Golf – it’s a sport for the ages. Golf is renowned as a sport that you can play well into old age, and can actually add years to your life if you play regularly.
Here’s the thing, though. Does there come a time when playing golf becomes detrimental? How old is too old for golf? Or how unwell?
Let’s find out.
When it’s time to stop
If any of these things are happening, it might be time to consider hanging up your golf clubs.
You’ve sustained a serious injury
If you have a serious injury, it might be time to put the clubs away for a period of time. Anything like a broken arm, broken leg, broken hip etc. will mean you really can’t play the game. Wait for your injury to heal and then make a progressive comeback to the golf course if you’re able to.
Golf is causing serious injuries
If golf is causing your injury, then it’s also probably time to give it a rest for a little while. The repeated motions of golf can be hard on the body, and if something is giving you grief you may need to rest and give your body time to heal.
Golf is exacerbating your health condition
Some health conditions may not respond well to physical exercise, and if you have one of these you’ll probably have no choice but to stay away from the course. If playing the game is going to make your condition worse, it’s really a no-brainer. It’s best to consult your doctor if you have a serious health condition that you think may be impacted by playing golf – he or she should be able to advise you whether it’s safe to continue.
Your vision has worsened
If you’re struggling to see the green, or the ball flight, or where your ball lands or even the ball itself when you’re taking your shot, it might be time to consider retirement. Vision is all-important in golf – without it, you’re going to find things very hard. Get your eyes checked by an optometrist or your doctor, invest in glasses or contacts, or check to see if your current prescription for glasses or contacts needs updating with changes to your eyes. This may help – or if it doesn’t, consider blind golf, where vision impairment is no barrier to enjoying the sport. Find out more about blind golf here.
You don’t enjoy it anymore
If you’ve simply lost your love of golf, then there’s no need to carry on playing. Find something else that you really love doing and that works with the state of your health and your lifestyle – and do that instead.
When you shouldn’t stop
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The beauty of golf is that it can be played by just about anyone, even older people. These things really don’t need to stop you from playing golf.
Pain
We tend to experience greater levels of pain as we age, but that doesn’t mean it’s a cause to stop playing, especially if the pain is not severe. The repetitive nature of golf can sometimes cause muscle aches and pains, but this is not unexpected, and it doesn’t mean you should stop playing.
There are plenty of things you can do to minimise instances of pain both when you are playing and after you finish. Treat your pain by:
- Getting properly assessed by a doctor or physiotherapist
- Strengthening your muscles (consult an exercise physiologist if you’re unsure how)
- Stretching to ensure the best range of motion
- Warming up thoroughly
- Icing sore muscles or using heat packs
Mild injuries
As with pain, many golfers often carry niggling injuries. These can be annoying and may limit aspects of your game, but don’t necessarily mean you need to stop playing. You might need to modify aspects of your game, get treatment from a physiotherapist, or simply lower your expectations while you’re dealing with the injury. The use of either a walker or ride-on golf buggy will also help manage your injury, and keep you as fresh as possible for your actual game.
Click here to read about how to minimise golf injuries.
Many health conditions
Some health conditions may be exacerbated by playing a sport such as golf – but many others won’t. In fact, golf and keeping active may actually improve the state of your health, and will likely have a beneficial impact on conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and mental health conditions. Consult your doctor to be sure, but as long as playing golf won’t make your condition worse, you should be fine to keep playing.
Old age
As mentioned above, old age definitely doesn’t need to stop you playing golf, as long as you’re well enough to do so. Playing golf will help you age well, and stay fit, healthy and active – something everyone needs. With the right modifications, (such as playing from the shorter tees, changing your swing, using lighter clubs and using a golf buggy) there’s no reason you can’t be playing for plenty of years yet.
Click here to discover some handy tips for senior golfers to keep you playing longer.
Limited mobility
Again, limited mobility may impact your ability to play golf, but it doesn’t need to stop you from playing completely. While you may have to make some modifications, you can still get in your 18 holes if you so desire. A good golf buggy is the answer, and will enable you to get around the course much easier. Have a look at our great range here.
Click here to read more about how to become a lifelong golfer.
