Seven Reasons Men Play Golf
- Golfing is one of the most popular sports in the worldGolf image by Vanessa van Rensburg from Fotolia.com
Golf has emerged from its humble northern European origins into the global spotlight. It has become a staple sport for men the world over, and yet tends to stir debate. Why, exactly, do men golf? What is so enticing about its curious subculture? Why is it largely considered a "guy's game" that builds such devotion? - Golf is competitive, and puts heavy demands on playersGolf Legs image by Vanessa van Rensburg from Fotolia.com
Golf is first and foremost a competitive sport. That means it attracts sport enthusiasts. Players pit their skills against each other for the lowest score, and also against the unique challenges posed by the courses themselves. Golf demands skill and strategy. Like any sport, there is mental calculation and physical achievement. Golf also has the versatility of being a sport that can be played in social groups, with partners, or solo. - It isn't just in Japan that golf is a viable venue for hobnobbing with the boss. In the United States, Europe and Asia corporate employees will learn to play golf just for the business opportunities it allows. With golf, they can rub elbows with managers, supervisors and even CEOs. Golf becomes a backdrop where a savvy employee can network and do some career-minded socializing.
- It may lack the energetic drama of basketball or hockey, but golf gets men outside, burns calories and can be heart-healthy exercise. Many men are attracted to it precisely because its the kind of exercise they can perform without the rigors (or risks) of either faster-paced sports or the gym. Walking the 18 holes of a course gets the blood flowing. In this regard, golf is an equalizer. Older men who will shy away from a basketball course can get a golf workout alongside younger players.
- Golf is a fun way to socialize. It can be viewed as the open-air equivalent of a "guys' bowling night." Since golf is a self-paced sport, a group of friends can use it as a backdrop for meaningful conversation or playful unwinding. It presents an entirely different (and arguably healthier) social forum than a bar, for instance. Golfing buddies will make a day of it, meeting at the clubhouse, playing the course and concluding at a nearby restaurant.
- The devoted golfer will travel in pursuit of good coursesgolf image by Arraial from Fotolia.com
The dedicated golfer knows where the best courses are. If he is a real connoisseur (and geographically blessed) he may travel just to play them. By virtue of their very construction, golf courses are beautiful, wide- open spaces built with an eye for aesthetics and natural wonder. They may not be the Coliseum of Rome or the Three Gorges Dam, but a collection of varied courses can attract golf-minded men. - Golf rewards concentration, balance and focusgolfer image by itsallgood from Fotolia.com
We're not talking yoga or channeling one's chi, although the argument can be made that any activity can provide focus, contemplation and inner balance. Some men play golf strictly to commune with the universe, to become part of a system of angles, forces, sunsets, rainstorms and local wildlife. Think of it as a notch above an ordinary woodland hike. The game of golf involves the participant in ways that a regular jog might not. - Golf is its own societygolfers with carts image by itsallgood from Fotolia.com
Self-esteem is important to men. It's important to everyone. Golf can be tailored to your set of expectations and goals, and pits you against... well... yourself. Whether its benefiting from the "alone time" or "buddy time" in a game, or striving to improve your swing, golf can build self-esteem, confidence and good mental health. It doesn't hurt that it also offers a roster of cognitive exercises that can improve both brain chemistry and emotional outlook.
