Ten Reasons Golf Is So Popular And Why It Can Be For You Too
Since the age of seven I have been utterly obsessed with golf. I have been unable to go more than a month without playing and the beautiful ancient game has a grip on me like nothing else ever has. If you ask anyone who knows me to tell you one thing about me, golf would come up a lot.
Golf seems to be gaining in popularity as loads of celebrities take up the game. The pandemic even helped clubs as people decided to give it a shot or come back for a game they may have left in years gone by, and what’s more is that the game is becoming incredible popular with women and influencers alike too. Today we are looking at what makes it such a popular sport.
There are many reasons why someone would decide to take up golf. The list below will capture some of these reasons but undoubtedly there are many others and whatever it is that makes you give it a try, you won’t regret taking up the greatest sport ever invented.
1. It Keeps You Fit
Many scoff when you say this to them, but carrying your clubs for a round of golf will burn around 1,500 calories.
If you are out walking for four hours you will burn a fairly good amount but then add the weight of your clubs and the explosive golf swing and you have this extra burn.
Even if you push a cart instead of carrying your clubs, you still burn some serious calories.
A round of golf is a long walk and each swing uses energy, all of that adds up during the 18 holes. There are fewer ways better to burn calories and get stay in decent shape.
The only thing you need to watch for is finishing your round then going into the clubhouse for a few beers to cap-off the round.
This is a great part of golf but making a habit of it can very quickly ruin any of the good work you did for your health whist out on the course that day.
2. It’s A Constant Pursuit Of Progression And Getting Better
In golf you never actually get to where you want to be. This is a sport for people who are always looking to challenge themselves.
Even players who get to world number one, like Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald, have been known to then pursue major swing renovations.
This may sound frustrating, the idea of always trying to get better, but it is a challenge that many golfers savour.
Like a sculptor working on a work of art, you are constantly chipping away and improving things. It is hard to beat the feeling of seeing your golf game get better.
Golf is a sport that takes and tests patience. Committing to getting better and practicing consistently will allow you to build your skills and see your game blossom into something you are proud of.
There is a real sense of achievement in building a strong golf game through the years.
3. It’s A Special Time For Relaxation
When in life do you get to spend a solid 3-4 hours with friends and/or family? Golf is a way of having that special time with your nearest and dearest.
For me it has always been the most precious time I spend with my dad. Nothing beats a round of golf with my old man.
I also used to spend my summers playing golf with my grandad. Be it a friend, family member or just someone you are paired with on the first tee, you can take time on the course to really build great relationships or enjoy them more. Golf is a special way to pass the time with people.
More than that, you can finish your round then enjoy a drink or a bite to eat in the clubhouse and talk through the round.
There is something extra-special about finishing your round then heading to the 19th hole to recap it and round the day off with a drink or some food.
4. The Great Escape
We live in a world of screens and being indoors too much. Being out on a golf course with the birds chirping, the smell of fresh cut grass and the greenery is a bit of a reset and a definite escape.
This is valuable time away from the desk and the laptop to enjoy greenery.
When you arrive at the golf course you are entering a sanctuary. Leave your phone in your bag and avoid looking at it.
Embrace the detachment from the digital world and savour your time on the course. Even if your golf isn’t going well, you can just appreciate being away from the rat race.
Golf courses tend to be really nice places to be. It is good for the soul to be on a golf course and taking in the sights and smells.
Even after the most frustrating round of golf, you can leave the course feeling recharged thanks to the time spent out there.
5. It Builds Resilience & Accountability To Yourself
Golf is a sport like no other. You are out there on your own and with no-one to blame but yourself when things go wrong.
You practice hard and prepare for a competition then when the day comes it’s all on you. Being in this position develops your mental strength and resilience.
You need to be able to block out external influences and focus on the job at hand. When things don’t go well you can learn from it, when things go well you know you have becoming mentally stronger.
These are skills you can take into every area of your life.
Golf is a lesson in life, you make a decision and try to execute. From there, no matter what happens, you have to make another decision and try to execute again.
This is one of the charms of the game, play it as it lies.
6. Golf Has Never Been So Cool
Many big name celebrities and athletes now love nothing more than spending down time on the golf course.
We are seeing more and more people who you would never have thought of as golfers picking up the clubs and giving the great sport a shot these days, golf is now cool.
From Justin Bieber to Niall Horan, from Kim Kardashian to Gareth Bale, people from all walks of life are heading out onto the links and learning how to play.
I think that these people love the fact that you can escape the pressures of life whilst still feeding your competitive spirit.
Gone are the days of golf being seen as a sport for old rich men, there is a new wave of golfers and it has been great for the sport.
There is a growing group of surfer and skater types taking up golf and it is so refreshing to watch this revolution take place in front of my eyes.
7. You Can Play At Any Age
I’ve said about playing with family and friends already, but one great thing about golf is that the whole family can get involved.
From toddlers to octogenarians you can still get out and play together. You can also start your golfing journey even if you are too old for most other sports.
I know a few people who retired from work in their sixties and then started playing, they became obsessed by golf and now play every day.
It is fantastic to see people discovering the sport and working hard to become good at it even in the autumn years of their lives.
As I said earlier, I used to love playing with my grandad and his friends when I was a young teenager.
Even though they were in their sixties, we could all go out there and have a great morning on the golf course together. Great times and great memories.
8. People Of All Levels Can Compete Together
The handicap system is something that is famous in golf. Even non-golfers know about it and will always ask you what your handicap is when they talk to golfers.
This is something that is quite unique in golf and makes for great competition across the board, it is something to celebrate.
People who are new to the sport are given extra shots to take from their score whilst proficient and skilled golfers get fewer.
This means that you can play together, on the same course and, even though your skills are very different, you can directly compete with each other.
You could even try a team event like a Texas Scramble. In this kind of event you can mix it with more skilled players and still be a useful addition to the team.
It is also the most fun you can have on a golf course so you should definitely give it a try.
9. It’s Good For Business
Going back to the point about having those few hours out on the course and that being great for building connections with friends and family, it is also great for business.
Being out on the course with a prospective client, customer or employer can be a great way of developing a relationship.
Many deals are still done on the golf course, much to the dismay of many, I’m sure. This is a great way of seeing how someone really is in terms of their principles, etc.
You can learn a lot about someone by how they act on the course and during a round of golf.
It’s not that golf courses tend to be where bribery takes place or anything like that, I’m not talking about shady deals.
However, you can build a great rapport with someone during a round and this can certainly go a long way in business so it can be a great thing for you to do.
10. You Can Play Where The Best In The World Play
One of the most special aspects of golf is the fact that you can play on the same courses as the best players in the world.
Imagine being able to play football on the pitch Wembley or rugby on Murrayfield. This is a truly special experience, especially if you have watched a tournament there.
You may not want to play from the same tees as the pros, they are often way too long, but you can experience that course.
Yes, it often costs a lot of money to do this, however it is very unique to the sport that you can do this. Motorsport may be the only other example of this access.
Courses play up to this as well by placing plaques on the course where special things happened during big tournaments.
You can try to emulate that shot by dropping a ball and giving it a go yourself. You can literally follow in the footsteps of your heroes on the golf course, like no other sport in the world.
11. Travel The World With Your Friends
As a member of the club, there is often opportunities to travel on golf tours around the world to some of the very best locations like California, Florida or even the Costa Del Sol in Spain.
These trips not only build comradery and lifelong friendships with your club mates but they can be an incredible way to have a lot of fun, on and off the course while seeing parts of the world you may have never seen other wise.
12. Good For The Family
When I was growing up, golf was an occasion for the whole family. We would go to the driving range and learn how to play the game with our parents.
Golf is an important game to teach your kids because of its importance for business and moving up in the world.
It can also be a healthy way to exercise and have fun with your family on a Sunday and keep you all together.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why you may be interested in golf.
The list above is a starting point but for many there will be other reasons not mentioned there that they find more interesting.
Golf is a broad-church of a sport and it is far more welcoming than the media may make you think.
If you are interested in trying golf, you should speak to any friends you have that play and see if they will take you to the driving range.
There you can learn how to swing the club and hit the ball. Once you feel good with that you should waste no time in getting onto the course.
There are a lot of stigmas around golf. The dress code, the members who get annoyed at beginners out there and so on, but please don’t be put off by this nonsense.
Yes, golf may have clubs where these things happen but it is really not very common at all.
Golf is something that has brought a huge amount of joy to my life. It is a sport I will love until my dying days, of that I have absolutely no doubt.
Find a friend and get yourself started on your golfing journey. I promise your only regret will be that you didn’t start sooner.
Hi, I am Matthew, a mid handicap golfer who likes to play as much as possible. I love trying out new gear and this blog is where you can find all the gear I have tested over the years!
