Golf Here And Abroad

Most people don’t consider golf a very strenuous sport, and are surprised when they realize how good it actually is for the body. Getting out and playing a game of golf has many fantastic health benefits. Golfing will improve your flexibility, cardiovascular health, strength, and so much more. Here are some of the important ways that golf is good for you:

1. Most golf courses are out in the countryside and filled with greenery, which means that the air will be relatively pollution free and full of oxygen. Being outside in the fresh air is good for your lungs and restores your overall health.

2. Walking between each hole is an excellent light cardiovascular workout, especially if you skip the golf cart and carry your own clubs. Did you know that you burn approximately 300 calories every hour when playing golf?

3. Calculating your approach and planning out your putts is a workout for the logical part of your brain which is concerned with physics and spatial relationships. Your brain is a muscle too, and exercising it keeps you healthy.

4. Bending over the pick up golf balls, set up a golf tee, and other actions will increase your flexibility.

5. Hitting a hard drive across the fairway is great for building muscles, especially in your arms, shoulders, and back.

6. Playing a round of golf on a sunny day means that you will receive a nice healthy dose of vitamin D. Your body naturally produces this vitamin, but it needs sunlight to help release it. Vitamin D will help repair your skin cells and strengthen your bones.

7. After a day of exercise and fresh air on the golf course, you will sleep better. Studies have shown that exercise helps you to fall asleep faster and remain in a deep sleep for longer. This is very important for your health because sleeping is when you repair and heal your body.

8. Lifting up your heavy golf bag and carrying it will help you to build strong muscles.

9. If golfing is a fun and relaxing activity for you, going to play a few rounds will greatly reduce your stress and tension. Being stressed out is incredibly harmful for your health and can cause serious health problems, so go for a game of golf and just chill out!

10. Golfing can be a great way to spend time with your friends, and these positive social interactions release healthy endorphins in your brain. Studies have shown that if we have a strong connection to a group of friends, we can live up to six years longer!

For these reasons and more, heading out to your favorite golf course to play a few rounds is actually a very healthy way to spend your time. Enjoying a great game of golf will make you stronger, fitter, and most of all, happier!

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Golf history overall has been traced as far back to the mid 14th century and the Scottish and English still debate today where the sport originated. However, the game of golf as we know it today is believed to have originated in Scotland.

Golf became more organized as a sport in 18th century Scotland. In the early 1700′s, the world’s oldest golf club – the Royal Burgess Golfing Society in Edinburgh, Scotland was formed. Other golf clubs sprung forth which dictated the development of a formal set of rules and regulations. In the mid 18th century, golf history rapidly unfolded as the sport spread to other towns and countries.

With respect to US golf history, the golf game is believed to have spread to the United States in the late 19th century. Scotsman John Reid first built a three-hole course in Yonkers, New York near his home and later formed the St. Andrews Club of Yonkers nearby. Golf soon became a national pastime in the United States and by the start of the 20th century, more than 1000 golf clubs had opened in North America. The governing body of US golf, the United States Golf Association was formed in 1894. The Professional Golfers’ Association of America was founded in 1916 and represented the growing number of American professional golfers. The first PGA Championship was held in 1916 and won by Jim Barnes.

A significant event in US golf history was the creation of the Ryder cup (after founder Samuel Ryder), a match play event that was initiated in 1927 between the British and American professional golfers as golf rivalries between the two countries started to grow.

Augusta National was opened in the early ’30s. In 1934, the Augusta National Invitational (what is now known as “The Masters”) was launched and first won by Horton Smith, a major milestone in US golf history.

In the ’40′s, the four major golf championships were firmly established and TV coverage began with the US Open. In the 50′s through the 70′s, a host of golf pros grew into household names as the Professional Golfers’ Association Tour began to flourish. American professional golfers dominated this era, led by such players as Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. In the 80′s non-US golfers such as Seve Ballesteros Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo and Greg Norman started to seriously challenge US golfers.

By the end of the 20th century, the game of golf grew to unprecedented popularity in golf history with the rise of US stars Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. With this rise came tremendous advancements in golf technology producing some of the longest drives in golf history, which in turn, dictated that many golf courses increase their yard ages.

The last few years have seen a decline in the number of new golfers, but the game still remains hugely popular in the US. The fastest growth in golf is currently occurring in Asia led by China, Korea, Taiwan and India.

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