Research has shown that the average age of golfers in the United States is 54. In fact, among the 29 million golfers in the United States, many are aged above 54! For folks who are thinking of picking up golf or going back to the sport, be glad to know that there are numerous social, mental, and physical benefits of golf for seniors. Allow us to list some of the good points and by the end of this article, you will be convinced why golf is the perfect sport for seniors. Let’s roll!
Meet New People and Stay Connected with Your Loved Ones
There is a reason why business associates like to bond over a game of golf or two. It’s not just a way to stay connected with your acquaintances, it’s also a genius way to meet like-minded friends who share the same hobby. Don’t be afraid to accept invitations to join new golf groups and expand your social network.
In addition, golf is also a great sport for seniors to meet with their children, grandchildren, and even grandkids! Most golf courses also have on-site restaurants where you can have family meals together after your golf routine – fabulous opportunities for you to get all the latest, juicy updates on what’s happening in your extended family’s lives.
Sharpen Your Mental Focus and Keep Your Brain Actively Engaged
Being idle for prolonged periods can make you lose your mental focus since your brain is not engaged on a routine basis. Playing golf regularly will provide an avenue for you to exercise your brainpower by visualizing distance, and calculating scores, all while taking into account the speed and wind directions.
Such mental activities can help you to develop mental focus in the long run! As a bonus, you will also learn to exercise more patience since the sport requires you to wait for your turn to play. While walking between the shots, you’ll also be able to get some exercise in!
Increase Your Coordination, Physical Strength, and Extend Life Expectancy
We all know how coordination becomes a considerable problem as we age. With golf, you get to practice your hand-eye coordination and manage age-related vision issues. With different colored flags and objects on the course, your eyes are given opportunities to distinguish colors under natural lighting.
Your physical strength will also significantly improve as you engage your muscles to make that on-point swing. Even better, you may want to work with a personal trainer to tone those muscles and increase muscle mass for better golf plays in the months to come.
Golf itself is considered a low-intensity exercise but at the same time, all the effort you put in helps improve your general health and well-being. In fact, Swedish medical university, The Karolinska Institute, published a study stating that regular golfers are 40% less likely to die, and have extended life expectancy.
Are you now sold on why golf is the perfect sport for seniors? Consistent golf practice, when done right, can contribute to your social, mental, and physical health. While it’s good to pick up golf as a new hobby, don’t rush into perfecting your play. Have fun and enjoy the process!
