Golf
If golf is your pleasure, you simply can’t beat the many world class courses in Collier County.
According to the National Golf Foundation, there are more holes per person in Naples than anywhere in the nation. Many of the courses are open to the public, while many others cater to the private sector. Some of the private courses are associated with resorts, giving priority tee times to the guests.
Semi private courses are also featured that open their courses to the public during slower times in the season. Whatever the case, Collier County now has over 80 golf courses in the area to suit every taste. What better way to get the exercise we all need without the boring rituals of working out at the local gym.
Golfing in Collier County can benefit the avid golfing enthusiast in a number of ways.
What better weight loss program can you imagine, where you get the exercise you need, and enjoy a wonderful climate, gorgeous scenery and great friends. If you care about you health, then you gotta play golf! Just think of the many health benefits of playing golf including:
- Great Cardiovascular exercise – A good golf game is an activity that should leave you slightly short of breath while working up a bit of a sweat. This gets your heart beating which we all know, is the best medicine for your cardiovascular system, and you heart. It lowers harmful cholesterol and helps speed up your metabolism, making weight loss much easier. (not that you need to lose weight of course). Think of it. A round of golf burns about 300 calories in a 150 pound individual who plays for 1 hour while carrying clubs. If you choose to ride in a cart, the same round of golf will burn only 230 calories. Even if you don’t walk the walk through 18 holes, just hanging out at the local driving range burns about 200 calories per hour. Not bad. Certainly better than watching TV all afternoon don’t you think?
- Safe exercise – Running has taken on a lot of popularity over the years. However, more and more doctors are cautioning us, particularly as we get older, to be careful of the knees and hips. Brisk walking on a golf course, especially if one carries their clubs, can create long, lean muscle mass, which helps support a strong skeleton. Other benefits include helping to prevent bone degeneration, including osteoporosis. Take a lesson from the kids with their backpacks. Add the option of a double strapped golf bag to relieve the pressure on just one shoulder.
- Plenty of Vitamin D – We really can’t get by without good old Vitamin D. It is absolutely essential for strong and healthy bones, while regulating the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. It helps regulate the growth of skin cells. True, you can eat foods that are high in the vitamin, but remember, we are also trying to watch our weight at the same time. You could take a pill, but that’s absolutely no fun at all. Besides, as we get older, we take enough of the things for other ailments as it is. So, along comes golf. Yes, that beautiful sun that warms you, calms the soul and gives you that Greek God tan, also provides Vitamin D in its best form possible. So go outside, take a walk around the links and let your body do its work.
- Sleep Better – Seems like a given, but good to remember and reflect on just how golf can contribute to better sleep. Just the exercise alone will help any of us to sleep better. Even if you take the game seriously, don’t take yourself too seriously at the same time. Relax as you play. Take a moment to gaze at the beauty of the course and surrounding areas. Not too long though, there may be others behind you waiting to play through. But take a brief look, take a deep breath and play on. Hey, it will not only make you feel better, sleep better and relieve loads of stress, but many studies have proved, that relaxed golfers who sleep well have lower golf scores.
- New Friends – True, some golfer like to play alone, enjoying the solitude of an early morning game and relishing their own company, but really golf is best played with friends. If you are alone, chances are that you will be placed with a group that needs another player. After the first few holes played, friendships begin to form. Those who frequent golf courses do add many good and close friends to their social support system, often forming close relationships that last a lifetime. Golf after all, was designed to be a social game. Did you know that when you make a new friend, you increase endorphins in your system? These little guys are powerful mood enhancing guys that you can’t overdose on, and best of all, the DEA has no jurisdiction. Your mental outlook and an overall feeling of well being will be noticeably improved. And, this just in. Studies have shown that seniors that continue to increase their circle of friends and keep active socially often live up to six years longer than those who don’t. If that doesn’t convince you, nothing will.
Oh, one final thought. Check with your doctor if you haven’t been as active as you would have liked. Always good to get a good check-up and a doctor’s blessing before you grab the clubs and get busy.
New to golf, or thinking of starting up? Don’t get caught looking like a “newbie” good to learn the lingo.
Here’s a helpful glossary of essential golf terms from the Think Golf website. Check it out for more handy information.