Mental health benefits of golf - Get outside and play!

Ever since I was young in the early 2000s, with my grandparents living in Stathern and my aunt and uncle in Eastwell, I have always loved spending time outdoors and around farms. It was perhaps inevitable, therefore, that golf would appeal to me from an early age.

Having lessons primarily at Melton Mowbray and Cotgrave introduced me to the many joys of the sport. Whether it was the social aspect, the challenge of improving my game, or simply being outside and enjoying the surrounding countryside, golf quickly became something I looked forward to.

Today, I regularly play with family and friends, and an afternoon round of 18 holes at Melton Mowbray Golf Club is the perfect way to unwind after a busy and often stressful working week. Walking the course provides excellent physical exercise, while the concentration required by the game helps clear the mind and improve mental wellbeing. Even the floodlit driving range at night is a fun and unique experience too.

Some people may say, “Golf is boring. Where’s the atmosphere like in football?” While the sport may not always have the roar of an Olympics or American football crowd, the atmosphere comes from the people you play with. The laughs, friendly competition, conversations and occasional frustrations all contribute to an enjoyable experience that helps you switch off from everyday pressures.

At Melton Mowbray's course in particular, players are surrounded by the agricultural landscape that makes our area so special. Predominantly dairy farming country, the course offers views of rolling fields alongside the sounds of cattle, tractors and farm machinery. Combined with birdsong and the peaceful surroundings of the countryside, it creates a unique setting that enhances every round. And, thanks to the banners dotted around the course celebrating Melton's famous pork pies, you'll occasionally find yourself thinking about your next meal before you've finished the hole you're playing!

With a friendly welcome in the clubhouse, excellent facilities, immaculate greens and fairways, and a variety of natural obstacles including ponds, trees and thickets, the course offers something for golfers of all abilities. More importantly, it provides an opportunity to get outside, relax, recharge and take a break from the demands of modern working life.

Golf is far more than just a sport - it is exercise, social interaction, fresh air and time spent in nature all rolled into one.

If you are looking for a way to improve your wellbeing while enjoying the beautiful Leicestershire countryside, why not come down and give Melton Mowbray's course a try?