Discover the Mental Health Benefits of Playing Golf

STRESS RELIEF 

“Being in the great outdoors naturally has a multitude of mental health benefits, including naturally lowering your anxiety and reducing the effects of depression,” Haidan Smith says, the Director of International Trade at SurprizeShop, a retailer of women’s golfing accessories and apparel. “While you might not think golf is a good workout—a good game never feels like one—the endorphins released by the low impact exercise not only reduce pain, but provide relief for emotional stress.”

“In addition, If you feel frustrated and want to get your aggression out, picking up a golf club and hitting a ball as far as you can is one of the greatest ways to relax,” she added.

IMPROVED CONFIDENCE

There’s no better confidence booster than hitting a hole-in-one. By getting out of the house and enjoying the benefits of playing golf regularly, an improvement in your game over time will help boost your self esteem. With all of the exercise involved with golf, you may even feel more confident in your appearance after playing.

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BETTER SLEEP

When you sleep better, you feel better, and there’s no doubt that a long game of golf can end with you feeling tired—or even downright exhausted.

“And, the better your sleep, the better your golf. Studies have shown that a bad night’s rest can actually raise your handicap, so you should strive for some serious ZZZ’s before any big games,” Smith says.

SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

We all need friends for our personal happiness and fulfillment in life, and one of the best ways to meet like-minded people is to spend time in a place that amplifies your interests—in this case, that place being the golf club. Whether you connect with a fellow golfer over the latest tournament scores or by inviting a new coworker out for a round of golf, the social benefits of playing golf can help ward off feelings of loneliness, increase your happiness and even sharpen your mind.

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HAPPINESS

As you play golf, the physical exercise leads to a release of important endorphins in your brain, producing a mood-boosting effect. So, the next time you’re feeling down, pick up your golf bag and head to the green to de-stress and find feelings of happiness and joy.