This week’s US Open is widely regarded as the toughest test in golf with hard and fast greens, narrow fairways, DEEP rough and pins cut very close to slops on the greens, while we watch the world’s best golfers struggle at Torrey Pines remember that the golf is a game and we should be playing it for fun. 

1. The Game that replicates Life – Highs and Lows, ups and downs, both golf and life have them all, and no matter how bad things seem, we push on and prepare for the next shot. One shot or one moment makes our day, if you prepare properly and control your emotions you can achieve your goal in golf or life.

2. The Game for all – Played by over 50 Million people globally, golf is an international language with golf played in over 190 countries worldwide. Golf is booming in emerging markets and a great game to socially connect with people who share a common interest.

3. The Game for life – From the moment I could walk, I was swinging a club and hitting balls around the back yard of my grandparent’s place. We constantly see people of all ages playing golf a game from the cradle to the grave.

4. Golfers Live longer and are happier people. Golf related ACC injury claims one of the lowest not even featuring in the top ten sports on ACC 2016 claims list. It is low impact on your body and a great way to stay fit and active.

5. The Game of equality - Golf is one of the fairest games and the multi facets of the game mean anyone can be great at certain aspects of the game, putting, chipping, pitching are all areas that require finesse and feel, with good technique and practice almost anyone can be competent in these areas.

6. The Game of integrity – No referee, just a rule book and penalties that each golfer administers themselves. Golf is a game that promotes honesty and respect amongst competitors, with players helping each other when a ball needs to be looked for, silence when a player is taking a shot and hand shakes at the end of the round.

7. The Game for the family – More and more courses are now children and family friendly, the orchard 9 at the Wainui golf course in Auckland is a great way a family can play golf together with each hole being about 100 meters in length. The family that plays together stays together.

Golf is one of the few unique sports where a Professional and an everyday weekend warrior can play together on the same course with no holding back, not only can you play the same course, you get 4 hours to discuss what makes the professional tick, almost every PGA tour event has a partnership Pro-am. This does not happen in many other sports as you simply get hurt or left behind, imagine playing full contact rugby with the All Blacks or racing a section of the tour de France with Chris Froom.

All sports are good but only golf is truly great!