Why Do People Like Golf? (10 Reasons)

 

If you are a fan of golf, chances are you can find a million reasons to play the game.

However, not all people feel this way.

Some have no idea why people play the sport, and they actually don’t understand the motivation to start.

There are some great reasons people love the game of golf.

You need to understand these reasons so that you can decide whether or not this is the sport for you.

Here are ten reasons people like golf, but you should be warned, there are dozens more!

 

Why Do People Like Golf? (10 Reasons)

 

1. It’s Addicting

 

Golf is one of those sports you may end up getting hooked on whether you like it or not.

With golf being incredibly addicting, many people start and then realize that they can’t give it up.

Those who have been playing golf for many years will likely tell you they are obsessed.

It’s tough to give up on golf because it’s so fun, and it keeps challenging you to do better.

So many times, you go out and have a bad day on the golf course, only to come to the last hole and make a putt that encourages you to stick with the game even longer.

All it takes in golf is that one great shot to get hooked and want to keep returning.

Even though golf is difficult, most rounds have at least a few holes or a few shots that remind you of how great it can be to shoot low scores or hit that perfect shot.

 

2. Golf Creates A Challenge

 

As young people, there are lots of challenges in our lives.

We are faced with things in school and youth sports that keep us motivated and wanting to challenge ourselves.

Golf creates a challenge for people, making it a very important thing in our lives as we age.

When you are challenged, it’s good for your brain and your mindset.

You can think about how you can work on your game and make changes in your life to help promote better golf scores.

Some of these are physical, and some are mental changes, but the bottom line is that you will be challenging yourself and working on becoming a better player.

If you feel you need a new avenue in your life that will open many doors, golf could certainly be it.

Even as you get better, you will find yourself opened up to more challenges.

 

3. A Reason To Spend Time Outside

 

Golf encourages people to spend time outside.

Some people want to spend time outside but can’t figure out how to do it and stay busy at the same time.

With golf, you will be out on the course for four to six hours each time.

In fact, you may even stay out there for more than six hours if you end up practicing before your round.

Being outside is great for your physical and mental health, and it’s a major reason why people enjoy the game of golf.

Keep in mind that spending time outside also means you must be careful of the sun.

Some golfers struggle with skin issues because of exposure to the sun, but this can be helped by taking proper precautions.

Doctors have proven that spending time outside provides tremendous health benefits.

When you play a round of golf, you won’t even have to think about spending time outside. It just happens naturally.

 

4. Allows You to Be Social

 

If you need to make friends, you can find them on the golf course.

Golfers typically play in groups of four people.

This means you can head to a golf course and get paired with several other golfers.

These golfers will often become friends.

One of the great things about the game is that there is a common interest and love between players.

This lets golfers feel more connected to each other, and it’s a common bond that will create almost an instant friendship.

Once you find the golfers you enjoy playing with, chances are you can get into a weekly game with them.

As adults get older, it can be hard to find ways to spend hours with friends.

The golf course is a great place to do this, and you will have plenty of time to catch up and talk while you play.

Some golfers like a quiet round here and there to work on their skills.

At most courses, if you go in the early morning hours of the day or later at night, you can find some space on the course to play golf by yourself.

 

5. Great Professional Players To Watch

 

Another reason people like golf is that it can be very entertaining to watch professionals and see how they play the game.

We can learn a great deal from these professionals and work towards getting our game to be more like theirs.

Professional golfers also play at beautiful golf courses, and many of these courses have quite a bit of history.

For instance, watching the Masters Tournament is a really special experience.

Knowing that so many of the best players in history have also played the same course makes the game of golf unique.

The events are also four-day events for the most part.

This means you can watch golf on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

If you can’t play golf all those days, at least you can be exposed to it somehow.

Golfers enjoy watching professionals and picking some of their favorites to follow and even try to emulate on the golf course.

 

6. Strong History

 

Speaking of history in the game, there is an endless amount of golf history that you can research if you find it interesting to you.

Golfers particularly find that the four major championships each year are entertaining to watch.

These major tournaments, the US Open, PGA Championship, British Open, and the Masters, have enough history for you to study for years.

Golfers like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, and Tiger Woods have lain down some amazing records that are awe-inspiring.

When you look at other sports, one of the things that can tie you to a lifelong love of the game is the history of the sport.

Relating to those who have played the game and understanding what it must be like to make a 15-foot putt to win a major championship is something that only makes golfers fall even more in love with the sport.

Junior golfers especially will look at the way that golfers can make a living by playing the sport each day, and it becomes pretty inspiring.

 

7. Can Help To Keep You Fit

 

Playing golf can help to keep you fit.

Although the sport is not as physically demanding as others, there is certainly plenty here that will keep you thin and even allow your heart rate to get up.

If you prefer to have more of a physical challenge, we encourage you to walk the golf course.

Most golf courses are about five miles long.

This five-mile distance will give you quite a few steps and burn some calories.

In addition, hitting golf balls at the driving range is also a workout.

You can increase your range of motion and stamina and really burn calories without feeling like you have to go sweat it out at the gym.

With golf being a low-impact activity, many people who need to develop some sort of exercise strategy in their life have been turning to golf.

It’s hard to find something that keeps you physically active for four or five hours.

However, with golf and the pace of play that you find at most golf courses, you won’t have much of a choice but to be out there for quite a few hours.

 

8. Wildlife And Scenery

 

Golf courses can be beautiful.

There are golf courses all over the world that have different types of wildlife and scenery.

You may play a course in California on the water that allows you to see whales in the pacific.

Head down to Florida to play a golf course with alligators in the ponds.

Then spend some time in Colorado, where elk will walk down the fairway as you look for your golf ball.

The possibilities are endless and even golf courses that are not considered famous or top courses still have some impressive scenery and wildlife that may keep you interested in what they have to offer.

Seeing birds and deer and foxes while you are out enjoying a round of golf only brings more people to the game.

Many times, as people get older, they develop a greater appreciation for wildlife and natural scenery, and the golf course does a great job of providing that.

Many golf course communities are built with this in mind.

 

9. Lifelong Sport

 

Golf can be played from the time a person is about two years old until the end of their life.

It’s hard to find this in other sports.

Although young kids can play soccer, it’s rare to find a senior soccer league.

Our bodies just don’t function in the same way as we age.

The result is a tendency to get injured and some difficulty keeping up with speed.

With golf, you have options as you age.

Golf clubs become easier to hit with senior shafted clubs that are lightweight and easy to swing.

In addition, senior golfers get to move up to a slightly shorter tee.

This leaves the senior player with a shorter hole to play and a better chance at getting a par on a hole.

In addition, as you get older, you can focus more on perfecting your short game than your long game and just become a more skilled player.

Essentially, golf will adjust with you as you age, and you won’t feel as though you wanted your entire young life on a sport that you can’t continue to play into adulthood.

The golf handicap system also allows a 35 handicapper to play against a 5 handicap and have it be a fair match.

This is just another reason that people find it to be a more fair and equitable lifelong game.

 

10. Can Reduce Stress And Anxiety

 

Playing golf can help you reduce stress and anxiety.

With all of the things we mentioned on our list, there is a general concept that the game of golf is also intended to be fun.

If your life is stress filled and you don’t get much downtime, golf will provide that for you.

Think about it this way.

When you are on the golf course, you can’t really be distracted.

If you are trying to work and golf, don’t go out there because it won’t happen.

Golf takes your full dedication, and you must pay close attention to what you are doing on the course.

Therefore, it makes sense to turn the phone off, enjoy your round, and reduce your overall anxiety.

It can take time to learn how to do this, but it is, without a doubt, possible.

Golfers all over the world have learned how to make the golf course their relaxation zone, and it has done wonders for them.

Golf became increasingly popular during Covid because people were using it to reduce stress, get in a fantastic walk, and safely socialize.

 

Final Thoughts

Even if golf is not your sport, and you are skeptical about taking it up, we hope you can now see why people like the game.

Golf is fun, it requires skill and attention to detail, but it has proven to be a good use of a person’s time.

Take the time to learn the sport, and you will see why people like golf so much.

Even if you are not good at the game, it will still bring you back round after round.

Challenge yourself to think of all the reasons you love the game of golf.

Chances are there are plenty more!