Even with COVID-19 restrictions in full effect, there’s still one spot you can enjoy a couple of hours together with friends and drinks: the golf course.
According to data from Golf Canada and the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada, more people played more golf in Canada last year than ever before. Companies like Golf Town, Canada’s top golf retailer, enjoyed unprecedented growth in 2020, with club sales increasing by 60 percent from 2019, the No. 1 growth category being women’s irons.
And there’s no reason to expect the ‘COVID-friendly’ sport will be any less popular in 2021. Why?
For one, the mental and physical health benefits of even the most casual 18 holes is well known. If you forego the cart and play your 18 on foot, you’ll exceed 10,000 steps, burn upwards of 900 calories, and according to a Swedish 2009 study, have an increase in life expectancy of about five years compared to non-golfers.
Related: More time on the golf course can extend life expectancy
Now golf may seem difficult to start; however, it’s a myth that it’s costly to get going if you’re a rookie golfer.
“You don’t have to be great at it” to reap its benefits, says Canada’s top golfer, Brooke Henderson. “You can still have a lot of fun with friends, build huge networks, and connect with so many people.”
Photo credit: Freebird7977/Shutterstock.com; Allen.G/Shutterstock.com
