Industrialization accelerated, leading to economic prosperity with increased labor efficiency and productivity. However, the quality of people’s lives has not improved. This fact emerged from the research of psychologists in the 1960s and 1970s in the United States, who studied the improvement of the quality of life alongside economic growth.
As individual living standards improved, people had more free time, but there were also increasing issues of drug use, crime, separation of communities and families, and a rise in pollution and mental illness, casting a dark shadow on society.
In response, many psychologists began studying positive aspects such as happiness, life satisfaction, and subjective well-being as efforts to improve the quality of life. They identified 12 factors, including finance, family relationships, friendships, housing, health, companionship, and religious engagement, that influence life satisfaction.
To understand happiness and subjective well-being, it is suggested that understanding the supportive relationships people have, their engagement in work and leisure activities, and their personal goals and hopes are better strategies.
Modern individuals are engaging in various social and cultural activities to enhance their quality of life, and they are increasingly interested in sports activities that benefit their health and happiness.
According to research by leisure and sports scholars, leisure activities like sports participation lead to higher life satisfaction compared to passive leisure activities.
In particular, golf can be considered as one of the representative sports in modern times that fits well with people of all ages and genders due to its low physical exertion compared to other sports.
Golf provides a suitable exercise effect without putting significant strain on the body, while also offering opportunities for social interaction and active interpersonal relationships. Additionally, golf activities can foster respect, etiquette, and voluntary adherence to rules. These advantages contribute to higher levels of leisure satisfaction and overall life satisfaction among golf participants.
When comparing the preferences for different sports among the general public over the years, golf’s popularity has shown a continuous upward trend since 2003. It has emerged as a sport with a preference rate of approximately 7.0%, surpassing other sports such as fitness, hiking, and tennis.
Furthermore, in 2011, there were 1.68 million screen golf participants and 1.28 million field golf participants, indicating the democratization of golf, as it has shifted from being a sport predominantly for the elite to being accessible to the general public. This trend signifies the increasing activation of golf as a leisure activity, capturing attention and gaining popularity as one of the most noteworthy and active leisure sports, providing both enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment.
The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019 shook the world. During this pandemic era, outdoor activities were restricted, leading to many constraints on physical activities indoors. However, golf in the pandemic era was evaluated by four US public health experts as “Risk Level 3,” indicating relatively low risk of COVID-19 infection. As a result, it was recommended as a safe leisure activity to participate in, following tennis and jogging.
Golf, as a leisure sport, allows individuals to enjoy physical exercise in beautiful and clear natural environments. Participating in golf amidst vast scenic locations provides both visual and sensory satisfaction, which can enhance the overall enjoyment of the activity compared to other team sports.
Golf is not only suitable for meeting the social and psychological needs of modern individuals and relieving everyday stress and tension, but it also incorporates forward-looking elements of sports. With the increase in national income and changing perceptions of sports among the public, interest in self-realization through golf is spreading.
Nowadays, golf is no longer a sport enjoyed exclusively by certain classes; instead, it has become a sport that anyone from the general public interested in golf can easily participate in.
In recent times, there has been a growing interest in well-being, leading to an increase in modern individuals seeking happiness and health through sports. This trend is because, for humans, it has become an integral part of life to enjoy better styles and leisure activities and enhance their quality of life through a cultural emphasis on pursuing well-being.
The importance of health in the current era needs no further explanation, as everyone strives to maintain and pursue physical, emotional, and mental well-being through physical activity. Human beings are instinctively inclined to move, and physical activity is a fundamental means of sustaining and preserving life.
