The benefits of your long game

Golf is losing its popularity in the UK, according to figures gathered between 2003 and 2014 that show that participation has decreased by around 20%. A number of factors could be pointed out though, and indeed in 2013 the BBC found evidence suggesting that 200,000 fewer people were taking part in all sports across the country. They pointed to bad weather and, in particular, harsh winters but that shouldn’t stop you.

Golf is good for you

If you’re reading this, then the chances are that you are already very much into your golfing, what you might not have known though, is that there are health benefits that come with it: 

• Cardio fitness is vital, and luckily golf provides a fair amount. An adult’s recommended weekly calorie burn is about 2,500. Based on research from the Rose Centre in Denver, Colorado, the average golfer carrying his or her own bag will burn around 721 calories for every 9-hole game. Just two games, then, and you’re over half way!
• It isn’t going to lead to body-builder form, but the repetition of the drive and swing is an excellent way to maintain and develop tone in the shoulder and arms – add to that the up-and-down bag carrying and there is a definite strength benefit in golf.
• One of golf’s main health benefits is actually not physical at all. It turns out that the combination of outdoor activity and the catharsis of hitting the ball is a huge anxiety buster for many people. 

So keep up the good work and work on that drive, your doctor might just thank you for it – and above all, you now have exactly the excuse you needed to get out on the green a few times a week. Have a look at our Today’s Golfer Academy to see if you can improve your game this summer.

Sourced from Meds4All