Mark Twain said once that golf is a way to ruin a country’s good walking. However, a sport like golf, with its millions of fans and players, plus over 30,000 courses all around the globe, surely has something. Why is golf so popular?
P.J. O’Rourke’s claim that “Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: taking long walks and hitting things with a stick”The game of golf offers many benefits for players of any level. It provides an escape from urban chaos. It is hard to emphasize the life-enhancing benefits of fresh air, beautiful scenery and temporary returns to rural settings. Golf provides these qualities in abundance. Aside from the obvious benefits to the environment that golf offers, the courses can provide an urban ‘wilderness,’ which provides great benefits for ecology as well as for the local community.
Today’s society is characterized by many individuals who are unable to work at their desks. Although they are working extremely hard, it doesn’t mean that their bodies have to go through the same physical stressors as our forefathers. Although this can be a great thing, too much exercise can have serious consequences. Playing a round golf will require you to walk for at least two miles even though it is short. As you go around the course, you will be making repeated swings that give your upper body a gentle work out.
The game of golf is a great place to compete with your peers, or against yourself. A golfer will never feel satisfied. The quest to improve their skills can make it addictive.
Because golf can be played at an easy pace, it’s a social sport that allows players to have conversations. It allows for a relaxed time with friends and it is also a great sport to play in business. This makes the game more popular than in the typical boardroom.