Perhaps surprisingly, the many health benefits of golf remain largely understated in the main. Some see golf merely as a low-level form of exercise with very little physical exertion involved—but the truth, as those who play will know, is very different.

If you play golf, you’ll be well aware of its health benefits. Few things are more satisfying than striking a ball off the turf and seeing it go exactly where you wanted. Then there’s the camaraderie—what other sports give you several hours to walk and talk while playing your favourite sport? Not to mention it takes you to some incredible places, too. So many golfers have seen more of the world purely thanks to their love of the game, and there’s the chance to relax after a round to drink in what you’ve just enjoyed.

But when it comes to the health benefits of golf, there’s even more than meets the eye. Three-time Major champion Padraig Harrington generally speaks more sense than most when it comes to golf, and he said this on the matter:

“People who play golf do realise the benefit of it. But the wider public doesn’t understand it—the health benefits of playing golf for your physical and mental health. I have seen how impactful golf can be on peoples’ wellbeing; now it is time to get the message out there.” 

In this blog, we’ll do just that. Take a look at these 7 health benefits of golf you might not have considered before.

1. Golfers live longer

The R&A published a report in 2020 which shone a light on golf and its health impact. The stand-out headline is that golfers live five years longer than non-golfers.

A Scandinavian study, in particular, found a 40% reduction in mortality rates among 300,000 members of the Swedish Golf Federation, which tallies with an increase in life expectancy of about five years. This applied to all genders, ages, and socio-economic groups.

2. It helps to combat the big diseases

For many of us, golf is our sole source of physical activity. The easy assumption is that it is little more than a normal walk, albeit over a few hours and with some swinging of a club—but it’s doing us all plenty of good.

The R&A report mentioned above found that golf can help prevent and treat 40 major chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, breast and colon cancer, depression, and dementia. Cholesterol and blood pressure can also be reduced in golfers.

3. It boosts your step count

We’d all like to walk more, and the general guidance is that the recommended daily step count is 10,000.

Whether you’re playing or just spectating (attending a tournament, for example), you will comfortably exceed this. Even if you’re simply following your favourite player around, you’ll cover 5-6 miles and burn upwards of 1,000 calories.

4. Golf is a form of reminiscence therapy

Further research will be forthcoming on the specific benefits for people living with conditions such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other forms of memory loss. However, it is thought that the environment and social interaction of golf can help.

There are groups that come together to enjoy old photos and memories from the past—this is called reminiscence therapy. Reminiscence therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves recalling past events and feeling pleasure from them. So, even those who struggle to play golf like they used to can still benefit from the sport.

5. Golf can help relieve stress and anxiety

If ever there was a period in our lives where we learned to fully appreciate what golf does for us and our mental health, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leading environmental psychologist Professor Jenny Roe from the University of Virginia found that golf courses can help reduce stress and encourage calm in ways many might never have otherwise considered—seeing water, biodiversity, spatial variety and light patterns.

Among all the bad shots and missed putts, golf offers stress relief and relaxation, and there are many studies out there to back this up. One study into the mental health benefits of golf for children involved assessing participants on their golf skills, physical activity and wellbeing over a six-week period, with the results showing a noticeable uplift across all categories.

Related: Golf and mental health—survey findings

6. It focuses and stimulates your mind

From a non-scientific perspective, the ‘common-sense’ health benefits of golf, for things like focusing your mind, are endless.

You can keep score (or not) depending on how you want to play, you can play any format that you fancy so it can be as mentally stimulating as you want it to be, and every shot and every hole presents a different challenge.

You’ll also be in conversation for most of the round, you’ll laugh and smile lots, and you might even use visualisation and positive thinking to help you in your efforts. What’s more, all of this takes place in a green, outdoor space where there’s very little and often no distraction noise.

7. It helps with sleep

Good sleep benefits our immune system, and studies show that people who sleep for eight hours a night are three times less likely to get ill (and more likely to stay injury-free) than those who sleep for five or fewer hours. And when you have walked 18 holes, you shouldn’t struggle to sleep at night, that’s for sure.

You can also develop better habits by eating the right foods at the right time during a round as well as hydrating as often as possible. How many of us are good at drinking water on a golf course and hopeless away from it? You can use your time on the course to find a healthy rhythm.

How much golf should you play to feel health benefits?

While many golfers often complain about bad backs and sore body parts, the sport actually improves strength and balance, gives you a clearer mind, and lowers your risk of diseases.

To feel these effects, golfers should aim to play for at least 150 minutes a week (around 2.5 hours) and walk rather than ride in a buggy. Given that most rounds take at least three hours, just playing once a week can be enough.

The R&A also found that the risk of injury is moderate, though everyone should warm up properly and do strength exercises to help with this. You can reduce the risk of an injury by doing a seven-minute warm-up. Ideally, that would be two minutes of aerobic activity with some stretching to get the major muscles moving or by lifting some heavy stuff before a few practice swings. 

Nowadays, there’s a podcast out there for pretty much every topic you can think of. In fact, there are so many it can be hard to know which ones to listen to.

Golf podcasts are the ultimate down-time listening for those who just can’t get enough of the game. They’re also more important to the modern game than we sometimes give them credit for. Headline quotes are often plucked from golf podcast interviews, and the leading players know that to reach larger audiences, they need to play ball with the best golf podcasts.

So, it’s a win-win for both the creators and the listeners. Instead of two-minute post-round soundbites, we get treated to proper in-depth chats with more candid opinions and insight.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the best golf podcasts available to listen to—each offering something different and fresh.

The 10 best golf podcasts

In no particular order…

1. Cookie Jar Golf Podcast

Cookie Jar Golf describes its podcast as a ‘British take on current affairs in the world of golf—some of it interesting, most of it not,’ which gives you an idea of the self-deprecating nature of much of the content.

These guys are proper golf enthusiasts who venture to many great courses, including the lesser-known ones. This podcast will educate and entertain in equal measure, and by listening, you’ll give yourself a far better understanding of where your next golf trip might be.

The podcast, which is now well past the 250-episode mark, is available on all major platforms, and there are some beautifully shot films over on YouTube, too. It’s complemented by a website that delves further into the pro and amateur games, course architecture, and golf trips. 

2. The Rick Shiels Golf Show Podcast

You’re probably very new to the game if you’re unfamiliar with Rick Shiels.

The PGA Professional has almost three million YouTube followers, and his relatively new golf podcast is fast growing. The beauty of Shiels is his normality and ability to get the most out of his guests without making it about himself. The podcast is co-hosted by his friend Guy Charnock, who is similarly down-to-earth, and it covers all aspects of the game—from tour and club golf, equipment reviews, and instruction to high-level interviews that answer the questions many of us often pose ourselves.

3. Sky Sports Golf Podcast

Sky Sports is a familiar friend to the UK golf viewer, and its golf podcast, generally hosted by Josh Antmann, is a solid way of keeping abreast of what’s going on in the world of tournament golf.

Two aspects make this one stand out: the ability to react immediately to the weekend’s action and to be able to do so in a fun way. Antmann is regularly joined by the Sky Sports Golf crowd, where we get to see another side to the experts, as well as journalists and leading players.

Given Sky’s clout and contact book, you can often expect to see the most recent winner on Tour call in for a chat.

4. Fried Egg Golf and Shotgun Start Podcast

If you’re a traditionalist of the game and a bit of a golf nerd, then this is the podcast for you.

Andy Johnson is a fascinating and engaging character who approaches the game from a different angle. He’s also very ably assisted by Brendan Porath as well as other similarly like-minded characters.

Fried Egg Golf is best known for its take on golf course architecture, which it does better than most. This has helped many of us to appreciate and understand the courses we visit on bucket-list trips. Shotgun Start is a three-times-a-week output that rounds up the current news as well as more quirky stories.

5. GOLF’s Subpar Podcast

This is a relatively new addition to the top tier of Tour podcasts, but its high-quality content and interviews have already created plenty of great soundbites and headlines.

It’s hosted by former PGA Tour player Colt Knost—who was part of the famous 2007 Walker Cup side, which also numbered Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Billy Horschel—and his friend and fellow player Drew Stoltz. The podcast is associated with GOLF.com and boasts outstanding insight and connections as a result.

The podcast’s irreverent tone helps to relax the big names, and we get to hear and see a different side to some of the biggest in the game. It also manages to attract caddies and other golfing celebrities, so it is well worth a listen.

6. The Stripe Show Podcast

Travis Fulton was a golf instructor on the Golf Channel and is now the host of The Stripe Show.

Where the Fried Egg should be one of your first ports of call for golf course architecture chat, this is where you should head for analysis of the golf swing. For example, if you want to truly get your head around what Scottie Scheffler is doing through the ball, then here is a good start.

Fulton also reviews equipment, speaks to leading coaches, and offers mini lessons and Q&A videos to help the weekend warriors get their handicaps down. There’s also a betting angle with weekly tips if that’s your thing.

7. Local Knowledge Podcast

Local Knowledge is a Golf Digest production that offers something different from its peers. Hosts Alex Myers, Keely Levins, and Sam Weinman explore some of the better-known and sometimes more quirky stories from years gone by.

The podcast covers historic moments, golfing culture, and profiles from some of the most interesting characters in the game. This is storytelling at its best and provides a welcome and useful history lesson on some of the biggest tragedies, gaffes, and moments of brilliance in golf.

It’s well worth a trawl through the archives for a comprehensive review of the modern and historic game.

8. The Chipping Forecast

There’s a lot to like about this offering from Andrew Cotter and Eddie Pepperell, as well as their ‘guest’, the BBC’s Iain Carter, who is also a permanent fixture on the podcast.

For a self-deprecating look at the modern game, Pepperell would be high on many people’s lists, while Cotter is maybe the most irreverent commentator in sport. Then, you have Carter, who is perfectly measured and has a sound, all-round grasp of what’s happening in the game.

Part of a podcast’s success is the chemistry between its hosts, and these three clearly get on as they tackle both the fun and the important. Some of its best parts are Pepperell’s insights into life on Tour and all that goes with it.

9. Fore Play

Barstool Sports is a US-based digital media company and blog that publishes sports journalism and pop culture content. It is well-known for its comedy and satire, and the Fore Play podcast is its golfing output.

They’re well on their way to half a million YouTube subscribers, and you’ll likely already be familiar with the names Riggs (Sam Bozoian), Frankie Borrelli, Trent Ryan, and Dan Rapaport.

These guys have plenty of clout—so much so that even Tiger Woods interacts with them. Their charm comes mainly from the sense that they are you and I—golfing nuts who struggle with the game but are obsessed with it anyway—and the podcast reflects that in its style.

10. No Laying Up

Many would rank this as one of the best golf podcasts, if not the best, and it’s easy to see why.

It’s hosted by Chris Solomon, who is joined by D.J. Piehowski, Tron, Neil Schuster, Big Randy, and Kevin van Valkenburg. Together, the group offers brilliant content on all forms of the game.

No Laying Up gathered real notoriety when it first attracted all the big names to come on and show themselves in a different light. Their best work, though, arguably involves their daily Major shows, where they break down the events of the day, all with a different voice and approach.

The podcast also covers women’s golf in depth, and the guys certainly aren’t afraid to try new things. Its regular output includes longer features and listens and deeper dives into famous moments from the past.

*The golf podcasts mentioned in this blog are available across all the major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Many are also available directly via the individual podcast or outlet websites.

Everyone who plays golf knows what a brilliant and enjoyable sport it is.

However, ever felt like, as a golfer, you have an obligation to pass down your love of the sport to the next generation? You’re certainly not alone. Getting kids into golf can be a real challenge, but knowing how to do so could be vital for the future popularity of our much-loved game.

If anyone knows how to get kids into golf from a young age, it’s Aaron Cox. In 2022, Aaron won Participation and Development Coach of the Year at the England Golf Awards for his incredible work with junior golfers.

When he started as an assistant at Blackwell Grange Golf Club in the North East, he energised the whole club, building a six-hole academy course and getting a huge number of juniors to take up the game. Now, he teaches as many as 80 kids a week.

Below, he explains how to get kids into golf, and talks us through some of the work he has done with children through his junior academy, ACED Academy.

How to get kids into golf

When can kids start to play golf?

The age of around six and onwards is a great time to start getting kids into golf. In fact, nearly half of my academy is between six and eight.

When a kid around this age comes to one of my classes, they’ll learn the main fundamentals of the game. My four main fundamentals are GASP: Grip, Aim, Stance and Posture.

Then, we’ll start practising with some real golf balls. Often, when you go into schools, they only play with plastic balls, but as soon as you go to a real golf club, there’s none of that. I think the best way to learn golf is to hit proper balls from the start.

How hard is golf for young kids?

I’ll always try to make golf fun and play along with them in sessions. We play games on the putting and chipping greens, and I’m quite lucky as I also have a six-hole course. So, kids can start learning to play golf from a very early age and from very early on in the process. I get them out on the kids’ course and get them to hit shots. Even if they can barely hit the ball 20 metres yet, they still get out there and play holes, which is great.

However, many kids find hitting balls on the range a bit boring, so that can be a challenge. It’s particularly hard in the winter as the range is all we can really do, so I’ll try to incentivise sessions around Christmas (and Easter) with chocolate!

I work hard to keep kids engaged in golf throughout the winter. We’ll work primarily on technique during this time and then get out on the course in the summer. We hardly spend any time at the range in the summer because I’d rather they were out playing!

When should parents buy golf clubs for their children?

I normally tell parents who come to my academy to wait until their kids have played golf for at least 12 weeks before investing in any proper gear.

We’ve got all the golf clubs for kids to use and try out for that initial period—irons, wedges, putters, drivers, and so on—so I’ll tell parents not to buy any themselves until around that 12-week point.

If the kids are still engaged and enjoying it after 12 weeks, then that’s a good time to consider buying some clubs.

Why do group golf lessons work well for kids?

Groups are important because golf can be a selfish sport. Yes, it’s a one-person sport, but I want the kids to learn and make good friendships as they do so.

I’ve got some kids in my classes who have been together now for three years and have become best friends through golf. They all get to play together, their parents also get to know each other, and all of a sudden, you’ve got a nice mix of things going on.  

Tell us about one of your career success stories…

We have a ‘Ryder Cup’ every year, which is really fun.

We have eight tournaments a year throughout the season, from March to October, and the top 24 kids on the ‘Order of Merit’ qualify for the following year’s matches. I pick two captains and get them to pick their own teams. Then, they play a Ryder Cup-style tournament.

They get shirts and caps with the European and American logos, and I put flags and bunting down the side of the course—half European, half American.

The kids and parents dress up for the occasion, and we play for a real trophy.

By the end, you have three or four kids walking together with a massive flag around them, egging their mates on, and you’ll have 40 people sitting around the last green.

It’s excellent for team bonding and getting them hooked on the sport. It can be easy to forget they’re just 7-11 years old. 

Are there handicaps in kid’s golf?

The kids have handicaps, yes. So, when they want to transition from just playing socially to actually entering competitions, I use the old-school handicapping system.

You put three cards in, add all three scores up, and divide by three to get an average, which is your handicap. We have a par-20 on my kids’ course, so if their average comes out at 27.8, then their handicap is 7.8, and their playing handicap is 8.  

When’s the best time for a kid to move up to a full golf course?

This will depend on the child. For me, personally, if a child wants to move from the academy to the main course, I’ll need to approve that transition first.

I’ve had kids who are eight years old transition to the main course and play off blue tees. They hit the ball 100 yards, and they’ve had two years of competition golf on the kids’ course, so they’ll know about handicapping, scoring, net scores, gross scores, speed of play, marking the ball on the greens, repairing pitch marks and divots, and so on because we’ve taught them all of that.

What is your best piece of advice to parents of golf-playing kids?

I would say just allow your kids to make decisions. Be there to support them, but don’t try and do too much and get too involved.

I’ve experienced parents who are 100% supportive of their child, which is great, but you sometimes get parents who think they know more or better than the pro or coach.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when a parent will say something to their child like ‘Why did you do that?’ after a poor shot. I often think to myself, ‘Do you think that they wanted to do that?’

Instead, try phrasing it more helpfully and constructively, like ‘Did anything feel different on that shot compared to the last one?’ or ‘What do you think happened there?’

Speaking down to your child when they’re trying to learn the game will only add barriers to their progression.

For more on Aaron, visit acedgolfacademy.com.