GOLF WELLNESS WITH
How Golf Impacts Your Health Tips, facts and acts to let golf work its magic
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id you know golf is a sport played by more than 60 million people on six continents? Around the world, people of all ages are heading to the golf range or enjoying friendly or competitive rounds. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in the sport continues to grow. In fact, the National Golf Foundation (NGF) recently reported that there’s only been one other year that saw a bigger rise in interest in golf — when Tiger Woods gained popularity in 1997. “Rounds of golf were up year-over-year in every single state in the continental U.S. for the months of June, July, August, September and October,” the NGF reports. “That translates to over 50 million more rounds nationwide than a year ago, an unprecedented turnaround for an industry that lost 20 million rounds in the spring due to virus-related course shutdowns.” While this is good news for the golf industry, the increased interest in golf could also potentially be good for every American as research has shown playing regularly can be good for your overall health. Golf can provide good exercise, and may be associated with longevity and wellness benefits. Full disclosure: golf also carries relatively small but real health risks. You can get injured while playing golf, and golfers have an increased risk of getting skin cancer. That’s why it’s important to have a medical provider you can trust. Studies show that any health benefits or problems that result from playing golf depend on several factors, including your age, gender, genetics, and your level of fitness and wellness. The topography of the course and your frequency of play will also influence how golf impacts your body.
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The Benefits It is recommended that Americans exercise for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity (brisk walking), 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity (jogging or cycling) or some combination of the two every week. In addition, individuals should engage in muscle strengthening activities at least two days a week. Many adults, however, do not meet those goals, and that’s where playing golf can help, especially if you choose to skip the cart and walk the course. The average course length on the PGA Tour is approximately 7,200 yards. That’s 4.09 miles! Dr. Alan Douglass, director of Middlesex Health’s Family Medicine Residency Program and an avid golfer, says just walking the golf course is a great form of exercise. It can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, and improve muscle tone and endurance. In addition, walking burns calories and promotes weight loss. Studies show that walking 18 holes can burn 800 to 900 calories. “On average, active people live longer,” Dr. Douglass says. “In fact, a Swedish study showed golfers live five years longer than non-golfers.” Golf, a sport that you can play throughout your lifetime, also has mental health benefits. It can help relieve stress and improve your mood. Being outside and exercising can also help you sleep better, and golf can help increase self-esteem and confidence, and build social connections. It can help you stay in touch with friends, meet new people, and network. Charity tournaments can keep you connected to your community. In many cases, golfers with disabilities can play equitably with able-bodied golfers or with golfers who have other types of disabilities. This positively impacts their overall health, both mental and physical. Spectators can also see health benefits — even if they never swing a club. Active tournament spectators who walk the course benefit from an increase in physical activity, much like the golfers!
