Golf can promote flexibility, improved fitness for seniors

Ever wonder why people develop such a passion for golf?

Could it be that they are obsessed with hitting a little white ball into a hole hundreds of yards away, or do they simply have nothing better to do? Personally, I don't think it is either one.

Some Springfield senior golfers say that they have played golf most of their lives, and they continue to do so because the tensions and the frustrations of life seem to melt away when concentrating on the game and enjoying the company of friends.

Nationally, more than 32 million people are age 65 and older.

According to the World Health Organization, the proportion of people age 65 and older is growing faster than that of any other age group.

The world's population of seniors is growing by 2 percent each year and is expected to outpace other age groups for at least the next 25 years.

The fastest-growing age group in the world is the oldest-old, those 80 years old and older. By 2030, the oldest-old will account for 20 percent of older individuals.

Health care for our seniors is becoming one of the most talked about concerns today. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention commented that each inactive American spends approximately $330 more a year on health care expenses than active individuals.

This presents a question for everyone how can we accomplish active aging? The answer is physical fitness, and golfing is an excellent way to accomplish this. More than 30 percent of Americans age 55 and older walk for exercise, followed by swimming, fishing and golfing.

The key to active aging, no matter what your choice of exercise, is maintaining flexibility.

According to most golfing experts, flexibility is more important than size. Flexibility is a part of physical fitness, and fitness is a condition that helps us to look good, feel our best, do our best and age gracefully.

Golf is much more difficult than it seems on television; but so are most things that are worthwhile in life. Golfers can find a local course to meet their needs. Springfield and the Ozarks are filled with many wonderful golf courses and there are numerous tournaments in which to compete.