The Joys of Golfing

Golf is a sport rarely considered as one. The word sports evoke images of perfectly sculpted muscles, fast and frenzied movements and hollers that betray man’s close kinship with the great beasts that once roamed the planet, liters of sweat, and rhythmic interplay between cunning and brute force that affirm why man is the steward of this world, and not any other specie. Golf, on the other hand, brings to mind status, class, gentility, and maybe even boredom. Tiger Woods helped revolutionized golf. In a blink of an eye, golf can now claim its very own Michael Jordan in ways beyond having similar skin color. Thanks to Woods, golf became exciting in a way it has never been; golf became accessible to the youth, the minority, and the masses.

While the sport enjoyed an MTV-like surge of popularity, it never lost its old world charm. Golf aficionados continued to patronize the refined game they have come to love; the new converts, on the other hand, find themselves more and more enamored with the game. The fastest growing segment for golf is business professionals; for executives, entrepreneurs, sales persons and other similar professionals, golf has become the ultimate R & R where they can pursue happiness and business at the same time.

So what are the joys of golfing that has made the sport so appealing to its bigger and extremely diverse current market?

Golf may look easy, but it is one of the most difficult sports to master; the complexity of the game, the enormity of the course, the difficulty of each and every shot challenges both the mind and spirit of the player. Golf offers the player an opportunity to compete with his greatest rival – himself. Anyone who has played golf will tell you that your game cannot progress if you do not admit your personal handicaps and weaknesses; and that the joy derived after transcending one’s personal weaknesses, and conquering the course through focus, intellect and determination is unparalleled.

Golf is an easy and fun way to keep you trim and young. The game itself is difficult; but no other traditional exercise is as fun, non-strenuous and effective as golf. It keeps both the mind and body young, as golf is primarily a mental game. This game is when the player has to devise a certain strategy that will enable him to land his ball inside the holes with the least number of shots, all the while calculating the proper force he must apply to ensure total control over his swings and the movement of his ball. Studies have shown that a round of golf is as beneficial to the mind for senior citizens as reading.

While golf may be an individual game, it provides a great opportunity to socialize. The serene surroundings and pace of the game make it possible for players to banter, engage in small talk or, even go over certain business details. Whether you are making new friends; conducting a job interview; or selling a subsidiary, there is always an opportunity for players to communicate properly without huffing or being distracted from the game and the discourse by noise from equipments and spectators.

Most courses are beautifully landscaped. Some clubs are designed to take full advantage or complement the inherent beauty of their natural surroundings; and the players are treated to a visual feast of immaculate grounds and another equally majestic view such as the ocean. A lot of players use golf as an excuse to bask in the beauty of Mother Nature and breathe in fresh air; after living in the cramped concrete jungle for the whole week, a few hours immersed in nothing but emerald greens and blue skies is enough to revitalize the soul of any weary urban warrior.

Golf truly offers a myriad of delights that satisfies the mind, body and spirit; it can be enjoyed as a game; yet it can also be enjoyed leisurely, like a walk in the park. But do not take this author, or any other person’s, word for it; if you have not experienced the joys of golfing firsthand, then what are you waiting for? Pick up that club and start practicing your swing.