Did you know that roughly 3,000,000 people quit golf each year? While nearly the same number of people pick up the sport, it saddens me to know millions of people hang up the clubs for good.
There are endless benefits to playing golf and I want to share 10 compelling reasons to never quit this great game. Even if you’re going through a slump or feel like you’ve plateaued, I am confident this short article will help you get motivated and never give up.
Why You Should Never Quit Golf
Bobby Jones once said, “Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad break from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots, but you have to play the ball where it lies.”
Golf and life have so much in common it’s almost hard to believe, which is why it’s so important to keep going. Today, I’ll help you understand why you should never quit golf and how this sport can help you on and off the course.
Key Takeaways
- Nearly 3,000,000 people quit golf every year for a variety of reasons.
- But there are so many mental and physical benefits to playing golf.
- Not to mention, golf is a great way to meet new people, improve social skills, and network for your business.
- Golf also provides a great challenge and the ability to enter into competitions as well.
1. Physical Benefits
Some people don’t consider golf a sport, but I’m guessing those people have never actually played before. Here’s the thing, a round of golf does burn a lot of calories, especially if you’re walking.
On days when I walk 18 holes, I get close to 20,000 steps! Even on days when I ride in a golf cart, I get 10,000+ steps, which is great for your cardiovascular health.
Plus, a lot of golfers workout intentionally to improve their game and avoid injuries. Tiger Woods revolutionized the fitness side of the sport and why every professional golfer now has a trainer alongside a swing coach.
Playing golf is a good workout and a good reason to train away from the course to stay healthy.
2. Mental Benefits
While golf has a lot of physical benefits, it also has tons of mental advantages too. According to Golf Digest, there are five mental benefit to playing golf, which include:
- Lowers stress
- Reduces anxiety
- Offers social interaction
- Provides a form of therapy
- Reduces the effects of depression
However, you need the right mental attitude in golf, otherwise you might have more stress and not nearly as much fun. The mental game is such a big part of golf and these articles can help if you’re struggling between the ears:
3. Personal Challenge
Human beings love to achieve goals, on and off the golf course. Yet, as we get older, it’s easier to have fewer goals that inspire us to achieve greatness.
However, golf can change that and provide an amazing personal challenge to stay consistent and improve. Maybe you want to break 100, break 90, or break 80 this year. Thanks to handicapping it’s easy to track your progress over time and see if your game is trending.
This sense of accomplishment is rewarding and forces you to stay consistent in your practice routines to make it happen.
4. Travel Opportunities
Another reason to love golf are the amazing places you can see. There are hundreds of thousands of golf courses around the world and some golfers make it a point to play as many as possible.
Whether you want to visit the home of golf, take a bucket list trip to Pebble Beach, or somewhere else. Golf allows you to see places you might not ever visit or a great activity on a vacation.
Learn more about flying with golf clubs and our travel packing list next.
5. Social Advantages
Golf thrived in 2020 when people missed being around others, proving another reason why you should never quit the game. Golf is a very social sport and a fantastic way to meet new people and build relationships.
I’ve met some of my best friends on the golf course and it came from the chance of simply getting paired together. While it’s fun to play with family, friends, and regular golf buddies, don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and play with new people.
Join a twilight league, men’s/women’s club, or something else to meet new golfers and expand your network.
6. Good Competition
While golf can not only be a good personal challenge to see how good you can get, it’s also great for competition. As we get older, we tend to have less and less competition, but golf is a fun way to get your competitive juices flowing.
If you’re getting started in competitive events, make sure to read these articles next:
7. Connect With Nature
I once heard a mental coach say that golf is like a spa day if you have the right mindset. It’s a time to enjoy beautiful views, soak up the sun, and avoid artificial lighting.
Most of us work indoors and don’t get outside nearly as much as we once did. But golf is a great opportunity to change that and be outside for 4–5 hours and enjoy mother nature.
As the Golf Digest article from above noted, “Experiences in contact with nature have been shown to provide stress-reduction and restoration from mental fatigue.”
Paired with exercise and physical activity, it’s a great way to enjoy some fresh air and reconnect with nature.
8. Lifelong Learning
One thing about golf that everyone can agree on is that you can never really master it. Tiger Woods got pretty close in his 2000-2001 season, but it didn’t last forever.
Golf is a sport that requires constant evolution to play your best. Just like life, you must continue to learn new skills to hit your goals.
Whether it’s learning how to add distance with overspeed training, understanding the fundamentals of course management, or learning new shots (like flops, stingers, and more).
This continuous learning aspect of the game keeps it exciting and shows
9. Business Opportunities
They always say that business is done on the golf course and I can’t agree more. So many people make amazing networking opportunities on the golf course and all it takes is one round with a stranger to change your life.
Case in point, shortly after college I had a very mundane job that I very much wanted to leave. I went out for a solo round of golf and got paired with a very nice guy. I played well that day and beat him by four shots, despite it being his home course.
After being mad I won, he asked me to play another nine holes, for a total of 27 for the day. During our bonus nine holes, he mentioned I should work at a company his son works at if I wanted a new opportunity. The next day I submitted an application, the following week I interviewed, and a month later the job was mine.
I ended up working at that company for six years and changed the outlook of my professional life. Needless to say, there are tons of business opportunities on the golf course – you never know who you might meet during a round.
10. Fun
Don’t forget the final reason to never quit golf – the immense amount of fun this game brings!
There’s nothing more exciting than striping a long drive on the first hole, making a clutch putt, or shooting your best round ever. But if you quit, you’ll miss out on the fun and other advantages this game brings.
At the end of the day, golf is a game above all else and not life or death for 99.99% of us. Chances are, golf isn’t paying the bills, so make sure to enjoy the time at the course.
Yes, there are a lot of challenges as well, but that’s what makes the game so exciting. Plus, as they say, there is always at least one shot during the round that keeps you coming back for more!
My Experience
I’ve played this crazy but often frustrating game for 20+ years. After basically living on the golf course in high school and a few years in college, I gave it up for six years. I didn’t fully quit, but only played maybe once per month.
When I got back into the game in 2015, I fell in love with it even more. Sometimes a break is what you need to get more energy towards the game. That might be a few days, a few weeks, or a few months depending on how often you’re playing/practicing now.
Final Thoughts
Quitting golf for golf might be tempting at times, especially if you’re in a slump. However, the benefits far outweigh the frustrations that this game can bring.
Thanks to the social advantages, mental health benefits, and physical perks, it’s a game worth playing. The next time you feel discouraged or struggling, remember these reasons to keep going.
If you have the right golf goals, a consistent practice routine, and a good work ethic, anything is possible. Keep going on your journey and read these articles for more inspiration.
Michael Leonard
Michael is an avid golfer of 25 years who played in high school, college, and now competes in Arizona amateur events. He is a full-time writer, podcast host of Wicked Smart Golf, and mental golf coach.
