Golf as therapy for the mind

Those who know us notice that in AMA we faithfully believe in the benefits of sport for the mind and body and therefore we make every effort to provide the means and treatments within the Resort for residents to achieve physical, emotional and social wellbeing. 

But outside the Resort you can also practice sports that are very positive for our mental health, and we want to highlight one in particular, being suitable for almost all ages: golf. 

Beyond the benefits it has for our body, our mind is also nourished in various ways.

Benefits of golf therapy

Reduces stress and anxiety

Sports that are practiced outdoors are characterized by being especially beneficial for combating stress. 

The concentration that golf requires in each stroke and, above all, the environment in which it is practiced, makes it a perfect sport to find the calm that our mind often needs and to disconnect from situations that generate stress and anxiety in our day to day.

The here and now that golf requires is mindfulness in its purest form, and helps to improve both the game and the quality of life.

Improves mood 

When practicing sport our body releases dopamine and this, in turn, stimulates the feeling of pleasure in our brain, so we feel active and happy. 

The fact that it is a sport that is practiced outdoors in beautiful surroundings such as the Costa de la Luz or the neighboring Algarve with more than 3000 hours of sunshine a year also helps to achieve this goal.

Promotes socialization

Going out on the course with other players and sharing experiences and advice at the end of the game improves human relations.

Both Islantilla Golf Resort and AMA Islantilla Resort have pleasant spaces to enjoy after a day of golf.

Improves the quality of sleep

Sleeping well is the basis of our well-being. Lack of sleep can affect motivation, attention and concentration, mood and can cause stress, nervousness or irritability. 

When playing golf, our body is working as a whole. Both physically – since golf movement involves a large group of muscles and a lot of walking – and mentally, due to the concentration needed for each stroke. This makes the energy consumed is higher and, therefore, sleep to replenish it is deeper and more relaxed.

Jugadores campo de golf Islantilla

Stimulates brain development

Golf acts as an excellent stimulator of the hippocampus, one of the areas of our brain where neurogenesis occurs, the birth of new neurons. In this way, memory, orientation and emotional regulation are exercised at the same time as our body. 

On the other hand, it also increases the levels of noradrenaline in the areas of the brain associated with cognitive activities such as memory or decision making, improving our ability to learn. 

Another of the great benefits of golf, as a good exercise, is the increase of serotonin levels, this is essential for those people who are at risk of suffering from diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Playing golf at AMA Residences

AMA Residences Andalucía is located between holes 7 and 8 of the Islantilla Golf Course. This is one of the best golf courses in Andalusia, with 73 hectares and 27 holes, a privilege for golf lovers in the heart of the Costa de la Luz. 

Its location makes it the perfect place to enjoy a unique sport. In addition, Islantilla Golf is open all year round, so you can play whenever you feel like it. For those who prefer to practice, the practice area consists of 260 meters for 60 players, complemented by three bunkers and two putting greens. 

It is a golf course suitable for any type of player, with 3 different combinations of 18 holes depending on the level of play. Thus, there are three different levels: the blue course -designed for experienced players with low handicaps-, the green course, for players with an average handicap, and finally, the yellow course, reserved for beginners or players with a high handicap.

Other Golf Courses in Huelva 

Huelva is the perfect place to practice golf. Its climate, its hours of sunshine and the great variety of courses (8 courses and 6 golf schools) have positioned it as a perfect place for its fans. 

Beyond the Islantilla Golf Course and others in which our residents have special conditions both in Huelva and in the neighboring Algarve, we share with you other golf courses in the province, some of which have recently signed agreements with AMA:

  • Isla Canela Links Golf: 18 real links next to the Guadiana River with spectacular views of Portugal.
  • La Monacilla Golf Club: surrounded by pine forests and designed by José María Olazábal in 2010. Players can enjoy 18 holes in the middle of nature. Its bunkers, water hazards and that perfect adaptation to the terrain, make it a continuous challenge of precision and technique for the player. 
  • Bellavista Huelva Golf Club: Surrounded by a pine forest and restored 60 years later, it consists of 18 holes in a wide and pleasant course. 
  • Corta Atalaya Golf Club: The oldest golf course in Spain -North Lodge Golf Club- was relocated in 1992. It is constituted by nine holes whose measures are: 3 par -3, 5 par -4 and 1 par -5 in the middle of Sierra de Huelva.

As you can see, golf generates a lot of benefits to take care of your well-being at all levels, and of course to have fun. 

From AMA Residences Andalucía we encourage you to put into practice the “golf therapy” in any of the courses near us. If you need any information, we will be happy to help you from the Resort’s reception.