Look, we don’t mean to harsh your mellow (man), but there’s a mental health crisis ongoing, and if it’s not affecting you (great), it’s indiscriminately hurting people you love. Tragically, every day, just in England & Wales, an average of 15 people take their own life. 74% of these people are men, as the primary cause of death for males under 50. Clearly, the reasons are complex and varied, but having witnessed first-hand the mental health benefits that golf can bring, if we can help stop just one person being a statistic, or even affect the quality of life of a fellow human, we feel compelled to try.
OK, so we’re pretty light on doctorates in psychology, but what we do know, is that anecdotally – when we’re not duffing our favourite ball into the lake on the 18th – golf can do wonders for our mental (and physical) health. And here’s the science bit; studies have shown that when golfing, cortisol (the main stress hormone) levels drop, and serotonin and dopamine (mood-controlling hormones) levels increase… even more so, interestingly, in women golfers. It’s also credited with releasing endorphins, so named to reflect the endogenous (self-generating) morphine effect, produced by the body. What’s more, vitamin D levels are boosted, which is proven to reduce depression, schizophrenia, and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Here, we break down the various factors that can benefit mental health, that together can have a compounded effect:
Exercise. A typical round of golf, playing 18 holes, will involve walking over 5 miles, often on undulating terrain, whilst carrying or pushing around 2 stones worth of equipment, and taking many tens of shots along the way. Whilst this is naturally great for physical health, The Lancet’s study1 of over 1.2 million people, found those who exercise have 43.2% less poor mental health days.
Nature. In a society where 75% of our waking hours are spend staring at a screen2, and the impact much of this can have in warping our perceptions on life, is it any wonder that so many struggle with their mental health? Problems at home are now exacerbated by so many now working from there, and often finding their once varied job schedule have been replaced by a never-ending succession of video calls. Various research suggests, that mood disorders are 38% more prevalent in urbanised areas than rural towns3, that green spaces helped 50% of those suffering stress during the pandemic4, and that they can be a factor in reducing post-natal depression5.
Social Interaction. Golf provides the opportunity to spend quality time with like-minded people. For men in particular, who reportedly make up a staggering 84% of golfers in England6 and are not always natural social butterflies, it’s a fantastic opportunity to unload the week’s stresses and find solace in shared struggles, whether brought on by wife, or wedge. There’s also benefits for those advanced in years, whose lifestyle’s risk becoming somewhat solitary, through retirement and / or being widowed.
Achievement. Golf presents a myriad of challenges to overcome, and whilst ostensibly competing with others, you’re primarily competing with yourself. Whilst this carries the risk of painful frustrations, it also allows one to tap into the joy of continual self-improvement. With the right mindset, accepting that even the best golfers have bad rounds, pleasure can be found in celebrating marginal gains in one or two areas at a time.
The Flip Side. It should be acknowledged, that golf isn’t the perfect tonic for everyone, every round. Together with physical risks, such as tennis elbow, a bad back, or worse if hit by a stray ball, a bad round can risk raising stress and anxiety levels. For perfectionists, and the highly competitive, golf can be infuriating, as a sport that’s impossible to perfect, since 18 hole in ones is a stretch… even for a Korean dictator!7 Indeed, whilst offering serene escapism to the occasional / improving golfer, it appears that for the best, the game can have the opposite effect when failing to fulfil previous potential. Several top pros have spoken about their previous struggles, brought on or exacerbated by the game, such as Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, and Rory McIlroy8, isolated on an Asian island at 19, and failing to live up to his promise. Whilst 4 major wins and a daughter seem to have lifted his spirits, he spoke again recently on the topic, sharing his need to take a break following a Masters performance that ‘sucked’, for his ‘mental and emotional wellbeing’9.
Whilst Rory’s problems might be for another day, for us mere mortals, they illustrate that even £100m in earnings doesn’t bring immunity from poor mental health, and his openness further paves the way for a stigma-free dialogue on the topic.
In summary, with the potential downsides duly noted, few activities can combine so many of the above positive factors, and perhaps having ‘golf on the brain’ might not be such a bad thing after all.
Are you struggling with your mental health? Whilst golf could help, it’s not a perfect cure. Talking to someone could help, so below are some useful contacts.
Samaritans offer free, 24/7 support, whatever you’re going through, by calling 116 123
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) specialise in helping men see that life is worth living, and can be reached on 0800 58 58 58
Papyrus exist to prevent young (children, and adults up to 35) suicides, and can be contacted via 0800 068 41 41
Have you got a story to share about how golf has affected your mental health? Contact us here.
References:
- Lancet Study on Exercise’s Effect on Poor Mental Health Days
- Research Suggesting 75% of Waking Hours Staring at a Screen
- Correlation Between Mood Disorders and Urban and Rural Areas
- Effect of Green Spaces on Stress During Pandemic
- Proximity to Green Spaces and Impact on Post-Natal Depression
- Demographics of UK Golfers
- Korean Leader Gets 11 Holes in One on First Round
- Rory McIlroy Interview on Mental Health Battles Early in Career
- Rory Speaking Recently on Mental Wellbeing
