Everyone wants to be healthier and live longer but sometimes exercise can seem like such a chore. Golfing is a fun way to incorporate low-impact, entertaining activity into your schedule. Recent research results show that a low intensity and easy to incorporate activity like golf might be the answer you are looking for.

Could Golf Be Better Than Running?

Recent research published in the British Medical Journal, “Mortality in former Olympic athletes: retrospective cohort analysis” discovered that “athletes who compete in high or moderate intensity sports (e.g. swimming, cycling, running, rowing) are not at any advantage over those who perform lower intensity sports (such as golf, bowls and cricket).” However, “impact sports can result in a 11% increased risk of early death, compared to other athletes.” So a relaxing day of golf won’t put you at risk for as many injuries as some sports and you still get the necessary cardio-vascular and aerobic workouts.

Could Golf Actually Help You Live Longer?

Yes, according to a new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet. “The death rate for golfers is 40 percent lower than for other people of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status, which correspond to a 5-year increase in life expectancy.”

How to Make Sure You are Getting the Most Benefit?

Don’t think that sipping beer from your golf cart is extending your life or protecting your heart. Longevity.about.com recommends you take these simple steps to ensure you’re getting the most from your golf outing:

• No Carts: That means walk (if you can). You’ll burn a ton more calories.
• Carry Your Clubs: If you are able, carry your own clubs. You’ll build strength and endurance while burning even more calories.
• Improve Your Game: The more you golf, the better your longevity (according to the study). Work on lowering your handicap and get out and golf as often as you can.
• Beware the Clubhouse: On false move at the clubhouse and you can erase all the benefits. Beware of beers, hamburgers and other clubhouse fare that will just put all the calories you burnt back into your body.

Now that you know all the benefits associated with golfing, grab your clubs and treat yourself to an energetic round!