration. We suggest you give it a closer look and consider trying a game to see if it's your speed.
