Whilst you are reading and listening to this over your Saturday morning coffee, I currently find myself en-route to the 3rd International Congress on Golf and Health, being hosted in Edinburgh on Monday 31 March and Tuesday 1 April.

It is a tremendous honour and privilege to have been invited to this event. It will serve not only as a brilliant platform for me to network and engage with some of the leading academic and professional scholars in the field of Golf and Health, but also an opportunity for me to tell the GYH story and hopefully inspire people with the work we are doing.

Please check out the event programme here and let me know in the comments of this article, whether there are any sessions you’d especially like me to attend and hear more about.

Asides previewing the event, Jack and I also get into chatting about some other Golf, Health and Wellbeing related matters, including:

* The impact of stress on our nutrition habits

* Overcoming imposter syndrome

* Why everyone belongs in Golf

* Question: Are Golf Influencers good for the game?

The Golf and Health Congress will focus on maximising health benefits through the game of golf. Sessions will cover topics such as the impact of golf on well-being, the role of golf clubs as health-promoting facilities, and the concept of “golf on prescription.” Delegates will also delve into key topics like injury prevention and management, adaptations for disabled golfers, nutrition, strength, conditioning, and insights tailored for female golfers. From examining specific injuries to learning shot-saving techniques from professionals, this conference will provide essential tools for integrating golf as a health-enhancing activity.

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This week's guest is John Paton, Founder of SRV Golf.

After being introduced to Golf during a challenging time in his life - with his mother, Shirley, enduring a long battle with secondary breast cancer at the time - John instantly realised the transformative effect the game was having on him.

With a passion for Golf emerging, coupled with an entrepreneurial mindset and a fervent desire to honour his Mum and give back to those who had helped her and John’s family throughout her treatment, he came up with a business idea.

Founding SRV Golf in October 2023, John has created a Golf brand with deep meaning and purpose. Its acronym SRV, stands for Strength, Resilience and Virtue - qualities which he so admired in his mother.

In my conversation with John for this week’s episode of the GYH podcast, we discuss:

* The importance of having a clear purpose: in life, in Golf and in business

* Inspiring stories of Golfers using the game as an outlet to overcome adversity

* Remembering Shirley Cant - the inspiration behind the brand

* The challenges of running a Golf business in a crowded marketplace

* And much more

This week, Kris makes a startling admission about the recent (mis)management of his health and wellbeing.

Meanwhile, we engage in a debate about whether indoor Golf venues are truly “growing the game” (or rather just cashing in on Golf’s growing popularity), whilst we also share some musings about Season 3 of Full Swing on Netflix.

"Golf Buddies Aloud" is a podcast brought to you by Golf Yourself Healthy. Join GYH founder, Kris Lynch and special guest, Jack McAuliffe, for relaxed, informal chats about Golf, Health and Wellbeing.

This week's guest is Dr Rashmeen Nirmal, registered Psychologist and founder of Golf PHD.

As a performance consultant, working with Golfers at both the elite and amateur levels, Rashmeen's goal is to help her athletes achieve optimal mental health and wellbeing, as well as to equip them with the skills and behaviours needed to succeed in Golf and in day to day life.

Rashmeen is on a mission to raise awareness around Mental Health in Golf - a mission influenced by her own life experiences, as well as the unique, deep rooted and often traumatic issues impacting the mental health of elite athletes, through out their careers.

In this conversation, we not only lift the hood on Golf, Health and Wellbeing in a broad sense, but we also laser in on adversity and resilience and how embracing challenges - in Golf and in life - affords us a transformational opportunity for personal growth and to reach a state of equanimity.

On 18th February 2024 - exactly one year following the passing of my son Innes - I launched Golf Yourself Healthy.

To celebrate all of this, I invited my friend and fellow GYH community member, Jack Mcauliffe, to reflect on Year 1, as well as to celebrate Innes’ 2nd heavenly birthday.

As much as we value deep, meaningful and philosophical conversations on this podcast, no episode would be complete without a small dose of light-hearted humour sprinkled in for good measure.

To top it all off, we even had fireworks during this episode recording…

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Exciting Announcements

02:51 Vice Golf balls are the bees knees

10:51 Today's agenda

12:58 Exploring Vulnerability and Healthy Habits

13:28 Kris and his 5 revolutionary holes of Golf

20:57 Developing Reliable Golf Habits

39:23 Reflections from Selena Samuela episode of GYH Podcast

57:05 Remembering Innes on his 2nd birthday

01:10:28 Divorced, Single or Separated and looking for love in Golf? Look no further...

01:14:43 Wrap up

This week's guest is Selena Samuela, Peloton Instructor and Titleist Performance Institute Certified Golf Fitness Coach.

Having discovered a love for Golf during the pandemic, she has taken her passion for the game to the Peloton studio, having recently launched the Strength for Golfers programme via Peloton, which features seven instalments meant for each day of a golfer’s week, with areas of focus including stability, explosive power and improved range of motion.

Selena brings infectious energy into everything she applies herself to. Her Instagram account is a treasure trove of inspirational quotes and reflections on everything from Golf, Fitness, through to parenting, relationships and so much more.

In this episode, Selena discusses her Golf fitness programme in more detail, as well as her love for the game (and why she considers it such a unique sport), whilst we also dive into some metaphorical reflections, about the synergies between Golf and Life.

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Use the GYH Substack link in show notes, to watch the full video version of the podcast, as well as to access exclusive weekly content and member discounts with leading Golf brands.

Dave Jones is a man of many talents.

Many will recognise him as an elite TV presenter, in his role as Sky Sports Lead Football presenter, hosting flagship programmes such as Super Sunday and Monday Night Football.

However, here at GYH, we know of Dave as an aspiring Golfer, who has a healthy love for the game, as well as a burning desire to continue his game improvement journey.

In a far reaching conversation, Kris Lynch invites Dave to reflect on:

06:00 Achieving a Single Figure Handicap

09:01 The benefits of finding a good Golf coach

14:02 Playing with European Ryder Cup Captain, Luke Donald, at BMW Pro-am at Wentworth

28:03 Growing a Golf following on Social Media

35:38 Golf Charity Day in support of Blood Cancer UK

40:44 What makes Golf such a healthy and relaxing pursuit

To watch this episode in video, subscribe to the GYH Substack (link below)

There are very few people better qualified to talk on the subject of Golf and Health, than Professor Andrew Murray.

As Chief Medical and Scientific Officer to the European Tour Group, Andrew is responsible for managing illness, injury and performance on some of Golf’s elite professional tours and events, including DP World Tour, The Open and the AIG Women’s Open. He also oversees global research on the health benefits of Golf, in partnership with the R&A.

In this episode, we deep dive into the R&A's Golf and Health report, to better understand Golf's wide ranging health and wellbeing benefits.

We also as discuss the progressive and innovative work which Andrew and his colleagues are undertaking, to ensure elite professional Golfers have access to the best fitness, nutrition and wellbeing facilities when playing out on tour.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

04:38 Golf is Good for You

08:44 Spectating Golf: A Unique Health Opportunity

10:12 Deep Dive into the R&A's Golf and Health report

16:45 Golf as a Tool for Overcoming Adversity

19:56 Golf Nostalgia is Good for You

23:04 Behind the Scenes of Golf's Elite Tour events

31:54 Final call to action