Connection-from a golfer’s perspective

Blog 6/365 Today I’m talking about connection. No, not the technical term the connection between body and club in a golf swing. The connection with others and nature that golf enables. Where are you going with this one I hear you say? So much of modern life now revolves around screen time and technology, that it is very easy to lose the connection, both emotional and physical that humans thrive on. We are all waiting for the next hit of endorphins that comes from the Facebook notification, or the newest box set, or the DM sliding into your inbox. It is very sad to see parents ignoring their children, engrossed in their smart phone, or a person walking down the street, head down, and unaware of the people or landscape they are passing. People would rather text someone than arrange to meet them and catch up in person. Where does golf come in? Golf by its very nature gets you out into nature, and away from the very technology that has failed in its mission to make us more ‘connected’. How invigorating is it to feel the grass under your feet, the solid strike of a shot, the ball arcing through the sky towards a distant target usually framed by incredible trees or stunning backdrops. And then there is the social aspect. Meeting up with your friends or meeting new people, playing golf for 4 or 5 hours, and sharing an experience that creates a bond that you can talk about and laugh(or cry) over for months to come. I have made more friends, met more people and had some of the most moving conversations on the golf course. This connection with others and nature is so good for the mind and body, that doctors are now beginning to prescribe golf(and other outdoor activities) to people suffering from all sorts of ailments both physical and mental. So next time you’re looking for something to give the spirits a lift, or to have a bit of craic with your friends, or meet some new ones, go tee it up. You’ll feel better.