

There is a steep learning curve, and it requires a substantial amount of practice just to be able to consistently hit the ball. The calculus is perpetually shifting, and players must use all of their guile to work out the solution.Īnyone who’s played a round can tell you that golf is difficult. From 160 yards, you might have a straightforward eight iron onto the green when conditions are benign, but if the wind is at your back perhaps a high fade or even a club less could be the play.

Weather and course conditions are constantly changing, ensuring that every shot is different minute to minute. Golf is a game that presents varying challenges every time you tee it up. Those who take a cart are still likely to get close to 10,000 steps in during a round, which is not only good for burning a few calories but benefits overall cardiovascular health as well.

It goes almost without saying that actually walking the course is preferable as opposed to taking a cart. During four hours trodding the links, players can walk between five and eight miles, depending on the course, and burn 300 calories per hour on average. Want to shed a couple pounds? If you’re not pounding beers or double-fisting hot dogs at the turn, a walking round of 18 holes will help that weight come off. Plus, regular rounds of golf decrease the risk of more than 40 major chronic diseases including heart attacks and certain types of cancer. In fact, Swedish research indicates that golfers can live up to five years longer than non-golfers on average.Īnd you can spend those five extra years logging even more rounds - especially since golf is low-impact and easy on the joints, allowing you to play well into your golden years. It may not be quite as beneficial as running or hitting the elliptical for an hour, but as part of a well-balanced exercise regimen, study after study confirms that golf is good for you, even if you are bad at it.Ī 2018 statement by the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that golf was not only associated with improving cardiovascular risk factors and mental well-being but also increased life expectancy. And, actually, it’s really good exercise.
