WHY IS GOLF A STRESS-BUSTER?

Though a competitive sport, golf can also be seen as an exciting indulgence which can be experienced by all. After an exhausting week entangled in the hustle of the city, the golf course environment invigorates the body and the mind. The lush green lawns are a treat to the senses. Walking from hole to hole, concentrating on nothing but the shot and competing with no one, in particular, seems like the best deal. So much so that many regular golfers regard golf as akin to meditation.

Here are some pointers that will help you see golf for what it is-a stress buster of the true kind

Setting: Spend your weekend frolicking in the field, situated among lush green landscapes. Wield the golf club and test your aiming skills. The well-irrigated fields make for a serene, organic environment. A sunny, breezy morning spent on the golf course with pals seems like the ideal getaway, doesn’t it?

Vitamin D Power-up: Charge up your immune cells with a dash of Vitamin D. Spending hours on the field in the sun perfecting that swing guarantees vitamin D production in copious amounts; which boosts the immune system.

Buggy: The small, open, electric-powered vehicle is fun to travel in, almost like a ride of sorts. It relays you and your equipment from hole to hole at a fair, steady pace, letting you soak in the pleasant, ‘picnic-ky’ atmosphere around!

Food: For amateurs, a day at the golf court is no less than a picnic; and no picnic is conceivable without tasty food. Golf courses allow you to eat at leisure – whenever, wherever and whatever you choose to. A part of golf is letting your mind wander while you ride from one tee to another; a relaxing and calming sport in itself. It is, paradoxically though, a relaxing sporting activity.

Exercise: Golf is ultimately a sport. It makes up for your daily workout session, without requiring you to run at breakneck speeds or bouts of extreme huff-puff cardio. Here, you’re expected to walk more than 10,000 steps during an average 18-hole round over hilly terrains. Carrying your own clubs count as a weight-bearing exercise that helps in building strong bones and muscle.

Golf Lingo: The vocabulary used in golf is a rather light-hearted one. Share a light hearted joke as you record that birdie, or comment on your partner’s “chicken wing”.

Socialize: Golf makes for an excellent socializing activity. People of all ages, hierarchy and even those with a disability can compete on the same level ground. Along with lessons in teamwork and etiquette, activities like uniting together at the end, rummaging in the bushes on all fours, looking for strayed golf balls bring out the inner child in you.

Competition: Golf is lightly competitive. You can choose who you want to compete with, or try your hand at a couple of tees. Even while playing in a group, it is more about outperforming yourself, making new records and breaking old ones. It relieves the competition stress, unlike other sports, and promotes self-motivation.

Practice: Want to get more professional? You can practice literally anywhere- it is all about mastering the swing and hitting the ball skillfully rather than forcefully. The range, your garden, living room, anything can be your training centre.

Rewarding: The debate rages on whether seemingly easy golf is the most difficult of the sport. Hit a stationary ball, how hard can it get? A refreshing exercise for the brain cells, golf demands a keen sense of concentration, visualization and strategizing. As Arnold Palmer put it, “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated. It satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening—and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind ever invented.”

Golf is recognized as therapy for people suffering from PTSD(post-traumatic stress disorder)Such is its stress relieving ability, that elderly folk frequent golf clubs golf just to pass time and be one with nature. In fact during major tournaments, most competitive golfers stretch their play schedule for four to five hours a day, just to be calm and relaxed when the crunch time comes.

In order to make the most of your next golfing stint-

Before embarking on anything, take a 10-minute walk familiarizing yourself with the terrain. Loosen the muscles and invigorate your senses with the fresh air.
Next, enjoy a refreshing drink from a vantage point offering views of your course.
If having company, chat between rounds. Confide in them and get the loads off the chests. Productive solutions will result, leaving you happy and joyful.