THE Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment launched a new initiative to encourage the nation’s older persons to take up golf as a way to improve their physical and mental health. The ‘Golf for Older Persons’ initiative is a collaboration between the Marian Home, Help Age St. Lucia, and the Sandals Foundation.
The aim is to provide older persons access to a golf course, equipment, and coaching and create a supportive and friendly environment while enjoying the outdoors. On October 31, 2023, all suited in their golf attire, older persons embarked on their one-hour activity at the Sandals Golf Club in Cap Estate, Gros Islet.
Satisfied with the outcome of the activity, Social Transformation Officer and Golf for Older Persons coordinator Shalina Mann-Eleuthere says, “To commemorate and to conclude the month for older persons, this activity seeks to teach older persons the fundamentals of golf, to provide an active solution to improve their physical health and mental well-being and to take them away from their daily routine, while learning and enjoying a new sport in the outdoors.”
As a low-impact sport, golf provides an opportunity to socialize with others and make new friends. It enhances cognitive function and memory by stimulating the brain and challenging the mind. The low-impact sport can also be an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, and early signs of dementia.
“I think this is a wonderful exercise in concentration for persons who are way above 50. It helps you concentrate because you must ensure you are putting properly. I honestly think we should do this more often and get more people involved because it does not make sense to stay at home doing nothing when you can be here exercising and concentrating,” noted Help Age Member and Participant Carl Marshall.
Participant Marian George shared similar sentiments, “It is nice to be able to do something like that. It is good to relax yourself.” The game of golf has been around for centuries and, as an elite sport, is played by millions of people worldwide, both professionally and recreationally. While efforts have been made in recent years to make golf more accessible and inclusive, the sport still struggles with representing a diverse ethnicity and people of all ages.
Sandals Golf & Country Club Coach Henix Joseph says, “Golf has been a sport for the wealthy, with accessibility to golf courses and equipment traditionally limited to the elite, but today Sandals has opened its doors to the public of Saint Lucia. So, if you want to enjoy golf, have fun, or try something different, come to us at Sandals Saint Lucia.”
According to a 2021 report by the National Golf Foundation, the percentage of senior golfers in the Caribbean is estimated to be about 2.85%. The study also revealed that playing golf may help older adults live longer, reducing the risk of early death by 15%.