Why Mental Health is Like a Golf Game…

Let’s get something straight: mental health isn’t just about lying on a therapist’s couch crying about your childhood (although, hey, if that helps, swing away).

No, mental health is more like a round of golf—a mix of hope, frustration, bad decisions, and the occasional moment of brilliance that keeps you coming back.

Stick with me here.

The Tee Shot: Full of Optimism, and Then Reality Hits

Every round of golf starts with optimism. You step up to the tee, line up your shot, and imagine crushing it 300 yards down the middle of the fairway. Mental health is kind of the same. You wake up, stretch, and think, Today’s the day I get my life together!

Then reality intervenes.

You slice your drive into the trees or realize you’ve been doom-scrolling on TikTok for two hours instead of meditating or going to the gym. But hey, you’re still in the game, right? Shake it off and keep going.

Hole #2 @ Tot Hill Farm Golf Club | Asheboro, North Carolina

The Rough: Where Anxiety Lives

Let’s talk about the rough, that delightful patch of grass that seems custom-designed to ruin your day. For me, the rough is where my anxiety sets up camp. It’s messy, hard to get out of, and always seems worse than it looks. Sound familiar?

You know the feeling: one second, everything’s fine, and the next, you’re panicking because your boss said, “Can we talk?” (Spoiler alert: They just want to know where the stapler is.) Like hacking out of the rough, dealing with anxiety takes patience and a sense of humor. Deep breaths, steady hands, and remember—nobody’s keeping score but you.

The Sand Trap: Depression’s Cozy Hideout

Ah, the bunker. My own worst enemy. It’s where you land when you were aiming for greatness but somehow ended up stuck. Depression is like the sand trap of mental health. You can’t escape by sheer force—you’ve got to finesse your way out.

Sometimes, you feel like just lying down in the sand and accepting your fate. But here’s the trick: use the right tools (a therapist, a good friend, or even a funny video), and eventually, you’ll get back on the green.

The Putter: Small Wins Matter

Golf is won or lost on the putting green. That saying, “Drive for show, putt for dough.”, rings true here. Those tiny strokes might not seem like a big deal, but they add up. The same goes for mental health.

Did you get out of bed today? That’s a putt.

Did you call a friend instead of ghosting them for three weeks? Another putt.

Did you get to the gym for the 1st time since November? You guessed it… that’s a putt.

Life isn’t about hitting a hole-in-one every day (although that would be awesome, I am still looking for that elusive first one. It’s about those small, steady wins that keep you moving forward.

The 19th Hole: Celebrate the Wins

Every golfer knows the best part of the game is the 19th hole—the clubhouse where you can kick back, swap stories, and laugh about all the ridiculous things that just happened. The same goes for life. Celebrate the good days, laugh at the bad ones, and don’t be afraid to lean on your crew when you need to.

Cheraw State Park Golf Course by Ryan Cummings

Final Thoughts (and a Mulligan or Two)

Golf and mental health have one big thing in common: they’re both a lifelong game. You’ll have good rounds and bad rounds, days when you feel unstoppable and days when you can’t even find your ball. But the important thing is to keep showing up. No matter what.

And remember: just like in golf, it’s perfectly fine to take a mulligan—a do-over when life doesn’t go as planned. Because at the end of the day, nobody’s perfect, and the journey is what makes it all worthwhile.

Now, grab your metaphorical clubs (or literal ones) and get out there. Your mental health—and your handicap—will thank you. :)

Cheers,

Sb