The Study Hall: How Golf Makes the World Happier

Playing golf could be one of the most important activities in the world right now and that's because of one very simple reason.

It makes people happy.

More specifically, being around nature makes people happy, according to a study out of Carleton University in Ottawa.

The study says that being around nature and in the great outdoors is the key to well-being in humans. Taking a walk, admiring animals and feeling the grass under your feet creates an innate feeling of joy in people.

But in today's age of urban living, you're more likely to see fields of concrete instead of grass and parking lots instead of parks.

That's where golf courses come in. They offer a rather large slice of nature in the middle of many cities, large and small.

Where else can you walk through hundreds of acres of greenery? Where else can you see wildlife like foxes, herons, muskrats and deer? Where else are there trees, marshes, meadows, ponds and dirt paths?

The answer: not many places that aren't a couple hours drive away from the closest city. The exceptions are golf courses.

And if people can become happier from spending a couple hours with friends in such a natural environment, ten minutes from home and playing such an active sport it means that their happiness will flow to other parts of their lives and society.   

That is why well managed golf courses are vital not only to the health of the environment and the economy, but also communities as a whole, all across Canada.

That is why golf course superintendents and their teams are crucial. They provide health and happiness to communities big and small. They give people a place to enjoy nature without having to travel far or trek through the urban jungle. They are a safe haven for habitats, eco-systems and nature of all sorts. 

So here's to golf course management professionals everywhere. You are making the world a happier place, one round of golf at a time.