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Depending on who you ask, there is a never-ending list of reasons to play golf. That might be why golf is one of the top ten most popular sports in the world. People use it as a way to stay healthy by getting outdoors, moving around, and getting exercise, especially cardiovascular. This brings with it many physical and mental health benefits. In addition to cardio, swinging a club strengthens muscles and your core, and carrying a golf bag is even better at giving you a workout. This has additional positive impacts on the body by lowering your risk of heart disease, as well as reducing bad cholesterol. Continuous exercise also cuts down on long-term health risks like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. 

Another reason people frequently turn to golf is the fact that it lowers stress levels. Smelling the fresh air and feeling a beautiful breeze can help to release the feel-good endorphins that give us a break from the stresses of life. As far as fulfilling other needs, human beings are social creatures. We crave to be amongst individuals with a shared interest. There is no better place than a golf course to make friends and relax and talk about mutual interests. Golf courses are also designed to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Just being in that type of environment is healthy for both heart and soul. It is no wonder, therefore, that activity meant to relax you and keep you healthier will also extend your life. Some research studies have shown a life expectancy extension of up to five years. 

For many people just starting out, the game of golf can be a little intimidating. Not only do you need to learn the proper formation when striking the ball, but you also need to learn various striking positions. The hardest part about learning golfing 101 is getting familiar with the different types of clubs. The typical set of golf clubs is composed of a combination of different clubs so that the player has one ready to handle every shot they may be faced with. There are four main types of clubs: woods, irons, a putter, and some wedges. A golfer is only allowed to have 14 clubs with him at any time, so it’s important to learn enough about them to choose the set that works best for you. 

Woods are tall and have a big head on the end. They are used for the longest holes. A driver is known as a 1 wood and it can hit the ball the farthest of any club. Irons are used when you are closer than 200 yards away from the green. Most golf sets include 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 irons, with the numbers signifying loft increase. The closer you are to the green, the higher the iron number you should choose. 

Wedges are specialty irons. They are used to hit your ball out of a rough patch or in a short approach to the green. A pitching wedge has the lowest loft of all the wedges. Sand wedges and lob wedges vary in loft size. A putter is used to hit your ball at close-range, sometimes directly from the green itself. The shape of the putter is flat in order to hit the ball squarely and with precision.