Academics recently discovered golf can increase life expectancy by five years, stemming from the game's benefits to cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic and mental health. While hackers everywhere should rejoice, those are far from the only rewards the sport endows. Here are 11 little-known benefits of golf.
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The 11 little-known benefits of golf
![The forced use of arithmetic](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2016/10/11/57fcef81aed92e3fbf9d7c0b_scorecard.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1573410765384.jpeg)
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The forced use of arithmetic
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![An understanding of physics](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/unsized/2016/10/11/57fcef52a705b9598443d3d5_Barkley-swing.gif)
An understanding of physics
![Quality time with your significant other](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2016/10/11/57fd084e16c48159e37a6f95_man-woman-club.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1573410784597.jpeg)
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Quality time with your significant other
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![An opportunity to be one with nature](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2016/10/11/57fcef5416c48159e37a6f65_nature.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1573410762259.jpeg)
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An opportunity to be one with nature
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![Exercise, including the occasional swim](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2016/10/11/57fcef8116c48159e37a6f68_Woody-Austin.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1573410770670.jpeg)
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Exercise, including the occasional swim
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![Instills a newfound affinity for the weather forecast](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2016/10/11/57fcef52a705b9598443d3d2_golf-storm.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1573410756992.jpeg)
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Instills a newfound affinity for the weather forecast
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![A chance to hone woodworking skills](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2016/04/27/5720e68dfc8b41d7672c5f91_John-Daly-tree.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.615.suffix/1573398483579.jpeg)
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A chance to hone woodworking skills
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![Lessons in etiquette towards the opposite sex](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/07/21/55adaeedb01eefe207f89c9e_instruction-2011-12-insl04_annoying.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.646.suffix/1588723351341.jpeg)
Lessons in etiquette towards the opposite sex
![Surprise trips to the beach](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2016/10/11/57fcef564dd5ab28f0cb284e_sand-angels.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1573410771941.jpeg)
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Surprise trips to the beach
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![Up-close wildlife encounters](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/07/20/55ad7cbbb01eefe207f71645_blogs-the-loop-150311-alligator-560.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.646.suffix/1588690669131.jpeg)
Up-close wildlife encounters
![Direct conversation with a higher being](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2016/10/11/57fd0446ba1bcb2c8761f098_man-yelling.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1573410748594.jpeg)
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Direct conversation with a higher being
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