As the exclusive health care sponsor of the Colorado Golf Association, we at Kaiser Permanente know how golf supports your overall mental well-being. According to our urgent care physician Heidi Clune, MD, physical activity like golf helps your mind stay in good shape in a variety of ways.1
For example, a day on the course involves plenty of walking, which is “an amazing tool for health,” says Dr. Clune. In addition to its physical health benefits, walking is a natural mood booster, helps relieve stress, and improves sleep.2
Getting outdoors can also provide your mind with a health boost. “Exposure to a little bit of nature can have huge benefits, even in the middle of a city,” says Dr. Clune. She explains that natural light can improve sleep, and fresh air can lower the stress hormone called cortisol.3 Increased levels of cortisol are associated with increased anxiety, depression, headaches, memory problems, and brain fog.4
Then there are golf’s meaningful social interactions and connections, which are beneficial for your mental health and are a major factor in your overall health.5 Dr. Clune offers, “At Kaiser Permanente, we ask many of our patients if they’ve got healthy social connections. If they don’t, in many cases, we offer resources to help them build those connections.”
Visit kp.org/mentalhealth to learn more about Kaiser Permanente, access mental health and wellness articles, and find a health plan that supports your mental health.
Kaiser Permanente is one of Colorado’s largest nonprofit health care organizations. We offer health care and coverage together. In our integrated health care system, connected teams coordinate your care seamlessly to keep you healthy and doing what you love. Learn more about our approach to simple, personalized health care at kp.org/co.
1Aditya Mahindru et al., “Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review,” Cureus, January 7, 2023.
2Alyssa Hunt, “The Power of Walking: Steps to Better Health,” Loma Linda University Health, June 20, 2024.
3Austen R. Anderson et al., “Does Sunlight Exposure Predict Next-Night Sleep? A Daily Diary Study Among U.S. Adults,” Journal of Health Psychology, July 30, 2024; Qing Li, “Effects of Forest Environment (Shinrin-Yoku/Forest Bathing) on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention,” Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, November 1, 2022.
4M. Elizabeth Swenor, DO, “Stressed? 10 Ways to Lower Your Cortisol Levels,” Henry Ford Health, May 12, 2020.
5“Social Connection,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accessed April 1, 2025.