It's Mental Health Awareness Month... here's how we'd like to contribute.
Posted on September 29, 2022
It’s funny, Golf is such a frustrating sport that you could argue it inhibits your mental health.
Here’s a scenario all golfers know too well.
You arrive at the course early, feeling excited and hopeful for your best round yet (or at least not to score your personal worst).
You hit some practice balls on the range, get some quick putts in, and load up the golf cart with some snacks (and beers) from the Collier Café to enjoy through your round.
Life is good.
You hit the first tee box, excited (but nervous) to watch your ball soar down the middle of the fairway and to hear the applause of your playing group (and to feel the envy so extremely obvious on their faces).
All this excitement; all this anticipation…
… only for your ball to slice further right than the course actually goes, putting you on a hunting mission in the trees, finding ball after ball that doesn’t happen to be yours.
All resulting in that ever so consistent double bogey you despise – not the start you were hoping for!
You follow this up by 3 putting on the majority of holes and losing a total of 5 balls – the new ones you just purchased from the pro-shop too.
(And that’s just the first 9).
By the end of the day, you’re frustrated, angry, and a couple of clubs short because some of them may or may not have been disposed of into the lake.
This is the cycle that happens every time you play, and yet, you’re already booking in your next round, eager to shoot that elusive personal best.
So yes, clearly, in that moment, you could say your mental health is impacted (even if you’re a pro).
But in the long-term, Golf is a passion of yours and it gives you purpose.
It gives you the chance to enjoy your friends’ company; to socialize in an environment you all relish in:
- You’re enjoying the outdoors.
- The beautiful WA sun is shining, exuding that precious vitamin D we all need, and
- The slight breeze that accompanies your round is the cherry on top to the perfect environment.
All of your weekly worries are washed away, and you’re able to enjoy focusing solely on the specific moment you find yourself in.
(Even if it’s after chunking your ball for the 3rd straight time).
Golf is a tough sport, but that’s the beauty of it. No one can ever completely conquer it, which is what keeps all of us moving forward.
There’s always another level you can reach, and that drive pushes you to be better.
It leaves you with improved mental health than you had before embarking on that journey. All because you found purpose; you kept moving forward despite the challenges.
And you saw your Golf game improve (and your ball count remain high).
October is Mental Health Awareness Month and we’d like to contribute to the cause, given the mental health benefits this game can provide.
During this month, speak to those you love and facilitate an environment where mental health can be talked about together.
Do something fun with your family, whether that’s some mini putt fun in the sun with a beer or wine in hand, or getting out on the Golf Course with your mates. Anything that gets you outdoors, active, and around people who give you life and energy.
And if you want to go that much further, at Collier Park we have:
- Weekly Bouncing Back Sessions, run by Richmond Wellbeing. Get on the driving range, have a couple of drinks and some food, and chat about all things mental health in a safe and casual environment! (Top tip: come along with a friend to enjoy it together).
- A partnership with Activate Mental Health, who are running silent book clubs on a Monthly Basis – all being held in our Café!
- Social Golf Clubs that you can be a part of, to be around like-minded individuals who too, love the game of Golf!
Let’s start talking about Mental Health more effectively and acknowledging the things we do for ourselves, so that we can encourage others to do the same. Let’s take steps towards a better future.
We hope we can help.
