My passion for golf

Introduction

Did you know that the golf swing uses at least 17 muscle groups?
Did you Know that a golfer playing golf burns an average of 360 calories per
hour and golfs takes at least 4 to 5 hours to finish a round of 18 holes?

Is golf a sport or a game?

The Oxford English dictionary defines a ‘sport’ as a “physical activity involving

physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against
another or others for entertainment.

The golf swing uses at least 17 muscle groups, has a clear set of rules and is
considered a sport by the International Olympic Committee.

In my opinion, Golf is a much more than a simple sport or game and I am going
to try to explain you the reasons.

2
Is golf a workout?

Over 18 holes a golfer will burn an average of 400 calories per hour. This
compares to 273 calories doing yoga or playing table tennis can seem less but
you have to consider that for playing golf you spend an average of 4 to 5 hours
with non stop.

A player will have an average heart rate of 100 beats per minute, over a 4-5
hour period and will exceed the 10,000 number of steps per day needed for
weight loss.

3
Why do people find golf exciting?

Golf is fun because of the number of possibilities it offers to stop players from
getting bored.

Anyone can enjoy playing all kinds of different golf game types either alone,
with friends or total strangers.

And all while enjoying the great outdoors and getting a bit of exercise at the
same time.

What is Fun about Golf?

Growing up I have played a lot of different sports, but I can honestly say golf is
the sport I have had the most fun and is the one I plan to play the most for
many years to come.

So what is fun about golf? Golf is fun because of:

 The number of possibilities it offers to stop players from getting bored.

 Different Game Options Mean Golf Never Gets Boring

Non-golfers may think that playing the same golf course over and over
again must inevitably get a bit boring.

But one of the great things about the game of golf is that are so many
different types of games you can play that there are endless ways to
enjoy the game in different ways.

No round of golf is ever the same.

 You can play as many holes you want for example.

Unless it is a competition there is nothing forcing players to play a

standard round of 18 holes.

If you want to play less you can, and many do simply playing 9 holes
and go back to the clubhouse.

4
  You play in different courses, you play 18 different holes of different
sizes and also can play in different types of games. Per example:
alternate shot or foursomes, greensomes, six-six-six, wolf, bingo-bango-
bongo.

 Anyone can enjoy playing all kinds of different golf game types either
alone, with friends or total strangers.

 And all while enjoying the great outdoors and getting a bit of exercise at
the same time.

 And at the same time you can enjoy the great outdoors.

Even the fact that Golf has been declared Britain’s dullest sport after a survey
(70% of people found it boring to watch) Golf is enjoyed by an estimated 60
million people in nearly 85% of the world’s 245 countries so it must have
something going for it. In my opinion, watching is not as passionate and
fascinating as playing buy the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup are two big
exceptions. Being in the last Ryder Cup in Paris was the most fascinating
experience in my life.

5
6
7
Golf Is For ‘Anyone’ to Enjoy

No discrimination of income
Given its occasional reputation as elitist, it seems strange to say that golf is truly
for anyone. In England and Scotland there are a lot of municipal courses and it
is a sport subsidy by the government and taught at schools.

Unfortunately in Spain it is not the same case and therefore although there are
some cheap courses like “pitch and puts”, to play in a big course in the majority
of the cases you have to be a member of the course.

Moreover, the equipment is not very cheap but you can find second hand
equipment in Walla pop or other places.

No discrimination of age and sex:

Golf does not discriminate in terms of age or gender.

Players can be as young as 2 (Tiger Woods appeared on television practicing his

golf swing at that age) and as old as 92.

8
I have started to play golf when I was 4 years old.

Men, women, girls and boys can all enjoy playing a game of golf together.

What other sport can you think of where all the generations of a family can play
and enjoy it all together at the same time?

I have played with my grandmother and my grandfather and I have practice

with my little cousin of 5 years old.

Practicing Golf, therefore, is a great opportunity to spend time give your

relatives of different ages. In other sports like tenis, basketball and football is
realy difficult to play with people of different ages and levels.

9
No discrimination of levels:

What is the handicap system?

Golf handicaps are a number that represents the golfer's ability based on their
previous golf round's scores.

It serves the purpose of comparing your performances with other golf players.

For men, your golf handicap is generally between zero and twenty-eight, and,
for women, between zero and thirty-six. Kids have when they start playing
higher handicap between 54.

So when you start you have the higher handicap and if you go to official
tournaments and you improve your handicap goes down gradually.

Therefore via the handicapping system people from completely different levels
can play together.

It is highly unusual in a sport for a professional player to be able to play an

amateur on the same playing field but in golf you can thanks to the handicap
system.

10
Benefits:
Why golf is so important?

Health:
Good for your body –
The golf swing uses at least 17 muscle groups.

The average course requires a person to walk over five miles, carrying or
pushing a bag and walking up and down different undulations.

This can be a great workout, and can burn up to 2,000 calories (around 400
calories per hour) depending on how flat or hilly the course is.

Even if you are taking a cart, the golf swing itself is a full body workout, using
arms, legs, and core muscles. Imagine the results if you do this on a daily or
even weekly basis.

I am not going to claim here that golf is a very physically demanding sport.

It is not and that is why players are able to play for such a large part of their
lives if they want to.

But people forget that golfers can walk as many as 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) on an
average 18 hole round. That is uphill, downhill and through all sorts of
different terrains including sand and thick rough.

Any form of physical exercise helps get blood plumping to your heart.

A player will have an average heart rate of 100 beats per minute, over a 4-5
hour period and will exceed the 10,000 number of steps per day needed for
weight loss.

Indeed playing golf regularly has been proven to deliver a number of health
benefits including improved sleep, better fitness through burning more calories
and reduced stress.

11
12
Good for your mind –

As physical as golf can be, 90% of the game is mental.

An 18 hole round is basically one long mental exercise, constantly making you
think and forcing you to stay focused on the task at hand.

Therefore, Golf can also help relieve stress, anxiety, and even depression.

A study has demonstrate the people practicing golf have much less anxiety,
depression, stress and panic attack.

13
Good for putting goals
Golf also gives players a constant competitive challenge both with the course
itself and with playing partners.

Why golf can become such an addictive game?

A great shot can be immediately followed by one of the worst ones you have
ever hit, believe me I have experience this.

But after, you can experience another brilliant shot so, in my opinion, this is
mainly the reason why golfers get addicted.

That feeling of holing your first long putt and putting inside the hole.

The feeling of hitting a long straight drive of 180 meters is great experience that
allows you to forget the last put of 30 cm that you have not put inside the hole.
Even John Ram (Spanish golf player and number 1 in the world since last July)
failed last week a putter of 30 cm.

Golf is also about making something fly and players will spend hours and
hours hitting a golf ball to watch it fly.

14
Good for socialization
Helps you make new friends and business connections –
The game of golf is filled with friendly, interesting, and successful people.

In a course you will often be paired with others. Golf courses will often make
the effort to pair visiting players with others in order to get more people on the
course at the same time. These people already have something in common with
you, they also love golf! Per example, last week I played with two young men
of 20 years old. One of them was an excellent player and I learnt a lot from him.

There are other ways to meet golfers too, including signing up for tournaments
and team events.

One of the great attractions of the game is that it is very easy to meet people
either by joining a club or simply visiting a course.

Lasting friendships can be started and grow right at the golf course. I met one
of my best friends in my golf course in Llavaneres.

But on the other hand you can also have great fun playing alone.

15
A way of doing tourism and protecting the environment
By its nature golf is played in nature. It allows every player to get outdoors and
enjoy the fresh air in all weathers.

In all weathers, sunny or cloudy, hot or cold, or dry or raining, golf is there to
be enjoyed in the great outdoors.

Whilst other sports will be played within rigid lines, fences or walls, golf
courses allow players to roam over in the cottage.

Golf courses can provide great views!

There are golf courses beside oceans and golden beaches. Others with
spectacular mountain views and even some which finish within a minute walk
of the centre of towns.

For wildlife lovers you can be rewarded with encounters with birds, deer, foxes,
squirrels, butterflies, eagles, geese, rabbits, ducks, and even snakes and
alligators.

I have combine doing cultural tourism with golf. Per example last Christmas I
went to Mexico and I discover the great culture of the Mayas and also I have
played in the PGA Course of Tulum. In the course I have seen lizards,
cocodriles and a lot of different wild animals. It was also a great experience.

Perhaps the most beautiful and amazing part of golf is where it takes place.
Unlike any other sport, golf requires many kilometers of land to play, and most
courses offer an abundance of trees, animals, and other wildlife to enjoy.

Golf courses provide habitats for animals and plant species to thrive, so simply
by playing golf you are helping to ensure these wildlife playgrounds remain
intact.

16
17
18
Values of golf:
1. Honesty - the quality or state of being truthful; not deceptive
Golf is unique from other sports in that players regularly call penalties
on themselves and report their own score.

2. Integrity - Golf is a game of etiquette and composure. Players are

responsible for their actions and personal conduct on the golf course.

3. Sportsmanship and courtesy- Players must know and follow the rules
of golf and be able to conduct in a respectful manner towards others
even in a competitive game.

4. Respect - In golf it is important to show respect for oneself, playing

partners, competitors, the golf course, and for the honor of the game.

5. Confidence - Confidence plays a key role. Players can increase

confidence in their abilities by being positive and focusing on something
they are doing well regardless of the results.

6. Responsibility - Players are responsible for their actions on the golf

course. They are responsible to keep their score, repair damages of the
course, rake bunkers and repair ball marks on the green. These things
are important because the next players can go to the same place and be
affected if you do not repair.

7. Perseverance - To succeed in golf, players must continue through bad

breaks and their own mistakes, while learning from past experiences.

19
Hope this list of benefits convinces you to either stick with golf or to get started.
The good thing about all of these benefits of golf is that they apply to experts
and beginners alike, so get out there and play!

20