Why Is Golf So Addictive? (Top 10 Reasons)

 

Whether you have been playing golf for one week or your entire lifetime, you have probably picked up on the fact that it can be quite addictive.

Golf tends to be one of the most addictive sports out there.

Regardless of your ability, the way that this game continues to bring you back week after week is pretty remarkable.

The fact that golf is so addictive is also partly why golfers spend so much money and so much time being involved with the game.

If you have ever wondered why golf is so addictive, we have done some in-depth research for you.

Golf is addictive for several different reasons, and some of them will vary depending on who you are as a person and as a golfer.

Let’s take a look at why the sport of golf is so addictive.

 

Why Is Golf So Addictive? (Top 10 Reasons)

 

1. It’s Fun

 

Golf is fun.

Even though it is one of the most frustrating games you will ever play, it is also quite a bit of fun.

Players will find that even when they have a bad hole, there can be one shot that brings them back and makes them realize that golf is fun.

In addition to the game itself, other factors make golf fun.

For instance, you get to spend time with friends, there are minimal outside distractions, and it can be a great break from your everyday routine.

Anything that is fun tends to be more addictive.

The thing about golf is that the better you get, the more fun it will be.

So many players say that they don’t care as long as they can break 100.

After these players break 100, they will say that they don’t care about their score, but they wish they could break 90.

This cycle continues because these golfers realize that the lower you shoot, the more fun golf becomes.

This is not to say that high handicappers cannot have fun on the golf course.

It’s just that making pars and birdies is something that all golfers strive for.

Therefore, to have more fun and to play better, you need to spend more time golfing and working on your game.

As you can see, this leads to quite the golf addiction.

Once you set your mind to trying to get better at golf, you will notice that you can’t stop thinking about the sport.

When you aren’t on the course, you’ll be reading or studying or practicing.

Don’t let anyone tell you that golf is not fun.

As soon as you have some basic skills and the desire to play better, you will see how much fun it can be.

 

2. Golf Changes Constantly

 

The basic routine of playing a round of golf is the same every single time you go out.

However, there are constant changes the golfers must adjust to.

Golf course conditions can never be exactly the same from one day to another.

Weather factors come into play but so do the speeds of the green and the thickness of the rough.

The game of golf changes constantly.

Your body will change from one day to the next, and your swing will change right along with it.

Golfers tend to seek these days when everything lines up.

They will expect the golf course conditions and their swing to all be in top condition that day.

As we all know, this is a very rare occurrence and will rarely happen.

This constant seeking of the perfect conditions becomes addictive.

Players will want to find out exactly how they can get better at the game despite all of these changes.

This is quite addicting and will keep players coming back round after round.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Playing golf well is difficult and will require your constant attention and effort.

 

3. Can Always Do Better

 

As a golfer, it is very rare to experience a perfect round.

In fact, serious players will tell you that they have never had a perfect round of golf.

There is always a mistake somewhere out there on the golf course.

Some days, maybe you hit a drive slightly down the right-hand side.

Other days, you could flub the chip or miss a green and then end up with a three-putt.

No matter what, there will be a time and a place when you can say that you could have done better.

Although this can apply to many sports, it is very apparent in the game of golf.

This has a lot to do with the fact that golf is an individual sport.

No matter what happens out on the golf course that day, it will be your fault.

This is a good thing, but on the bad days, you will be looking for something or somebody else to blame it on.

Some golfers will have the round of their life, and that afternoon, they will look back on it and think about all the mistakes they made.

This is because, no matter how good you are at golf, you can always do better.

Think about the professionals who shoot 62 to win a tournament.

This is an incredibly low score that amateur golfers will never even come close to.

However, when those golfers do their interviews after their round, they will talk about the missed opportunities and chances that they had.

Clearly, you can see that these players are addicted to the sport simply because they can always do better.

With the way that life has become easier and technology has helped us to get there, the fact that golf has not been perfected is one of the reasons it is so addictive.

 

4. Many People Play It

 

Golf is often used as an opportunity for people to bond.

When two strangers meet and find out that they both play golf, they almost don’t feel like strangers anymore.

As a golfer, you become part of a more significant group or family of golfers.

This entire group has a love for the game in common, and this can be a bonding experience.

The fact that you will feel as though you are part of something certainly helps the game to be a more addictive sport.

Many golfers will tell you that the best friends they have are the ones they met on the golf course.

These people spend four- or five-hour blocks of time together with no distractions and a simple love for the game.

With the way that the world is currently going, this is sort of rare.

Finding people who have a common interest in a sport can be rare.

However, because so many people play golf, it is not all that hard to find friends or acquaintances who will enjoy a golf game with you.

Although there is nothing wrong with rare sports like fencing or curling, it’s much harder to find a group of people to talk to about these sports.

The fact that many people play the game of golf is another reason it is so addictive.

 

5. Gets You In Better Shape

 

For a long time, golf has not been looked at as an athletic sport, but recently, this has completely changed.

Golfers on the professional tours who compete for money and play the game as their career have to be in exceptionally good physical condition.

Studies have been done that prove that the faster your swing speed and the more efficient your swing, the better golfer you can be.

Of course, you don’t need to learn to hit the ball 320 yards to play, but having some power in your swing can help you become a tremendous player.

In addition, when you play on the golf course and walk, you will be burning calories and doing great things for your body.

For those who have a hard time starting an exercise regimen, sometimes learning to play golf is a perfect solution.

You can start by playing nine holes and just bringing a few clubs along with you.

Eventually, you will work your way up to playing a full 18-hole round while carrying a full bag of clubs.

There is no questioning the fact that golf gets people in better shape.

Take a look at some of the retired people in your community.

Chances are those who look younger and are in better physical condition probably play quite a bit of golf.

Now, of course, this game is not going to get you ready for any bodybuilding championships.

However, it almost feels like a sneaky and fun way to keep yourself in excellent condition.

If you don’t like the gym and you aren’t much of a runner, try picking up a golf club and seeing what it can do for you.

 

6. Reason To Be Outside

 

Golf gives people a reason to be outside.

This doesn’t mean just going outside to get the mail, either.

With a round of golf, you will be outside for at least five hours.

By the time you get to the golf course, hit a few balls on the driving range, play a round, and then finish up afterward, you can expect to have spent most of the day outside.

We have all learned that spending time outside is much healthier than spending time inside.

You will feel as though your head is clearer and that you can experience nature while you are out on the golf course.

Most people find that they sleep better and breathe easier after spending that many hours outdoors.

With the way golf technology has improved, accommodations can also be made to help when you are trying to play in cold or hot weather.

You can find the gear that keeps you warm and lets you play even when it’s 40 degrees or below.

In addition, on those days when it’s 100 degrees outside, there are cooling devices to help make the day more enjoyable.

If you need a reason to be outside, golf can do it, and that can make it even more addictive.

So many players find that they simply don’t want to go back inside after a round of golf.

You will see people out on the driving range or simply sitting outside to enjoy lunch with friends.

For those who need a new appreciation of the world around them and the outdoors, golf can certainly do it, and that makes it addictive.

 

7. Can Invest In It And Play Your Entire Life

 

Golf is not the only sport that requires a lot of time and education to master.

However, golf is one of the only sports that allows you to play it your entire life.

Therefore, the time and the money that you put in seems to be well worth it considering you will be playing the game for many years.

Some people play golf for fifty or more years, and they feel as though the time they put in practicing has only helped to increase their enjoyment.

For people who are practical and think these things through, does it make more sense to put time into the game of golf or the game of football?

Of course, if you have a chance at becoming a professional football player, you should certainly spend your time working on your game.

However, playing amateur football well into your 60s, 70s, and 80s is probably unrealistic.

With golf, you can play until you are 100 years old.

Therefore, the time and the money that you have been putting into the game throughout your life seems to justify themselves.

This simple fact makes the game more addictive.

Golfers feel as though they are investing in something that is going to impact their future and forever be a part of their lives.

It makes much more sense to stick with something that has no end in sight as opposed to something that you may only play for three or four years.

This concept starts hitting people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, and then it continues throughout the rest of their lives.

Athletes who are good at sports throughout high school and college often find that finding organized sports after this age is nearly impossible.

However, golf offers the competitive drive, exercise, and overall challenge that these athletes are looking for.

In addition, it has the longevity that all humans need to live an active and long life.

 

8. History And Traditions

 

Once you become serious about the game of golf, you will realize that there are quite a few historical facts about this incredibly interesting game.

Golf has one of the broadest and most impressive histories of any sport out there.

When you look at the game’s history and start to realize the types of people who have played this throughout the years, it may make you feel a deeper connection to the sport.

It is not rare for serious players to be very into the history and the traditions of the game.

There’s something about the way that this game was created and how it has continued to maintain the traditions for hundreds of years that makes it very appealing.

The history and the traditions of the game of golf are not necessary to learn, but most people find them very enjoyable.

Having this aspect of history with current professionals and your own golfing ability can be a very powerful combination that keeps you coming back to the game.

In addition, some specific courses have been around for many years and have had famous golfers play on them.

Playing a golf course that Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer once enjoyed will be a very special experience.

Some players will continue to strive to find these opportunities, and it only adds to the addictive nature of golf.

Knowing that you can share in a part of this history and tradition of the game makes the sport much more interesting and enjoyable.

This is also why you see so many educated and professional people enjoying the sport of golf.

There are so many layers and so much depth to the sport that it just keeps people coming back.

 

9. It Can’t Be Mastered

 

The game of golf can’t be mastered.

If you have enjoyed watching golf over the last 30 years, you have seen players like Tiger Woods get as close as possible to being a master of the sport.

However, does Tiger still have bad rounds?

Of course, he does, and that is why the game can never be mastered.

There are way too many variables, and each time you head out to the golf course, the experience is going to be entirely different from the last time you were on the golf course.

Although this can be frustrating, it also adds to the addictive nature of the sport.

For those who are competitive or have quite a bit of willpower, a game that can’t be mastered is going to be incredibly interesting.

Even though golfers know in the back of their minds that they will never master the game, they continue to try.

Year after year, they apply or purchase new equipment, spend time on their games, and research everything they can about the sport.

All of this time spent working on golf is enjoyable and entertaining, but it will never lead you to master the game.

For some golfers, mastering will mean breaking 100, while for others, it will mean playing on professional tours.

However, there will never be a perfect golfer.

 

10. Repetitive Nature Of Golf

 

Last but certainly not least is the repetitive nature of golf.

People like predictable experiences that are repetitive.

Even if you are an adventure-seeking person, there are times when you will look for an activity that you can rely on and predict.

This is how golf is.

You will show up to the course, hit a few balls on the range, play the course that you love, enjoy time with your friends, and head back next week to try it again.

Once you start hitting the golf ball a bit more consistently, then you will find that the game becomes even more repetitive.

This is a good thing.

When you know that your 7-iron will travel 150 yards and it will stay straight, golf is even more addictive.

When you have these types of things mastered, you will continue to work on other areas of the game and eventually see where your skills can take you.

Chances are if you put in the time, you can become a great player.

With the addictive nature of golf, this happens to some people very quickly.

The game of golf should come with a disclaimer that says, “Don’t attempt unless you have the time to let this sport take over your life.”