Golf Foundation
The many benefits of playing golf
Hi! I’m Bea (15) and I love all things golf: whether that be playing, competing or watching it on the telly. I am very passionate about sharing my love of the sport with others and encouraging as many people to get involved as possible. I’m part of a group of Young Ambassadors who work on behalf of England Golf and the Golf Foundation to provide a voice for young people in golf. We volunteer to help change perceptions and encourage more young people like you to have a go!
Golf transforms lives across the globe and it could change your life for the better too! No matter what you may believe, it’s so easy to get involved and anyone can play. I am here to share my experiences as a junior golfer and to give you my top tips on how to get involved while, hopefully, convincing you to pick up a golf club and get started!
Firstly, you need to get started! How do you do this, I hear you say?
You don’t need to be a member of a fancy country club to be able to play golf! In your local area there are probably more driving ranges and courses than you think. Simply going to the driving range with some friends or crazy golf at the beach is a perfect introduction to the sport!
Do your research! There are lots of beginner junior coaching groups all across the country that people of all abilities and ages can attend. This is a perfect way to meet new people who are in the same boat as you! Ask a parent to reach out to golf courses in your area. There’s a great ‘Find and Play’ facility on the England Golf website or you could search for your local junior friendly facility on the Golf Foundation Website.
Get the gear! Golf clubs aren’t as scary and expensive as you may think. Many clubs and driving ranges will lend you clubs for free. Second-hand ones are also a great option if you don’t want to spend lots of money on brand new ones.
Some reassurance! If you’re not keen on starting something new alone, then why not bring a friend along. Learning a new skill together is not only good for you as individuals, but could develop your friendship as well! There could also be some people that you already know that play and you could tag along with them!
IMAGE CREDIT: CHRIS VAUGHAN
Ok, so now you know how to get started - but what really are the benefits of golf?
School is tiring, stressful and sometimes we just need a break. It might not seem like going outside and playing a sport is really going to help and a lot of the time TV is more appealing, but in fact the stress of school gets too much sometimes and some fresh air and having fun with friends can take your mind away completely! Whenever I’m feeling a bit down and have some spare time, golf just makes me feel so much better. It’s such a good stress release but don’t just take my word for it, science says the same thing! When you exercise, chemicals called endorphins are released which boost your mood!
The common misconception is that golf is a one-person sport and unfortunately this discourages a lot of people from playing. But don’t worry, this is not the case! I almost never play golf on my own and have most of my fun playing with friends and family. There are also many team events and types of competition to get the competitive juices flowing! Many of you may be thinking to your future and playing a competitive sport is something that job employers love to see!
Image Credit - Emile Holba
Another huge reason why golf is so great is the ability to meet new people and make new friends. Taking the first step in joining a coaching group or reaching out to fellow juniors is a scary prospect, but I promise you are not alone and it’s not as scary as you may think. When I was younger (about 8 or 9), I went along to my first junior coaching session at my local club and was terrified! I was fearful of getting judged and embarrassed by my ability, but the people there were so supportive and the same standard as me. Looking back on it now, there was nothing to be afraid of and those people are some of my closest friends now! These events helped me to develop my passion, make golf a huge part of my life and something I’d love to carry on far into the future, You can too!
Don’t be afraid to take part. There are so many positives to the sport and with a supportive community surrounding you, there’s no reason not to get started!
If you’d like hear from more people like me, have a look on the Young Ambassadors webpage to see all our profiles.
Email: info@youngambassadors.org.uk
Twitter:@GolfAmbassadors
Instagram:@golfambassadors
