Many professional golfers take up the sport as a child, and spend their formative years developing their golfing skills to a high standard. Of course, if you’re not a professional golfer that isn’t so important. Still, if you’re an older beginner at golf, it can often seem like everyone started playing golf at a young age. It’s true that many people believe that golf should be started in your younger years – in fact, author and humourist P.G. Wodehouse once said, “Golf, like measles, should be caught young”. However, there are plenty of people who come to the game later in life, and who are well past their middle years before they discover the simple pleasures that come with a round of the golf course.
The phenomenon of the “older beginner” is increasing, as more and more people are discovering the health benefits of golf and the advantages of low impact sports and activities. If you’ve spent a lifetime subjecting your body to the pressures of high impact activities such as running, basketball or football, it can be a pleasant surprise to discover golf. Golf really is the game for a lifetime – and there’s no such thing as too old!
Plus, it’s really never too late to start learning the game. Whether you’re eight years old or eighty-eight years old, you can learn how to play golf and appreciate the challenges of the sport – and what’s more, there are plenty of upsides to doing so. Here are some of them.
Golfers come in all shapes and sizes
It doesn’t matter what shape or size you are, or if you’re a little bit unfit – golfers come in every shape and size imaginable. It’s no barrier to playing the game – and you may even find that you can reduce your weight and improve your muscle tone by playing golf.
You can put your maturity to good use
Older golfers tend to be able to manage their game better out on the course than younger golfers. An older golfer may realise they can’t hit the ball as far as others, and will try to use other strategies to make up for the lost distance; whereas the focus for a younger golfer might be trying to smash the ball as far as they can, rather than focussing on their strengths. Wisdom often comes with a bit of maturity, and you’re more likely to be able to recognise your limits and work within them.
You can likely moderate your emotions better
It’s a generalisation, sure, but older people tend to be less susceptible to wildly fluctuating emotions, and less likely to lose their cool quickly. This can have advantages for your game, as you can cope better if things go wrong (and they often will!).
Golf will improve your physical health
Golf can be a great workout for older people, and you can burn plenty of calories getting around the course, as well as swinging and bending. We’ve all heard about the magic number of 10,000 steps that’s recommended for good health – and you can get that all in on the golf course. Walking 18 holes will typically cover that number of steps – and you get added health benefits by pulling your walker buggy around with you. Even driving a golf buggy will still allow you to total around 6,000 steps over an entire round.
You’ll improve your cardiovascular fitness by playing golf, as well as reduce your risk of chronic conditions (such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer), and increase your strength and balance. Plus, golf is a lower impact sport, causing less stress and damage to joints and muscles than many other sports.
Golf will improve your mental health
A round of golf is one long mental exercise, requiring you to think, focus and plan – something that’s great to keep your brain nimble and active as you age. Challenging your brain is important to help it stay in good working order, and golf is a great way to do so. Your mental health is also likely to improve when you play regular golf, and you’ll likely benefit from higher confidence and self-esteem, and reduced anxiety.
Golf will improve your social life
Golf is a social game, and it’s a great way to enhance your social connectedness and ensure regular contact with others – something that’s super important for good mental health as we age. Golf is a great way to make new friends, and keep in contact with old ones – and they all have a love of golf in common with you!
Modern golf equipment can help
Golf equipment can be tailored to suit each individual player, and it’s important to use gear that is right for you and your swing. Equipment with special modifications to make the game easier for older players is also available – such as clubs with lightweight shafts and heads with more lift. Golf companies have continually upgraded their products with older golfers in mind, to provide better distance and accuracy as players get older. The right tools and technology can significantly help a golfer starting their golf journey later in life, or help keep that journey going.
You can use a golf buggy
A benefit of being an older golfer is that you can use a golf buggy without anyone questioning it! You’ll be able to cruise around the course in comfort and save your strength and energy for your game – sounds like a win to us! And if you prefer to walk but just need a little help carting your bag around, you can choose a walker golf buggy to take the strain off your body.
To see a great range of quality walker and ride-on golf buggies suitable for older players, click here.
Golf will even help you live longer!
It may sound far-fetched, but it’s true – studies have shown that golfers live on average five years longer than non-golfers (and this was regardless of age, gender or socioeconomic status). Golfers were shown to have a 40% lower mortality rate than those who didn’t play – which could in part be due to the many health benefits that come with a regular golf habit. Whatever the reason, it’s a great motivator to get started on golf, no matter your age!
