Image Up Advertising & Design

22 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | OCTOBER 2021 | By Brian Garlington, PGA, Director of Golf The National Golf Foundation count showed 24.8 million golfers in the U.S. in 2020, an increase of 500,000 and two percent over 2019. It is the largest net increase in 17 years. New players (both beginners playing their first round and lapsed golfers coming back to the game for the first time in years) numbered 6.2 million, the highest that number has ever been. With so many people hitting the course for the first time, it should be no surprise that there are quite a few benefits to playing. For those who are still on the fence about wanting to play golf, we've gathered this list of nine reasons everyone should get a set of clubs and head out to the course. As you'll soon see, there's something for everyone when it comes to the great game of golf, so get ready to find out how this sport can benefit you! 1. Good Exercise First and foremost, golf is good exercise. Not only do you spend a lot of time on your feet, but you also do a lot of walking. In fact, most courses will have you walking around four miles by the end, so you'll certainly get in your daily step goals. 2. Be in the Great Outdoors When you play a round of golf, you'll spend that time outside. That means bringing plenty of sunscreen, but it also means you'll get the benefits that come with spending time outside. Some benefits of being outdoors include: • Better sleep • Lower blood pressure • Decreased depression • Boost creative thinking • Less anxiety Being in a beautiful location where you can take in nature like its art certainly doesn't hurt either! 3. Make New Friends While there's nothing wrong with playing golf with a friend, another benefit of playing golf is that you can make new friends. One of the easiest ways to do that is to head to the course by yourself. Let the Pro Shop know you're willing to join others, and they'll be more than happy to set you up with other willing groups. Another way to meet new people is to join a golf club and play in their various tournaments and mixers. Before you know it, you'll be heading out for a celebratory drink with a new friend or two. 4. Challenge Yourself Unlike many team sports, golf is personal. Most of the time, you play against yourself to try to beat your own previous record. This makes it a lot of fun to work hard and try to do better than the last time you played. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to improve your game, so you can keep learning and improving. As you get better, you can set new goals for yourself to knock more and more strokes off your score. 5. Build Character Part of the challenge of golf is that it can be frustrating at times. However, we see this as an opportunity to build character. When you miss a putt or land in the sand trap for the third time, you have a choice to make. You can get upset which will likely make your game even worse, or you can take a deep breath and recognize that sometimes, life doesn't go as planned. In those quiet moments out on the course, you also have the chance to see the bigger picture. Maybe you don't need to get so upset when your pet makes a mess in the house or when your waiter forgets your drink order. 6. Relaxation We briefly mentioned that being outdoors can help you ease anxiety. This is particularly true if you're playing by yourself. When it's just you, your club, and the ball, it's easy to allow the rest of your problems to slip away. You can focus only on the problem at hand, which is getting that ball into the hole. Sometimes, it's taking that time away from your problems in the office or at home that allows you to put things into perspective. Then, you can return with a refreshed mind and renewed resolve to calmly resolve problems. 7. Better Health All of these things put together will help you improve your health out on the golf course. The exercise you'll get and the time spent outside are both huge parts of it, but even improved relationships have a positive impact on your health. One other specific way golf improves your health is by allowing you to get the sunlight needed to get enough vitamin D. This essential vitamin is made in your body but is triggered by exposure to sunlight. Getting enough vitamin D may help you: • Lower your risk of cancer • Boost your immune system • Help body absorb calcium to prevent bone loss You only need about 15 minutes of sun exposure to gain these benefits, so a round of golf will give you plenty of vitamin D! Good golfing! Seven Reasons Why Everyone Should Play Golf

• Cover