Health Benefits of Playing Golf

Golf isn’t just a leisurely pastime — it’s a full-body activity with powerful health benefits. Whether you’re walking the course or hitting balls at the range, golf promotes physical fitness, mental clarity, and overall well-being. If you’re looking for a way to stay active and healthy, golf is a sport that offers more than meets the eye. 

3 Important Health Benefits of Playing Golf

1. Boosts Cardiovascular Health

Walking an 18-hole course can cover up to five miles, which promotes heart health by increasing your heart rate and circulation. When you walk instead of using a cart, you burn calories, improve blood pressure, and reduce your risk of heart disease.

• A study published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that golf can help prevent over 40 chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular conditions.

Read more on this benefit via the BJSM study here.

2. Supports Mental Well-Being

Golf requires focus, strategy, and mental control, making it a natural stress reliever. Spending time in green spaces and engaging in light physical activity has been linked to lower levels of anxiety and depression.

• According to the World Health Organization, exposure to nature and regular moderate exercise can significantly enhance mood and reduce mental fatigue.

Explore WHO’s research on mental health and physical activity here.

3. Enhances Balance and Coordination

Golf engages multiple muscle groups and demands coordinated movement. The repetitive motion of swinging, walking on uneven terrain, and maintaining posture helps improve balance, flexibility, and core strength — especially beneficial for older adults.

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) emphasizes golf as a valuable activity for maintaining physical function and preventing falls in older populations.

See the NIH’s golf and aging health study here.

Conclusion

Golf is more than just a game — it’s a healthy lifestyle choice that supports physical and mental health. From boosting heart function and improving mood to enhancing balance and strength, golf is a low-impact sport with long-term health rewards.