Similarities of Fishing and Golf: What do the two sports have in common?

Claiming that fishing and golf have a lot of similarities may sound a bit of a stretch to most people, but you’ll be surprised to know that both activities hone the same skills.

Golf may happen on the greens, and fishing may transpire on the waters, but both activities share eerie similarities you didn’t expect them to have. However, you might already notice how many of your angler friends also enjoy spending time playing golf on weekends.

If you’re someone who enjoys both activities, then this is for you. Here, you’ll learn the similarities of wetting a line and hitting the links, as well as why these sports complement each other.

Patience

Fishing and golfing are both no easy feat, as both require and cultivate someone’s willingness to be patient. This valuable virtue in life is applicable in many facets of life, whether at work, in relationships, or even achieving our goals.

Golf is a challenging sport in itself, much more for someone who desires immediate results.  You can’t get good scores by getting ahead of yourself. In every shot, you have to practice patience and carefully analyze one shot at a time. You should approach different types of shots with patience. For instance, if you’re hitting the golf ball from the bunkers, you have to be patient and carefully strategize your shot since many things can go wrong if you make a rash decision.

“Patience is key” may be a cliché adage, but it’s a statement that rings true in fly fishing. A fisherman has to spend hours trying to find the perfect place to fish or spend a few silent moments after casting out bait in a lake, waiting for a bite. Many times, some would not get a catch and never return to give it another shot.

And this is why patience is critical. One has to acknowledge that not all fishing trips will be successful. Instead, one has to take time, do research, and experiment with trial and error to be rewarded with plentiful catches. And in the event of an unsuccessful trip, it’s essential to bounce back and be willing to try again.

Investment

Let’s be honest—both golf and fishing can be expensive, especially now when there are a lot of technological advancements. Both types of sports are kinds of investment, money and time-wise.

Golf is a demanding sport. Your golf bag must be filled with various clubs because every shot requires a different club. Next, you have to dress up for your game. You have probably heard the saying, “you’re as good as what you wear,” so it’s imperative to go the extra mile to be stylish on the course. Make sure to invest in golf clothing that’ll get you covered for style and function.

Another factor that makes golf an expensive sport is the membership fee. Private golf clubs require memberships, and a typical annual golf course membership fee ranges from $1000-$5000, depending on the type of membership.

If a golfer has their own set of clubs, tees, golf balls, and apparel, an angler must invest in a highly performing rod, reel, bait, tackle box, life vest, and a boat if you’re serious about the hobby.

Like golf, fishing can be an expensive hobby. But there are ways to minimize expenses without compromising on necessary purchases. First, you can always purchase second-hand or clearance items. Another tip is instead of buying lures and baits, you can make your baits at home, given that your fishing location allows chumming.

Same terminologies

Both of these exciting sports share some of the same terms but with varying meanings. For instance, wormburner is likened to a shot in which the golf ball barely moves the ground. Meanwhile, worms exist in the world of fishing as live baits.

A fish hook may be a helpful piece of curved metal used to catch fish by impaling them in the mouth, but in golf, a hook is hated by many golfers. Often called a hook shot, it is a shot usually caused by an overly firm grip, which starts its trajectory on one side of the golfer and then moves around to the other side during flight. For a right-handed player, a hook curves right-to-left. And for a lefty, it happens left-to-right.

A birdie in golf means a score of one stroke under par. The term came from the early 20th-century American slang word “bird,” which means anything excellent. While birdie suggests a good thing in golf, having birdies (or simply birds) in the area can be tricky for anglers. Seagulls, eagles, and other birds can snaffle your baits before they even reach the underwater.

One shot/catch is already a win

In other sports like basketball, the highest scores win. In golf and fishing, it doesn’t matter how many shots you take (the lower the score, the better) or fish you bring home. One fantastic shot or catch can be highly rewarding on its own.

You see, all of a golfer’s triple bogeys, missed putts, shots in the hazards, lost balls, slices, hooks, and other horrible shots are quickly buried at the back of the mind immediately after perfecting a shot.

Similarly, all of an angler’s missed fish, dead bait, sunburn, cuts, lost lures, and bad luck are obliterated after getting the largest catch of the day.

Indeed, it’s the tedious process of golfing and fishing that makes a single feat worthwhile and worth celebrating.

Boosts mental performance

The physical benefits of golf and fishing are already a given, but not much spotlight is handed over to its mental advantages.

Both golf and fishing help boost focus and concentration. Both sports also encourage creative thinking. In golf, you need foresight to visualize your shot.

On the other hand, fishing requires focus and awareness of the surroundings, which can take your mind off of stress, similar to meditation. Fishing also helps lower cortisol levels (stress hormones) which can help those suffering from anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Closing thoughts

Golf and fishing may have different natures, but they are never far away from each other. If you love fishing and don’t want to miss out on golf, swing by your local golf club and experience the rewarding benefits of the sport! 

About the Author

Jordan Fuller is a golf coach from Nebraska. Along with other golf coaches, he shares professional golf advice, equipment and apparel reviews, and other golf information on his website, Golf Influence.