Golf - It's a Family Business

Don’t take my word for it, just take a stroll around any busy club on a Saturday morning and you’ll see juniors, seniors and everyone in between buzzing because of the game of golf.

Clubs across the UK have realised for a long time that to give themselves a future they need to throw their doors open and welcome golfers young and old, new and fanatical. What better way for a family to enjoy their leisure time together than head to their local golf club for practice, lessons, a game with their regular fourball….or if they’re feeling really competitive – with each other!

For the game to have a great future, there needs to be a conveyor belt of golfers from cradle to grave. Junior golf has never been stronger in the UK and clubs have seen their own initiatives for juniors further fuelled by the great work undertaken by the likes of The Golf Foundation, Young Masters Golf and Wee Wonders amongst others. For a family with one or both parents interested in golf, the choice of golf club will often be dependent on junior programmes, practice facilities and increasingly academy courses or 9 hole courses to help with development.

Let’s not forget the seniors segment. Golf is, after all, a game that it is suitable for players of all ages and abilities, from the youngest family members to grandma and grandpa, making golf the perfect family game. Many adults find golf to be an enjoyable (sometimes frustrating) sport and hope to pass their love of the game onto their children and grandchildren.
If you think your family will enjoy the game why not pop along to one of the many golf clubs around the UK that run a free family taster day? Some clubs even offer trial membership packages on these days, so that families can then experience club membership over a limited period of time.
You could even try a family lesson with a PGA Pro who create programmes designed to cater for everyone's needs that are fun, educational and highly professional in a relaxed atmosphere.

If you decide you like the game, you’ll need to think about kitting out your family with some equipment. Like most things, equipment varies in price and the more popular the brand the higher the price. Whether you choose a cheap or expensive brand, you may still be spending a lot of money buying sets for you and your family making you anxious at the thought of replacement if they were damaged or stolen. With this in mind, why not think about insuring your new possessions with a comprehensive golf insurance policy to protect the golfers in your family on and off the course?

Golfplan Insurance, a recommended Official Supplier of the PGA, has over 25 years experience of providing the most comprehensive golf insurance on the market. Golfplan’s New for Old policies replace your golf equipment with brand new (regardless of its age) if it is stolen or beyond repair. Each policy also includes essential £5 million personal liability cover, as well as other benefits including 24 hour theft from car cover and accidental property damage. Club membership fees are covered in the event of illness or accident on or off the course and for the fortunate ones - hole in one cover for that customary round of clubhouse drinks. All Golfplan policies also come with 120 days worldwide cover leaving you with total peace of mind wherever you decide to play – home or away.

Golfplan also offer 10% discount for family members living at the same address, junior policies and 20% discount for over 70’s.

Get Fit with Golf

After getting carried away with the festive spirit, most of us will notice a tighter waist band and will be thinking ‘New Year resolution? - Time to get fit’, but don’t fancy the prospect of working out in a stuffy gym for hours so the resolution is never actioned. So what’s the solution? Shrug our shoulders and eat another mince pie? Or better still why not try something different.....how about golf?

You may not realise how active a game of golf is, if you think it’s just a game for old men in golf buggies think again. Cue Paul Casey or Tiger Woodsl. Beginners may be surprised by the physical strain of simply completing the course but if you’re up for the challenge you'll find that as you develop your game you’ll feel fitter and happier with all those endorphins that will be released. So get off that sofa, kick off those slippers and put on some golf shoes, the more comfortable the better as your poor old feet are going to need them with all the walking you'll be doing. Most golf pro’s will be able to advise.

Golf is a great cardio workout as there is a lot of walking involved. Most 18 hole courses are usually between four and five miles long, where there can even be a little climbing up hills! A great type of exercise which goes easy on your joints but is also great at building strength in your muscles and burning off all those extra little calories, you will also at regular intervals be pulling a trolley or be carrying the extra weight of your golf bag.
With all that time you'll be spending walking and waiting at holes there will be plenty of time to chat to your golfing partners or even getting to know new and different people. If you’re a beginner however and don’t like the thought of that quiet competitiveness between you and your friends then there is no problem in going it alone, until you’re confident enough to show off that perfect swing of yours.

As golf is quite a slow game, you’ll benefit from the relaxing scenery and if you’re spending all that time outside although we can’t always guarantee the weather. Many courses allow non-members to play so you don’t need to worry about the expense of membership fees.

After a while you’ll start to notice improvements in muscle tone and posture that come from all those repetitions of strokes needed to complete a round. What better excuse for a bad round than telling your playing partners that you were taking those extra shots because they would improve your muscles.
Golf will not only benefit you physically but mentally too, you may find yourself in certain situations when playing a round that will need your careful judgement when deciding the best course of action.
A great game that offers an all-round workout, so what are you waiting for?