4 minute read
GOLF for Mind, Body and Soul
BY STEPHEN RIDGWAY*
With the planet struggling to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic and people trying to discover their ‘new normal’, the importance of maintaining a healthy body and mind has never been greater. One activity above all others stands out as fulfilling this brief whilst maintaining social distances. Indeed, since lockdowns have been eased, it has seen unprecedented levels of engagement. One of the golf clubs I work with in the UK has seen an 18% increase in membership numbers since the beginning of May and other clubs have seen similar such rises. This is a great time to promote the benefits and values that golf can bring to people.
A round of golf provides moderate intensity exercise. Whether you’re carrying your clubs, pulling a trolley or driving a cart, it allows people with varying degrees of mobility the opportunity to get their bodies moving. This promotes weight loss, improves fitness and can help to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer. In the UK, doctors have prescribed regular golf to their patients and the National Health Service (NHS) offers golf coaching to patients with respiratory conditions and heart disease as part of an ongoing health programme.
Walking a typical 6000 metre course will require at least 10,000 steps and rather a lot more than that for many of us, which will burn upward of 1200 kcals and give us a good excuse to have dessert later. Golf is low impact making it suitable
for all age groups and also improves strength and flexibility in muscles and joints. It has been shown that golfers typically have a longer life expectancy than nongolfers.
Thanks to its unique handicapping system, golf is a sport that can be played by people of all ages and abilities on an equal footing. How many other sports do you know of where a professional golfer can potentially lose to a complete novice? This makes it great for families wanting to spend time
together, whether that’s for a round of 18, pitch and putt, mini golf or Topgolf (other facilities are available). As a boy, I often spent Saturday mornings on the golf course with any combination of my brothers, my dad, my uncles and aunties, my grandpa and his brothers and occasionally even my mum if it wasn’t too cold or wet. These are my first real memories of the game and obviously profoundly impacted me as I now make my living in the golf industry and am a strong advocate of golf as a family pastime.
Being in the outdoors surrounded by greenspace aids relaxation and reduces stress and anxiety levels. Even with distancing measures in place, the social interaction between you and your playing partner(s) can reduce the feelings of isolation and loneliness and improve mood and self-esteem, which in our current predicament, is very welcome. This is particularly important for the more senior among us where loneliness and isolation is more prevalent and has a greater impact on their wellbeing.
Golf requires a reasonably high degree of concentration with everything from working out where you want to hit the ball, judging the line of a putt and even marking your scorecard. Focussing on your game engages the mind which allows you to forget life’s stresses as well as keeping us more alert.
Most importantly, golf is fun. Yes, you can take it seriously if you’re playing in a competition but don’t forget, it’s only a game and usually, if you’re enjoying yourself, you play much better.
* STEPHEN RIDGWAY IS DIRECTOR – Ridgway Golf Design Ltd
www.ridgwaygolfdesign.co.uk
Stephen is a golf course designer and member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA). He has been involved in the design or renovation of more than 50 courses around the world and heads his own design firm based in the UK.
