Like any other sport, golf has its fan base and from the outside there is often a perception held of the type of person who plays golf. As a result, some people don’t give the sport a chance and don’t see it for the wonderful game it is. It can break down barriers and lets the young play with the old. It’s a sport that allows a granddad in his eighties practice with his grandchild or parents to spend quality time with a teenager who, otherwise, might not want to know. It also allows people play together regardless of skill level. It’s a multigenerational sport that is with you for life and one which you can potentially play for years and years.
‘When you play tennis it would be tough for a beginner to play with a pro, but in golf that is possible. It’s possible to not only play together but also to compete against each other fairly with handicaps and shots’, says Stephanie Meadow, Pro Golfer and Immedis brand ambassador.
Immedis are heavily invested in golf through our brand ambassadors Stephanie Meadow and Shane Lowry. We understand the value of golf, both in terms of the brand amplification and through the life skills that it can teach you. We want to make golf more accessible to you and your kids, allowing them benefit from all it has to offer while teaching skills that can be carried over the course of a lifetime.
“Golf is incredibly important to me for many different reasons. It has allowed me play with friends, play for business and, week-in week-out, it allows me play and spend time with my dad, well before COVID-19. And I hope someday to be able to play with my daughter”, said Ruairi Kelleher, CEO, Immedis.
Unlike sports with referees, golf is unique in that players regularly call penalties on themselves and report their own scores. Honesty and integrity are vital when playing golf and indeed these skills make for better people off the golf course. Stephanie recalls, “I remember playing the wrong ball at Clandeboye Golf Club when I was very young and telling my dad immediately what had happened. Even now I remember it vividly. I was 8 and I had already learned the value of integrity.”
Golf ensures players are responsible for how they behave and conduct themselves on the course. It gives the skills and the techniques on how best to act in a kind and respectful manner, even when things aren’t going to plan. Again, this is a great lesson for young people to learn in terms of dealing with issues that arise over the course of their lives.
Stephanie remembers, “I learned a lot at Royal Portrush Golf Club. I was 10 years old when I started playing in the Saturday competitions. I was regularly playing a 4 hour round with women over 50. I had to learn to communicate and behave very quickly. Obviously, this was quite an uncomfortable situation for a 10 year old at the start but I think it has greatly enhanced my communication and confidence skills now”.
As anyone who plays golf knows, to succeed you must continue in spite of your own mistakes. You are the only person to blame. You can’t blame a teammate. You must be willing to stand over your decisions. A valuable less for us and our children – we must all use our own judgement when deciding on strategy, club selection, when to play it safe and when to take a chance. These types of decisions equip young people with the skills they need to make important decisions in life.
It’s worth noting that even if you are the world number 1 in golf you will still lose more than you win. You learn very quickly how to lose gracefully, and you also learn about grit, determination, and the importance of never giving up.
Stephanie also highlights the importance of golf from a physical point of view, “I think people also underestimate the value of golf from a physical side. Yes it’s not running but kids will be walking 6 to 7 miles a day for 18 holes, in fresh air. In today’s world of video games and iPad’s I don’t think that can be underestimated”.
There are so many reasons to play golf and certainly for those stuck at home with kids it’s a great time to start introducing them to a sport that can benefit them in so many ways. Their interest might start because of COVID-19, but they’ll remember learning at home with their parents and it will hopefully give families something to share together for many years to come.
Like most weeks in recent times, this one will be busy and especially as many of us try to balance working from home, looking after children and getting through these less than normal circumstances as best we can. So we encourage you to take a time out with Immedis.
We’ve been working behind the scenes to bring you bitesize videos, which will allow you and your family to learn some basic golf skills that will hopefully spark your interest and get you out with your kids, showing them what golf has to offer as a hobby, while also teaching them skills they can use in everyday life.
Keep an eye on our social channels for more!
If you’d like to learn more about Immedis, get in touch with our knowledgeable team today.
