Golf is a sport that involves using different golf clubs to hit a golf ball into a hole.

It's a sport known for its unique charm, allowing people to exercise in beautiful natural surroundings, cultivate character, refine themselves, and exchange skills. It's often hailed as a "stylish and elegant sport."

The origins of golf can be traced back to 15th-century Scotland, primarily played among royalty and nobility. As golf clubs became more accessible, the sport became popular among the middle class. By the 20th century, with established rules and international tournaments, golf became widely played internationally.

A Swedish study conducted by researchers revealed exciting findings. In 2008, out of Sweden's population of 9 million, over 600,000 were members of the Swedish Golf Federation, covering almost all golf courses in Sweden and encompassing most Swedish golf enthusiasts. The researchers, analyzing decades of Swedish population death records and golf participation data, discovered a correlation between playing golf and lifespan.

The study indicated that, among individuals of the same age, gender, and socioeconomic status, golfers had a 40% lower mortality rate compared to non-golfers, often enjoying an additional five years of life.

Not surprisingly, the lead researcher, Professor Anders Ahlbom from the Karolinska Institute's Institute of Environmental Medicine, aged 66, himself an avid golfer, attributed several elements of golf to the beneficial effects on health, emphasizing the significant role of regular hours of walking.

In Sweden, golfers prefer walking the course rather than using golf carts. Statistics suggest that a round of golf, if walked, takes about five hours. Golfers engage in outdoor activity throughout, burning calories consistently. For a round of 18 holes, the calorie consumption per hour is estimated at 306 (for carrying golf bags, using a pull cart consumes 292 calories per hour, and using a golf cart burns 238 calories per hour).

Professor Ahlbom summarized, "We believe that a significant part of the lower death rate among golfers can be ascribed to the physical exercise associated with golf – including walking." Overall, playing golf potentially increases lifespan, and those who play more often tend to have better overall physical health. Therefore, the result that golfers with lower handicaps live longer isn't entirely surprising.

In this research report, comparing the mortality rates among all golfers, those with lower handicaps exhibited the lowest mortality rates, while golfers with higher handicaps had the highest mortality rates. Yes, that's right! When considering the correlation with handicaps, lower-handicap golfers noticeably had longer lifespans.

A lower handicap implies higher golfing skills. Theoretically, they play more rounds and get more exercise, potentially leading to longer lifespans. Professor Ahlbom cautioned, "We interpret our findings with caution. Skilled golfers (lower handicaps) tend to live longer, and our results show a clear trend."

However, the research couldn't entirely rule out other factors among golfers contributing to lower mortality rates, such as healthier lifestyles. George Vaillant, a psychiatrist and longevity researcher at Harvard University, noted, "There's no direct evidence that playing golf is linked to longevity. However, after retirement, people often reduce their physical activity, and various illnesses correspondingly emerge. We cannot deny the very positive effects golf as an activity has on physical health."

Former U.S. amateur golf champion Vinny Giles explained the allure of golf, saying, "You develop camaraderie on the golf course because you're spending four hours with someone, getting to know them and observing them in different environments, which is much more effective than in a conference room."