The mental health benefits of golf

Severof said:
I remember seeing the lead singer of Keane, Tom Chaplin at our old club last Summer. As fans of his band, we had a very un-intrusive 1 minute chat with him on the range. Would never have pictured him as a golfer before so had a quick google search about his golf life later on when home. Turns out he credits golf as the main reason for keeping him sober this past 15-20 yrs, and that he was inspired by the same reasoning as Alice Cooper.
Suppose its one of the few sports that allows you to just get away from it all.
www.nme.com

Keane's Tom Chaplin: 'Golf has helped me overcome drug problems'

Frontman reveals that Alice Cooper inspired him to take up the sport
www.nme.com www.nme.com
Click to expand...

I've hit balls on the range next to him a number of times over the last few years. He doesn't chat much but I've never let on that I have a clue who he is. I did on one occasion offer to buy his quite awesome swing if he was to put it on Ebay.
 
To be honest I find just hitting balls at the quiet end of the range is very relaxing..
The game itself is, but the weekend rounds are a bit different to the quiet evening ones.
I like how it takes me away from the everyday unimportant stuff and makes me focus on the important stuff .. my work life balance has always been life before work and if work fits into my life then that’s okay, when it doesn’t it is time to reflect and do a new job.
It’s so easy to get pulled into the material stuff , these constant club releases , new shoes , latest colour ways and general BS .. this could ruin the game and its primary purpose of relaxing. I have started to disconnect from that, I have accepted my situation and it’s me that needs to be refreshed
 
I guess some of you guys are lucky to find it a de-stressor and good for your mental health.
I'm in a constant state of fear that I might be using a left dash instead of the basic Pro V1 and my tee may not be at the optimal height.
It's not good for my blood pressure.
 
Backache said:
I guess some of you guys are lucky to find it a de-stressor and good for your mental health.
I'm in a constant state of fear that I might be using a left dash instead of the basic Pro V1 and my tee may not be at the optimal height.
It's not good for my blood pressure.
Click to expand...
I think my glasses prescription negates that .. I see the direction and then it’s a case of walking down that line .. I don’t worry what the trajectory is or was
 
Backache said:
I guess some of you guys are lucky to find it a de-stressor and good for your mental health.
I'm in a constant state of fear that I might be using a left dash instead of the basic Pro V1 and my tee may not be at the optimal height.
It's not good for my blood pressure.
Click to expand...

My age and my eyesight o_O
I read that as losing.

One of the joys of winter golf for is the reduced worry of losing balls as I am using up all the ones I found in the summer.
 
I don’t think as a sport it gets the plaudits on the mental health front that it deserves. It really does work wonders, when I was younger I played to quite a high level, practicing constant, coaching, team matches, tournaments up and down the country, consumed by it to the stage I don’t actually think I enjoyed it, had a pretty bad temper, put a lot of pressure on and when the performance and scores didn’t come it was horrendous, to the point I chucked it, literally put the clubs away and never swung again for about 6/7 years or something like that.

Started playing again around covid time when there was nothing else to do and when other things in life were a lot more stressful, work, health, kids etc and honestly can’t describe how much I fell back in love with it, spraying the ball absolutely everywhere at times and did not care one bit, for the most part and time constraints the only chance I get to play is maybe 9 holes at 7/8pm in the evening, alone, maybe a couple of times a week, phone left in the locker, course empty and it is honestly bliss, I do love playing with mates aswell but I’ve been at a new course now for a couple years, barely know anyone, quite expensive green fees but for that few hours a week escapism it is worth every penny, it’s an investment in mental health more than anything else.
 
One of the lads turned up today, he put a message on our group asking who was going as he was bringing massive Bakewell tarts again. Ave never seen 16 lads respond so quick. Said lad has had a corneal graft, he didn’t play and just walked around the course laughing and joking with us. He just loved the crack.
Compare that to one of the other lads. His knee was knackered last year and he could not golf for 6-8 weeks. I asked if he wanted picking up and go round the course on a buggy for the crack. He said he was not bothered with having a laugh with the lads he just wanted to play. He is now off with a knackered back and apparently is going do lally sitting at home. I struggle to understand how folk don’t get benefits from golf aside from just playing.
Just seen a programme about dementia, one of the Important things to do is exercise and social interaction. Both you get from golf.
 
Tashyboy said:
One of the lads turned up today, he put a message on our group asking who was going as he was bringing massive Bakewell tarts again. Ave never seen 16 lads respond so quick. Said lad has had a corneal graft, he didn’t play and just walked around the course laughing and joking with us. He just loved the crack.
Compare that to one of the other lads. His knee was knackered last year and he could not golf for 6-8 weeks. I asked if he wanted picking up and go round the course on a buggy for the crack. He said he was not bothered with having a laugh with the lads he just wanted to play. He is now off with a knackered back and apparently is going do lally sitting at home. I struggle to understand how folk don’t get benefits from golf aside from just playing.
Just seen a programme about dementia, one of the Important things to do is exercise and social interaction. Both you get from golf.
Click to expand...

After my prostate cancer surgery I couldn’t wait to get back in the fresh air with mates. Three weeks post op I was out in a buggy catching up with golf friends and doing a bit of marshalling. A week later I walked a few holes.

Just being out in the world again did me no end of good, regardless of whether I could swing a club or not.
 
Billysboots said:
After my prostate cancer surgery I couldn’t wait to get back in the fresh air with mates. Three weeks post op I was out in a buggy catching up with golf friends and doing a bit of marshalling. A week later I walked a few holes.

Just being out in the world again did me no end of good, regardless of whether I could swing a club or not.
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Got me follow up ( 2 year) PSA test next month.👍
 
I started playing at a very young age.
I fully understand all the above, please believe me, but I have never separated the two things, golf and life.
I think this explains why I've never been on a golfing holiday. I leave both golf and home/work life behind when I go on holiday.

During those times of great stress or tragedy in life, I was more inclined to not play golf.
But my love of the game has always been there and I knew golf was waiting for me like a very faithful partner.
That was my solace during those times.
 
Billysboots said:
Hope all goes well, Tash. Got my next six monthly follow up in a couple of weeks. Nerves are already starting to build.
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Talking to a guy the other week. It was the same guy who was telling me about Sherwood. Anyway he was on about how golf saved him. Back in the 80’s his first wife was killed in a car crash. He was left with a 5 and 2 yr old. He was a lost soul. A guy at work eventually got him back out golfing. He went from the lowest he had ever been to “ recharged “ and giving him focus with the kids. He then mentioned when his son took his own life 12 years ago ( one of the 2 and 5 yr olds) He mentioned about how he had Continued to play golf but just for the golf, he had forgotten about how getting out helped him with his mental health. He remembers being on the course and having a feeling “ he had been here before when he lost his wife and golf helped him then and here he was again when his son took his life”.

Good luck with the sox monthly BB.
 
I agree with the comments about golf being good for mental health and it's good to get away from 'life' for a few hours but, and a few have touched on it, a very large part of it all is being with 'mates', friends, like minded people, social interaction and a good laugh, something we are seeing less and less of in everyday life.
 
Old Colner said:
I agree with the comments about golf being good for mental health and it's good to get away from 'life' for a few hours but, and a few have touched on it, a very large part of it all is being with 'mates', friends, like minded people, social interaction and a good laugh, something we are seeing less and less of in everyday life.
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Totally agree. With food being delivered, online shopping, self service checkouts, etc, I bet lots of people have forgotten how to have a conversation nowadays. There is a lot said for a simple chat when doing your shopping.
 
Old Colner said:
I agree with the comments about golf being good for mental health and it's good to get away from 'life' for a few hours but, and a few have touched on it, a very large part of it all is being with 'mates', friends, like minded people, social interaction and a good laugh, something we are seeing less and less of in everyday life.
Click to expand...
Take a bow son. 👍
 
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