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Forbes
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Golf Can Prove Habit Forming And Possibly Addictive
UNITED STATES - JULY 25: Golf: Russ Hamilton Gambler's Outing, Closeup of bet tally at Grouse ... More Mountain Lodge, Whitefish, MT 7/25/2003 (Photo by Todd Korol/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X68846 TK1) Note: This article does not suggest that golf is physically addictive, nor does it intend to minimize addiction or the experiences of those going through addiction. Instead, it is a satirical analysis of how golfers find such deep satisfaction from their sport. Humans are naturally drawn to activities that provide room for advancement, immediate feedback, and a level of randomization. These factors may help explain why golf can feel so addictive. At the core of addiction lies randomized, sporadic, and highly sought-after mental stimulation. The release of endorphins and the escape from everyday life, coupled with environmental stimulation, are all associated with gambling addiction. Interestingly, those same factors are present in golf. Golf is unique in that every round—and even every shot—can be different. Outcomes vary due to both environmental conditions and the player's swing, making perfection rare. This variability fuels the pursuit of improvement and adds excitement. On top of that, many golf courses are stunningly beautiful and some considered the most scenic places on Earth. And all of this occurs before considering golf's competitive aspect or the ability to gamble during play. Exterior view of Broadmoor Hotel with surrounding mountains, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, 1914. ... More From the New York Public Library. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) Humans are drawn to progress. Whether it's leveling up in a video game, flipping through chapters in a book, or advancing grades in school, moving forward gives us satisfaction. Golf offers a built-in progression system. From beginner to competitive player, golfers can improve every round. The handicap system allows players to compare skill levels regardless of which course they're playing. Online communities, group chats, and forums often spark intense debates and comparisons between players. Golf also benefits from accessibility. Unlike many sports with limiting factors, golf is widely available. Indoor and outdoor public facilities exist in nearly every small or medium-sized city, and practice is relatively affordable with many driving ranges still offer large buckets of balls for under $15. According to the National Golf Foundation, the average golf score is 94 strokes. That's about 45 full swings per round, each one an opportunity for perfect contact. Unlike other swinging sports, where an opponent is actively working against you (e.g., the pitcher in baseball), golf presents a stationary ball. The biggest variable is the golfer's own swing. This creates a clear feedback loop—every shot tells you what worked and what didn't. It's no wonder you often hear, 'That one shot will keep you coming back.' PEBBLE BEACH, CA - FEBRUARY 14: A general view of the seventh hole before the final round of the ... More AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links on February 14, 2010 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by) The phrase 'the greatest meeting of land and sea' is often associated with Pebble Beach Golf Links, describing how the coastline meets the Pacific Ocean. While frequently attributed to Robert Louis Stevenson or Jack Nicklaus, it was actually coined by Francis McComas, an Australian-born artist. Not all golf courses sit atop coastal cliffs, but even the most modest courses offer time outdoors in nature. Some of the world's most breathtaking golf landscapes include: Golf offers more than a game, it's an immersive environment, heightening the emotional and visual experience. Golf's origins are steeped in tradition and sometimes, liquor. It's rumored that there are 18 holes on a course because there are 18 shots in a bottle of scotch. Today, golf outings often involve drinking, partying, and social events. While many golfers play sober, for some, it becomes an excuse to consume, not just alcohol but increasingly other substances become legal and as legalization spreads and smoking is permitted on many courses. This pairing of golf with substance use can classically condition the brain to associate the game with pleasurable chemical stimulation, deepening the emotional attachment. RIDGEDALE, MO - APRIL 22: Lee Janzen putts on the fourth hole during the first round of the PGA TOUR ... More Champions Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge at Top of the Rock on April 22, 2017 in Ridgedale, Missouri. (Photo by Ryan Young/PGA TOUR) In a world increasingly dominated by remote work and online interaction, making new connections can be tough. Golf offers a social structure for meeting people—whether through memberships, public courses, or group outings. For the adventurous solo player, every new foursome is a chance to meet three new people and spend four hours with them. Golf can be the excuse for a trip or a reason to maintain relationships with scheduled, meaningful time together.
The Star
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Japan Prime Minister Ishiba to skip NATO summit, source says
FILE PHOTO: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a press conference after the G7 Leaders' Summit, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Todd Korol/File Photo TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is planning to cancel his attendance at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in the Hague, a source with direct knowledge said on Monday. Broadcaster Fuji Television said Ishiba was cancelling the trip because a planned meeting between NATO and a group of four Indo-Pacific nations (IP-4) would likely not take place, and because a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump was also unlikely. South Korea and Australia, which along with the U.S. and Japan make up the IP-4, have also said their leaders would not attend the NATO summit meeting. Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will represent Japan, the source said, declining to be identified because the plan is not public. (Reporting by Yoshifumi Takemoto, writing by Satoshi SugiyamaEditing by Chang-Ran Kim)
Straits Times
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
G7 to explore possible sanctions on criminals linked to migrant smuggling, draft document says
FILE PHOTO: Fish and Wildlife officers patrol the area in Kananaskis Country, where the leaders of the G7 will meet from June 15 to 17, 2025 in Alberta, Canada, June 9, 2025. REUTERS/Todd Korol/ File Photo G7 to explore possible sanctions on criminals linked to migrant smuggling, draft document says KANANASKIS, Alberta - G7 leaders are set to reaffirm a joint commitment that they agreed to a year ago to prevent and counter migrant smuggling, and will explore using sanctions to target criminals involved in smuggling, according to a draft outcome document seen by Reuters on Monday. "Migrant smuggling often has links to other serious criminal offences, including money laundering, corruption and trafficking in persons and drugs, that threaten the safety of our communities," the document said. The document, one of seven being prepared for consensus among the world leaders, tasked interior and security ministers with doubling down on efforts to follow the money trail of smuggling groups, boosting prevention with countries of origin and transit, collaborating with social media companies and engaging with transport operators to prevent the facilitation of irregular migration. "We will explore, consistent with our legal systems, the potential use of sanctions to target criminals involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking operations from countries where those activities emanate," the document said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
World leaders may face wildfire smoke at Canada G7 summit
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police block a road in Kananaskis Country, where the leaders of the G7 will meet from June 15 to 17, 2025 in Alberta, Canada, June 9, 2025. REUTERS/Todd Korol/File Photo WINNIPEG, Manitoba - World leaders may face smoke warnings when they gather next week in Alberta as wildfires burned out of control across much of Canada and caused the country's second-worst fire season in decades. The Kananaskis area of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where the Group of Seven leaders' summit starts on Sunday, is not in a wildfire area. But the country is battling 225 blazes including 120 out of control with some of those fires raging to the west in British Columbia and in northern parts of Alberta. Canada's government on Thursday listed Calgary, the nearest major city to Kananaskis, at high risk for deteriorating air quality. Wildfire smoke levels can change quickly depending on wind direction. Burning forests in provinces to the east are producing smoke that is reaching the eastern U.S. coast. Some rain has fallen in western Canada in recent days, but not enough to douse most of the fires. They have so far consumed 3.7 million hectares of land, the second-largest area for this time of year in decades after 2023, officials said. Federal officials said at a G7 briefing on Thursday that measures to mitigate risks for the leaders' summit from wildfires and other potential hazards such as tornadoes and flooding were in place. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from communities across western Canada and in northwestern Ontario, some by military aircraft. Two people have died. Federal officials and politicians at a wildfire briefing on Thursday said climate change had exacerbated the wildfire risk across Canada. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
G7 summit in Canada to see how EU, US align on Russia sanctions, says German official
FILE PHOTO: Fish and Wildlife officers patrol the area in Kananaskis Country, where the leaders of the G7 will meet from June 15 to 17, 2025 in Alberta, Canada, June 9, 2025. REUTERS/Todd Korol/ File Photo G7 summit in Canada to see how EU, US align on Russia sanctions, says German official BERLIN - The upcoming Group of Seven (G7) meeting in Canada will be about the extent to which the EU and U.S. align on sanctions against Russia, a German government official said on Thursday. "In many respects, the G7 summit is also a milestone as far as Ukraine is concerned," said the official, adding that it was important to keep the United States engaged and move the sanctions debate "a little bit further" in the right direction. On continued military and financial support for Ukraine, the official said realism was needed. "If we maintain the status quo, that the Americans continue to provide certain very important services to Ukraine, then we are doing well," added the official. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
