Why Golf is the Best Hobby

By: Ben McLaurin

Golf is one of the best hobbies as it combines solid physical activity with a significant mental component. Making it enjoyable to hang out with friends and have a good laugh or play a competitive round for money. Golf is a once-in-a-lifetime game and can be played by people of all ages and skill levels. Golf uses balance, coordination, and flexibility, and is good for older people. Walking across the beautiful green landscape and spending hours outdoors is also excellent for your well-being, leading to improved health and reduced stress.

Apart from the physical aspect, golf is also a game of the mind. Each round challenges people, and especially myself, to stay composed after bad shots and not have a snowball effect after one bad shot. The ability to stay calm after missing a putt or the ability to think ahead before a tricky shot helps to acquire patience and discipline—attributes which can be transferred well outside the course. Perseverance is also acquired through the game, with improvement through consistent practice and many rounds of golf.

Socially, golf encourages relationships. Whether played among friends, family, or random people met right before you head out for a round and decide to pair up, business partnerships and long-term friendships have developed on the course, as people are allowed to connect in a relaxed setting.

One of the things that makes golf such a fulfilling activity is that it is available and can be played in all countries, unlike many other sports. From small neighborhood courses to famous championship courses, it is easy to play almost anywhere. Technology has even branched out the activity into virtual golf simulators and online competitions. Golf is the perfect combination of relaxation. It’s a sport that calms the body, forces laser focus from the mind, and strengthens social bonds. While enabling players to work with what nature gives them on the course, from bad lies to perfect gaps between trees. These are qualities that make golf more than a hobby. It is a passion and one of the best hobbies anyone can experience.