Why play golf?

Golf has many reasons to play. Golf is a game and games should be fun. You can start golf at any age and play until any age. You can play alone or in a group. It increases your mental toughness and competitive juices. Golf has wow moments which are there to keep you going. You can play fun tournaments meeting new people in beautiful golf courses all over the world. Golf wont’t let you think you are better than you are! It will bring you right back.

Fun

Golf is just a game. Games are suppose to be fun. Sometimes when I sit in the clubhouse and watch the 18^th green and I see players come off the course and I notice and its quite obvious that they are not happy coming off the course. They should be smiling!

If we are golf professionals practicing hours on end everyday then we are allowed to get a bit agitated. But for a beginner to get all mad and to throw clubs does not help his cause. It’s just a game. Take a step back and look around and see the wildlife, maybe mountains or lakes and tress on the golf course. 

Health

A normal 18 hole golf course is about 4 miles (6.6 km) long from the tees through the middle of the fairways and on to the greens. It’s a straight line really. But sometimes we get our moneys worth from the greenfee by spraying the ball left and right. Thats adds considerable yards and meters to your round. But you get your moneys worth and see different parts of the golf course.

To start golf walk the course with a golf trolley. Or you could walk and add an electric trolley which will help with hills and tiredness. The next level would be an electric cart to ride. Put some beers in the drinks in the cart and off you go. I started 30 years ago by carrying my bag on my shoulder with a carry bag. Now I’m at the trolley or electric trolley stage! But you will be exhausted after 18 holes if you don’t have some fitness. Put on your fitness watch and see the calories go! 

Social

Golf is great to meet people young and old. It is easier to start golf with a partner or friend. Some beginners are not open to play with better experienced players. But that should and not matter as everyone plays their own ball. Everyone has to start and this game takes a lifetime.

There are beginner golf tournaments which are played with fun formats and its easy to meet people all in the same boat as you. You will meet people from all walks of life. After the round just go into the clubhouse for your drink or a meal and there will be lots of people to have fun with. That being said there are private clubs that are a bit more high society and maybe are not open to the public player.

Starting young and old

There are not many sports where you can play over your lifetime. You can play just after you start to walk and up to 100 years of age. When your grandparent or parents bring you to the golf course when you are very small its the best way to start. Starting when you are younger is always easier then later in life.

Today is the best time to start. It’s easier when you are younger as you are more flexible and have more speed in your swing. As you get older and are less flexible it takes more of an effort. But its a great sport to start to learn something new. Having your family days on the golf course keeps everyone happy. Everyone can play in one group and it’s fun to be all together. 

Business

For business persons golf is advertised as a great place to do business in a relaxed fun setting. You can treat your clients to a round of golf with practice range and then afterwards food and drinks. In between the shot you make your business deals and sign papers! But always let your client or customer win as it’s easier to do business.  

Mental challenging

Golf has many important decisions to make on the golf course. Where is my target? Which way can I attack the green? Go over the water as its shorter or go around the water which might be longer? But it may save you a shot going over the water. A well designed golf course encourages these types of decisions and rewards the player when you take a shot on over the water on. What happens when you take a more of a direct line to the green.

And then the ball ends up in Out of bounds? What do you do? Get mad? Throw clubs? Or focus on the next shot? What happens when you make great shot and takes an unlucky bounce into the trees? It’s unfair?

Its how we deal with these events which make us stronger and better. Just like life. Play golf with the motto: Everything is possible and anything can happen. When you play golf the ball with go everywhere literally. From the middle of the fairway to bunkers to deep rough to out of bounds. Just know that starting your round and then you can’t get mad!

Competitive 

Playing golf will increase your competitive juices if you have some. Some people are naturally competitive in their daily lives. Others are not. If you really like to win and get better then golf is perfect for you.

There are lots of tournaments to play. Or you can just go out with your friends and play for a few beers or dinner. But having said that you don’t need to be competitive at golf. Just go out and play. No one will judge you or worry about you except yourself. 

Tournaments

There are lots of fun golf tournaments to play. A lot of tournaments are played in teams of 2 or 4 in the group. The Texas Scramble is the most popular tournament format.

Everyone tees off and then you decide which ball lies the best (it can be anywhere, doesn’t have to be on fairway, but being in the fairway middle will help). Then you pick up the other balls and drop them close to the  ball that lies the best. Then continue this until the ball is holed out. There are so many other fun tournaments you can play. I will write another post about them. There are always great fun prizes for the winners!

Nature and scenic

Some golf courses are set in some of the most beautiful locations in the world. On the coast, with the cliffs down to the water, or have your backdrop as mountains in the Rockies of the Alps. Or just through a forest of trees with the fairways lined with beautiful trees on both side as you play. 

Golf is played in really every country. United States, Canada, Ireland, England, Scotland, Spain, Portugal & Australia are the most popular and are the big golfing powers. There are so many beautiful exotic places to play golf. Start at your home course and get good there then venture out and around.

Wow moment

Every new golfer will expeierence a wow moment when they hit the green from 100 yards or ithe ball flies over the trees. Or just hitting a good shot and seeing the ball fly! These moments are wonderful for the confidence and education. Unfortunely these moments are not everyday but often enough that you don’t give up. These moments are perfectly timed that you get the wow moment exactly when you need it! So wait for your wow moment. Golf is not an easy game. But its a simple game. 

Travel

There are fabulous golf destinations all around the world. When snow is on the ground in the northern states or countries you can have the opportunity to head south to where golf is played all year round. There are beautiful golf resorts with golf and leisure facilities. It caters for the whole family. 

Play alone or in a group

In golf you can play alone or with your partner or with 2 others or as a four ball. There are not many sports that you can play alone or with someone. In tennis you always need a partner. And in doubles in tennis when your partners are better or have a worst level as you then its not much fun.

But in golf you can play alone or with a group of up to maximum 4 persons. And it doesn’t matter what level you are when you play golf. Everyone plays their own ball. So there is no pressure when you play with more accomplished players.  You just play your ball and don’t worry what the other players are doing.