5 Surprising Social Benefits of Playing Golf (Backed by Research)

Golf often gets associated with skill and scenic fairways. But beyond that there are social advantages many golfers don’t immediately think about. These are the kinds of benefits Golfsocial is all about: helping you stay connected, grow friendships, and feel part of something meaningful even when you are out there playing solo.

Here are five surprising social benefits of playing golf:

Golf isn’t just about the swing, it’s about who you share the course with. A study called The Association of Golf Participation With Health and Wellbeing: A Comparative Study found that golfers report significantly higher levels of social trust and personal wellbeing compared to the general population. (Golf Science Journal)

Belonging comes from shared experiences: post round cheers, discussions over swing tweaks, friendly rivalries. All of that builds community.

Golf connects you with people from different generations, professions, and backgrounds. According to Golf & Health research, the sport provides opportunities to enhance interaction across age groups and strengthen social connections. (Golf & Health)

Whether you are introducing someone new to the game, teaming up for a casual round, or following friends’ highlights, the network effect of golfing is powerful.

Multiple studies point out that playing golf helps reduce stress and improve mental health not only because of being outdoors but strongly because of the social side. A peer reviewed study “Beyond the Handicap: A Cross Sectional Study of Mental Health Amongst Registered Golfers in Spain” (2025) shows that golfers over 45 had much lower rates of mental health issues than those under 45. The older golfers had more stable relationships with golf as community and ritual not just competition.

Small talk, shared tips, laughter after a good (or bad) shot, those moments help with mood, resilience, and feeling less alone.

Being part of a golf circle, seeing friends improve, getting tips, and sharing success (even little ones) contributes to stronger self efficacy, and the belief that you can improve and overcome challenges. The Comparative Study also found that golfers scored higher on self efficacy around general exercise participation and golf participation compared to the wider population.

Confidence on the course often carries off the course: taking on new challenges, being more outgoing, and feeling more capable.

Even when you are playing solo, knowing there is a community watching, sharing, and engaging gives you motivation and helps you stay consistent. Studies and surveys (like Golfshake’s community survey) show many people stay with golf because they want to be with friends or family, to socialize, or to be part of a group. (Golfshake)

Here in Denmark there is a great example: the Women and Golf program run by the Danish Golf Union. It is an 8 week course designed to attract and retain female golfers through social activities and shared experiences. In 2022 it attracted 600 new female golfers across 33 clubs and will expand to more clubs in following years. Many participants emphasized how meeting others, sharing laughs, and simply doing golf together mattered just as much as the game itself. (Danish Golf Association)

At Golfsocial we are building features with exactly these social gains in mind. Here is how our product and interface plan aligns with what the research shows:

Real time feed and updates: share moments from your round whether you are by yourself or with friends and stay connected with what your group is up to

Community building tools: groups, chat, tips, and shared highlights make it easy to connect even when you are not playing together

Challenges & micro events: friendly competitions, mini challenges to help you stay accountable and motivated

Easy sharing & discovery: clean intuitive UI to make posting highlights, tips, and stories simple no friction

The studies make it clear: golf offers more than just outdoor enjoyment. It is a conduit for connection, mental health, confidence, and community. Even a round by yourself becomes richer when you can share it, compare it, learn from it, and see how others are doing.

With Golfsocial launching in April, we aim to help you tap into those benefits more naturally and more often. Whether you are chasing lower scores or just looking for better company, we are here to help you make every round more rewarding.