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More Than a Game: The Therapeutic Benefits of Golf

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30.10.2026

Women, people of color, and young people are taking up golf in record numbers.

Golf can promote belonging, stress relief, and mental well-being.

Empirical data link golf with confidence, self-worth, and emotion regulation.

Golf is having a cultural moment. Golf used to be a male-only sport associated with exclusive environments, wealth, and serious rules. But the tide is changing. These days, golf is increasingly tied to wellness, diversity, fashion, and fun. Several industry surveys report that young people are taking up golf for stress relief, mental health, social connection, and a chance to unplug outdoors.

Since 2019, women, young people, and people of color have led the growth in golf participation, with each group reaching record or near-record levels. Participation has increased among men as well.

In a screen-dominated world, golf offers ongoing opportunities to do real things with real people, experience novelty and travel, and be physically active in the outdoors. Golf offers a fun and engaging opportunity to build resilience and personal growth. As an individual, precision sport, it’s you inside your own head. From a mental-game perspective, success rests on the........

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