Let me be upfront – this is going to be a more personal story (about swimming), but please keep reading, I think you will see how it relates to golf and how the sport can be good for you.

I used to swim competitively, and as a result, would find myself head in the water, staring at the black line on the bottom of the pool for up to six hours a day. Sound boring?

Well, I loved it!

I loved (and still love) the feel of the water, the first moment you dive in and break the surface, becoming submerged in a beautifully silent underwater world. I loved pushing myself, and the physicality of extreme exertion in the pursuit of a few seconds of speed. I loved the times we trained outdoors and in the morning, you could feel the sunlight creeping over the pool and the warmth on your back as you swam.

Then there were the teammates you suffered with. Although swimming is an individual sport, it is so much more than just you as you draw courage and inspiration from teammates, gain confidence from your coach, and enjoy the support and love of family and friends. What an experience to know you have these people in your corner.

Of course, I also enjoyed racing (why else train so hard?)! I am very competitive and I loved testing myself against the clock and others. There was always a goal and dream to chase. The thrill of executing a race like you wanted to (and yes the winning), the excitement of not knowing the outcome but giving yourself the best chance you could of getting it. The focus and dedication needed in the buildup to the race, the discipline of training, the resilience to bounce back from bad performances, the nervous excitement. I enjoyed it all.

Then one day I retired from competitive swimming.

The first day I went back to my training pool and needed to pay to get inside still sticks in my mind. I was no longer part of the inner circle of competitive swimmers. I didn’t belong there any more. So now what?

My competitiveness didn’t just disappear, nor did my love of swimming. I knew I couldn’t just stop swimming completely (I love the water too much) but how could I fit it into my life without a next race or next goal? Could swimming be more than just about swimming fast?

I quickly realised my relationship with swimming needed to change in many ways. It was no longer about competing. I needed to find a way to swim simply for the enjoyment of it, and because it was good for me.

Now when I swim it is my time to clear my head after a busy day. If I don’t swim, after a few days I can feel the difference in my thinking and ability to manage my emotions. It is time to connect with friends and be part of a community. It is an opportunity for adventure (I now do more ocean swimming). I love the feeling of being fit (I still enjoy the physicality of it) and swimming gives me peace of mind that as I grow older, I will be able to still move and do physical activity as and when I want. And swimming is when I can just play!

My wish for you reading this is that golf is this for you.

Being on the golf course is a time to create and maintain friendships and feel connected to a community. In fact, one of the major factors for longevity is relationships and being part of a community. Your local club can be a bit of a sanctuary from life – when you’re having a bad week, heading to the club for a round, seeing familiar faces, and being welcomed back by people you know can help you recharge. Resilience is not about continually pushing through and working hard. It comes from resting, recharging and then getting back to work. Golf can be your resting place, making you more resilient in life.

Golf is also a time to test your focus, practising being present and engaged in the moment. This is a critical skill for wellbeing; in fact, one of the best titles for a piece of research I have come across is “A wandering mind is an unhappy mind”. The more present you are in life, be it on the golf course, at dinner with friends and family, or in a business meeting, being fully present helps us feel happier.

All the most successful people are also lifelong learners, and the golf course is a place to keep learning – about the physical skills of the game, as well as learning more about yourself, how you deal with frustrations, how to deal with success and failure, and learning what helps you stay calm under pressure. Golf will teach you so much if you allow it to.

Your story may be different to mine, but if you are reading this I think we have some things in common – one of the most important being a passion for something (be it golf or swimming) and a desire to live our life in a way that helps us be better people. This is the opportunity golf offers you. Grab it with both hands!

IMAGES: TYRONE WINFIELD/SHAUN ROY/Heinrich Helmbold/SUNSHINE TOUR