How Golf Can Fit Into an NFL Prospect’s Weekly Routine

As with many elite sports and professions, mastery of golf – its knowledge and skill – is as integral to the game as the playbook, the mascots and the celebratory dunk of the coach after a big win.

When players aren’t on the practice pitch or during the off-season, golf provides a valuable way to maintain health and flexibility, to socialise, create a pecking order among any team’s elite and bring some “stars” down a notch or two. 

Some examples of elite roles playing golf include sporting legends like Michael Jordan, the US Navy’s Blue Angels pilots and many commercial pilots, business leaders and first responders. Golf provides a diversion from the daily stresses of their careers, bonding exercises, a skill challenge and a way to release competitive tensions. 

Golf is also a traditional way to build links with the fan community through charity tournaments and meet-the-team activities. So, getting that golfing handicap down will make some players more visible and in demand than others. 

How to Master Golf Quickly

If golf has never come across your sporting radar, getting a coach is a quick way to develop your skills. While you can buy the best gear, there is nothing like regular practice. But coaches are costly and their time is limited. 

Another, better, and more private way to develop your skills is with a golf simulator. They can take over your garage or a shed, using a PC hooked up to a projector and swing monitor to track your performance and provide advice on improving your skills. All while looking at a photorealistic view of some of the world’s finest courses. 

The golf simulator is something you can use 24/7 with no peer pressure. Working in tandem with a coach, this approach should see your game soaring like your tee shots. 

For a professional look, companies like Assembled Golf can build your golf simulator, to your specification, making use of the best available space and your budget to deliver a solution that is just as efficient as your team gymnasium at helping boost physical performance. 

All you need is the time and desire to master this simple sport and that little dimpled ball. The simulator means you can practice whatever the weather, and in-between your sports schedule and other essential pre-draft appointments. 

The Benefits of Golf For Future Sports Stars

As well as the team camaraderie and social benefits, golf also acts as a low-impact activity that is good for joints, back and muscles without over-stressing the body. Golf also helps players build their concentration and focus for those fraction-of-a-second moments on the gridiron where decisions and precision require that level of focus amid the chaos of a down. 

Golf makes a great counterpart to gym days and field routines, helping the muscles relax, improving blood flow, and giving the mind time to absorb lessons learned from the playbook and coaches’ instructions. 

But you won’t feel that benefit if you’re worried about your swing, which is why some private time with your own simulator can put you at an advantage. And when you have mastered your golf swing, recovery chip shots and other skills, you can share the simulator with family teammates, agents, other prospects and the team hierarchy to make for some high-value one-on-one time or just a chilled social event. 

While golf skills won’t get you on an NFL roster, compared to speed, reactions or power, it is a great soft skill to have. One that shows your calm and dedication, acts as a reflection of character, shows your dedication and is an indicator of professionalism to many. 

Should you make it to the NFL, golf is also seen as a great way for rivals to spend some competitive time without the violence of fourth-and-inches plays, giving you common ground with other rookies and seasoned pros alike. 

All of which could start with a conscious decision to build a golf simulator at home to build up the skills necessary. Skills that could see you rubbing shoulders with legends, or at least not looking like an ass when the coach invites players for some practice drives as part of getting to know the squad and finding out who has the life and social skills to stand out.