Golf Is A Lot of Fun, But Also Has Many Hidden Benefits

Golf is a great game and a lot of fun, but there are many other benefits to it other than just enjoying a day out in the sunshine.

To begin with, golf is a great sport for socialising. Years ago, golf clubs used to be thought of as somewhere for the "top brass" to go and take the day off when those lower down the scale – we poor employees – carried on working for a pittance so that they could afford to do that.

Thank heavens, all that has changed in the last few years. Golf clubs today, are places that can be enjoyed by almost anyone, whatever their assumed social status, and clubs are very welcoming to new members of all ages and backgrounds.

What's more, if you are new to golf you will find that existing club members are only too willing to show you the ropes and help with tips and tricks to improve your game. The Clubhouse is a welcoming friendly place where you can relax and socialise even if you are not actually playing a round that day: it is open to all members at all times.

Golf is also wonderful for reducing stress and anxiety. Whatever the problems of everyday life, you forget them all when you are out on the links. Just going for a good long walk in the sunshine and fresh air does wonders for your levels of endorphin and serotonin, the hormones that make you happy.

But golf does more than that. You must concentrate so hard that you literally forget all your worries because your brain hasn't got enough room for them.

It is rather like building an Airfix Plane making kit (they were pre-1980 entertainment before the PlayStation was invented, for anyone not old enough to remember!): there are so many parts to an Airfix model kit that you absolutely MUST fit them and paint them in the right order, and you must concentrate so hard that time almost ceases to exist. You simply don't have any room left to worry about anything else.

With Golf, you also need to keep your mind sharp. Working out the risk and reward elements of a shot, keeps your brain engaged, as do totting up scores and other facets of the game.

Then there is the aspect of physical fitness. The average golf game requires a walk of around 5 – 6 miles which burns around 1,500 calories on a flat course and more if it is hilly. This exercise and subsequent benefits are also being discussed as a sport, which can reduce the risk of contracting Dementia and Alzheimer's in your senior years. (Of course, you can also take a buggy if you prefer!).

However, even if you do you will still use more energy than a workout in the gym. Golf is a great game for achieving weight loss.

Golf is also what is described as a "low impact" sport in that it doesn't put a lot of wear and tear on the joints as do games such as rugby, soccer, and tennis, which can lead to long term damage.

Another great advantage of golf is that it is easy to get started. You can usually hire clubs and equipment at most clubs and "pay as you play" golf courses, and you can get instruction too.

In fact, getting some instruction and practice is the best idea, so that you do not feel silly by making a really bad decision over a shot and thus annoying other players who may have to wait for you.

Another great idea when you take up golf is to join either a traditional golf club or one of the growing number of Online Golf Clubs that are now springing up all over the globe. You can get an online golf club membership in the UK that allows you to play at many of the clubs in London, Essex, Surrey, Kent and many surroundings counties!

In addition, an Online Golf Club can be a great place to learn an awful lot about the sport and talk to other members of all ages and abilities in the forums that they have available.

Furthermore, you will find that these clubs have all sorts of other benefits such as reviews of courses that have been played by other members and the ability to track your handicap and obtain an Online Handicap Certificate.

Some of these Online Golf Clubs also have special offers for members to play at courses at a discount (always welcome) and run all kinds of events and competitions which can help to increase your skills.

Not only do these online golf clubs discuss courses locally to you in the UK, some of them have access to courses worldwide, which means that if you are going to Spain for your holiday, for example, you could be able to play on local courses out there.

The Social Golfer (www.thesocialgolfer.com) offers online golf club membership in London, England, Wales and Scotland and is which is now the largest online golf society and golf club in the UK. It has many benefits for members who can register free of charge and take advantage of special offers, course reviews by members, golf events, and a lot more.