Aside from it being good exercise there are other benefits you can gain from playing the sport of golf. It is a great way to build relationships practice concentration and even serve as a form of enjoyment and fun.

#1 Exercise

As a sport golf goes beyond the usual benefit of exercise. Recent studies by the Rose Center for Health and Sports Science and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have discovered that golfers live five years longer than non-golfers. These studies also said that a golfer who plays 9 holes can burn as much as 721 calories if he carries his own bag and as much as 411 calories if he uses a golf cart.

What this means is that by playing 18 holes of golf a person can burn anywhere from 822 calories to a whopping 1442 calories in just one day. According to these same studies people who burn 2500 calories a week will cut their risk of cancer heart disease and diabetes. If you choose to walk the course and carry your bag it is an equivalent of two rounds of golf. It is quite interesting to note that a different study showed that golfers who pull their bag on a cart and walk the course score better than golfers carrying their bag or riding in a golf cart.

#2 Building Relationships

One of the things that makes golf different from other sports is that just about anyone can play the game. You do not have to be a great golfer to enjoy the sport. It doesnt matter how old are you whether you are physically fit or not what race or gender you are or how tall or short you are. The game knows no boundaries or limits and can be played by virtually everyone. And as long as you just practice enough you can even join the PGA Tour and be a professional golfer. The PGA has one of the most diverse mixtures of race nationality height weight and even gender found in any sport.

The benefits of playing golf dont end there as it is also extremely beneficial to get out of your house and into the fresh air. You can even turn the game into a family affair bringing your entire family along to play a round of golf.

Playing golf is also a cultural experience because you get to meet new people from every kind of background. Because there is no discrimination based on class in the game of golf itself anyone can play from a ditch digger to the CEO of Fortune 500 company - they can even play a round of golf together.

Golf is also a sport with which you can enhance friendships and develop a deep and meaningful relationship with playing partners. You can make friends with your golfing companions and enjoy a camaraderie that is different from that in other sports. A lot of close friendships have developed from people just playing golf together.

#3 Improved Concentration

Another thing people tend to forget is that the sport helps people improve their concentration. This is because you have to study each shot read the greens and make a decision on how to hit the ball from almost every possible location. This is especially important for children because it helps with their concentration in a way that can translate over to their personal lives like schoolwork and other responsibilities.

#4 Fun

Of course the benefits that have been listed above are extremely important reasons for you to start playing the game. But at the end of the day golf is a beneficial game because it is simply fun to play. Whether you are a beginner or a professional playing the game of golf is a challenge that you will find extremely enjoyable.