Golf – A sport the whole family can enjoy!
Mike and I recently went to play golf for the first time as a couple, and I have to say, having never played any form of competitive golf before (unless you count my holiday sessions of crazy golf or pitch and putt), I was surprised to find I really enjoyed it!
There are so many reasons why golf is a great activity to take up with your family, particularly if you have older children who are normally sat at home on their computer, and even better, you really don’t need much in order to get started. Here are my thoughts on why golf is a family activity, so you may want to consider it as well in 2019.
· No major overheads needed – Compared to other family sports, particularly on a cost per hour basis, golf is relatively low in terms of initial investment. Green access fees are fairly reasonable, and equipment like clubs and balls can either be hired or even purchased second hand if you don’t wish to put in a large amount of money until you are fully bought in to the process. Comfortable clothing that is both warm yet unrestrictive is important – the Adidas golf trousers at Function 18 are ideal, and they have some fantastic prices on men’s apparel in their Winter reductions. Whilst golf buggies are handy for younger players or those who may tire in between the more sparsely located holes, they do come with an additional cost, so this is something to bear in mind.
· Individual responsibility – Whilst team sports are important for children and useful for building a sense of team spirit and community, there are also real advantages to individual sports. Golf comes with the benefit of being completely individual, a one player challenge, and whilst outside factors like the weather and green conditions can affect play, essentially it is the players’ actions (or lack of) that will lead to their success. Because of this, golf is a great way of teaching children about accountability and ownership – and remind them that practice really does make perfect. That said, golf is also a highly competitive sport, in that beating your opponents is the name of the game!
· Brain stimulation – Golf is a great activity for the whole family, as not only does it have obvious health and fitness benefits, but it also requires some significant brain use! Not simply a case of swinging your club and aiming for the best, serious golf players will be constantly thinking about angles, speed, distance when planning their next shot. There’s a science behind this sport and playing with your family is a great way to teach children about cause and effect, and help them understand the logic that goes behind each action they take.
· Physical benefits – Golf requires a great amount of physical activity, and when doing a half or a full course of 18 holes, players will burn a significant number of calories from both walking and playing. Golf also requires strong posture, stability and balance, all of which work to enhance and strengthen the core muscles.
· Fresh air and Vitamin D – Golf is a great way to get the entire family outside, enjoying the fresh air and getting some much needed Vitamin D. Golf is also, for the most, an all-weather sport, meaning that on the days in winter where it may otherwise be tempting to vegetate around at home, playing a round of golf encourages everyone to get up, get out, and blow the cobwebs away.
· Social Benefits – an obvious break from the screen time and day to day activities, golf is a fantastic way to spend some quality time with your family, walking and talking, helping and supporting each other, or even bringing in a little competitive banter between players. These days I would say it’s rare for a whole family to spend an entire afternoon in each other’s company without the TV, laptop or mobiles in hand; so this is a refreshing change from the norm!
Have you ever played golf with your family? I’d love to know your thoughts if you have!
*This is a collaborative post*
