According to a 2023 report released by Arizona Alliance for Golf, Arizona is home to 370 golf courses and 10% of Arizonans over age 6 played a round of golf in 2021. Golf is also a key economic driver in the state, making a $6 billion impact on Arizona’s economy.
That’s a lot of golf!
Golf also offers some unique opportunities to boost your oral health, vision health and overall wellness:
- Vitamin D Exposure: When you play golf outside, you get sunlight, which gives you vitamin D. This vitamin is really important for your teeth because it helps your body use calcium. Calcium makes your teeth and bones strong, lowering the chance of getting cavities. So, in a way, playing golf in the sun is good for your teeth! (Just remember to wear your sunblock!)
- Hand-Eye Coordination: To be good at golf, you need to coordinate your hands and eyes for good swings and putts. Getting better at this skill can help you control your small movements and improve your eye health. When you practice your swings, it can make your eye muscles stronger and help you focus better.
- Overall Wellness: Doing regular exercise is good for your body and your smile. Even just walking around the golf course can make your blood flow better. Plus, it helps you feel less stressed out!
- Stress Reduction: Feeling stressed can be bad for your oral and vision health. It can make you grind your teeth, get canker sores and even lead to gum problems and eye strain. But, if you find ways to relax and lower your stress, it can help your health. Playing golf is a great way to relax because it’s slow-paced and enjoyable. So, if you want to feel better and take care of your eyes, golf might be a good choice to help you unwind.
Playing golf can help your oral and vision health in different ways, but remember, it’s different for everyone. To keep yourself healthy, make good choices like regularly brushing and flossing your teeth, eating healthy foods and wearing eye protection. It is also important to see the dentist and eye doctor regularly. This helps catch problems early and keeps you in good shape so you can play golf for many years to come!
