Did you know Golfers Live Longer?
Did you know Golfers Live Longer?
Hi, I’m Mel Sole, Director of Instruction at the Mel Sole Golf School, headquartered at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club in Pawleys Island, SC. We conduct 1, 2, and 3-day golf schools, hourly golf lessons, and senior golf schools—any golf instruction program your heart desires. Give us a call at 800-624-4653 or 843-237-4993. We will be happy to book a commuter school or a package that contains accommodations, golf, and golf school.
Golf Blog by the Mel Sole Golf School.
Here is something I didn't know, but I'm glad I found out. Golfers live longer! A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports is based on 300,000 Swedish golfers and shows that golf has beneficial health effects. In addition, golfers have a lower death rate regardless of sex, age, and social group. So I guess I'll be playing golf for quite a while yet!
Here is Andrew Wood from Legendary Marketing and his take on the subject!
Did you know golfers live five years longer?
It’s certainly not something I have seen anyone else in the golf industry talking much about, but it’s a fact. A fact everyone in the industry should be shouting from the highest peaks, for there is way too much negative press about golf and not nearly enough about the game's amazing mental and physical benefits.
People who play golf live longer, healthier lives. Five years longer on average, according to a recent study by the Karolinska Institute, in Sweden.
Not that surprising, really…
Golf Keeps You In Shape.
A study done by Reebok showed that golfers who walk and carry burn approximately 55 percent more calories than those who ride in a cart.
The number of calories varies by distance walked and also the metabolic rate of the golfer. But fitness experts estimate you’ll burn roughly 1,500 calories during a four-hour round. A round of golf is 10,000 steps or about a 5-mile walk. That’s 825 calories more than if you ride in a cart, which clocks in 675 calories. So no matter how good or bad your play, you can at least get some exercise and calorie burn out of your round!
The golf industry, especially in the USA, where many clubs depend on cart income, does a poor job communicating this important aspect. Encouraging players to ride nine and walk nine by appealing to fitness may be a good start.
Golf Keeps You Mentally Active.
Golf is not just a physical game but a mental one as well. It calls for strategy, creativity, and problem-solving, all of which help keep your brain active, one of the key ingredients in fighting off the aging process.
Golf Helps Relieve Stress.
The natural environment helps relieve stress while the social aspects allow you to make new friends easily. Says Professor Anders Ahlbom, “People play golf into old age, and there are also positive social and psychological aspects to the game that can be of help.”
The friendships created to motivate me to meet and play! They increase self-esteem and happiness. Golf can help to lift depression and improve someone's outlook on life. (Unless you start shanking it, which quickly drives you insane) All of these attributes help improve mental health by leaving golfers with a feeling of greater satisfaction.
Golfers Get More Sun and Feel Better.
While we all know the dangers of too much sun, the sun does provide one essential nutrient - vitamin D. The sun is one of the best ways to soak up vitamin D, something many lack in their regular diet. Vitamin D can raise energy levels, improve attitude, aid calcium absorption, and generates cell growth. Overall, it's a vitamin that makes us feel good.
Golfers Sleep Better.
Studies show that people who engage in regular physical activity have proper nutrition, sleep with fewer interruptions and report sleeping soundly. Getting sound sleep helps a person's health in several ways, and golfing is one activity that can help you obtain a better night's sleep.
The Better You Play, The More You Benefit.
The study on golfers living longer, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, is based on 300,000 Swedish golfers and shows that golf has beneficial health effects. In addition, golfers have a lower death rate regardless of sex, age, and social group.
Better call the pro and take some lessons because….
The lowest death rates were found in the group of players with the lowest handicap. But, says Professor Ahlbom, “Maintaining a low handicap involves playing a lot, so this supports the idea that it is largely the game itself that is good for the health.”
Now you wouldn’t want to argue with your doctor, would you? So get off the couch and get out and golf. Your body, mind, insurance agent, and loved ones will all thank you!
Source: Andrew Wood Legendary Marketing Mel Sole Golf School.
Pictures: North Carolina National Guard Mel Sole.
Thanks for reading - Did you know Golfers Live Longer? No, I did not!
Related Posts.
Be as Mentally Tough as Jason Day!
5 Mental Mistakes to Avoid at all Costs!
Tee It Forward to Play Better Golf!
How to handle stress on the golf course!
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL, LIKE THIS VIDEO, SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND, LEAVE A COMMENT!