The game of golf is described by critics as “a long walk for no good reason,” but actually there are a number of reasons why taking up the sport could help keep you in tip-top condition.
First of all, of course golf does involve a good deal of walking, and walking is one of the best forms of exercise that we can get. In fact, a round of golf will typically see you having to walk for around four miles – and that’s if you play well! Keep sending the ball off in entirely the wrong direction and you could probably add an appreciable distance on top of that. The great thing about it, though, is that if you’re engrossed in the game, you barely even notice how far you have traveled on foot.
Not only does golf give your legs a good workout, the arms and upper body get plenty of exercise with all those long (and hopefully accurate) drives down the fairway. Like many sports, the focus and concentration also mean that it’s good mental exercise.
Many people take up golf when they are in their 40s and older, and in fact the older age groups derive tremendous benefit from the workout that they get from the sport by increasing muscle strength and bone density, two things that often dwindle naturally with age.