To some, golf appears as a sport that is merely watched on Sunday evenings in the absence of large spectator sports like football. However, many people throughout the world have been joining the game of golf in the past decade in order to become a part of the new wave of golfers.

The sport has gained an increasingly large following in recent years as more people have discovered the beauties of the game. I intend on highlighting a few of those key points often cited by golfers across not only the country but the world!

1. The serene atmosphere

When people think of golf, the first thing that comes to mind to most people (after Tiger Woods of course) is a quiet golf course highlighting the beauties of nature. In the seven years that I have played the wonderful sport, I have played at over 60 different courses and have found each to hold a genuinely unique natural atmosphere. Some courses highlight water bodies while others highlight exotic birds while some may even highlight mountainous areas. Overall, every course has an identity intertwined with the natural terrain and habitats of the local area so it allows golfers to see the local beauties of nature at each set of 18 holes.

2. The competition

Some may see golf as a non-competitive sport initially since there isn't much head-to-head contact in sports like football or basketball, however, such an idea is far from the actual experience of the game.

With the increasing advancements made in engineering golf clubs, balls and other equipment (massive companies like Lamborghini design golf equipment to minimize drag to add just an extra few feet to a 200-yard drive), the difference between a win and loss in this sport can literally be a hair-length along a 400-yard hole.

Most importantly, the game forces a player to compete with their own conscience which is the most challenging aspect of the game (just over-thinking for even a millisecond can be the difference between hitting a ball on the green or cutting a ball short to have it sink in a water hazard). When you see those hilarious YouTube videos of players raging by throwing their clubs in the water, they are usually the players who are losing the game to their conscience.

3. The workout

While the physical act of a golf swing may not appear to require much effort, it should be kept in mind that even the best of pro players make at least about 70 such swings each day. If the clubs are swung repeatedly in a proper manner, the player would actually be working out their core abdominal muscles throughout the period (which is why any experienced golfer would tell you that the key to a good swing is a well-balanced core).

It should also be noted that a golf bag often weighs 40-50 pounds and golf carts are usually avoided in serious tournaments to add to the true nature of the game. Furthermore, most golf courses are about six to ten miles in length between the 18 holes so at the end of the day you would definitely have a had a solid cardio/ abdominal workout.

In addition, many of the best players work out their biceps and triceps in order to add powers to their shots in order to drive the ball further so just like any other sport, fitness is key.

4. The networking

Almost any golfer will be willing to start a conversation with their partner in order to add a dialogue to the play. The sport allows people to socialize while playing in a way that is not physically possible in any other sport. When paired with a random individual for about three to six hours, you are bound to at least make some conversation throughout the period.

In today's era of technology, making new friends has become something increasingly difficult for many individuals and golf may be a way to teach people who have become too attached to actually hold a face-to-face conversation.

5. The thrill of winning.

At the end of the day, golf is a game just like any other sport where there is a winning party and a losing party. The joy of winning is something that is irreplaceable and is something that drives every sport. The thrill of winning in golf is one of the most satisfying because it not only requires beating the opponent but also winning against your own conscience! There is a reason Tiger Woods' winning face was the iconic look of triumph in the previous decade!