Mark Twain famously said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” He was being cynical . . .  and he was wrong. 
 

No matter what is said by people who are obsessed with, say, jogging, regular golf is good for you. It is a game that burns up calories, reduces cholesterol and can reduce stress. The argument against it says that golf is not continuous exercise - you are always stopping and starting. True, but there are other benefits to balance that out. 
 

The highly respected former surgeon general of the United States, Dr C. Everett Koop, said: "Studies have shown the strong health benefits walking can also have in protecting golfers against heart disease." Every time you play an 18-hole round of golf, you walk, depending on the course, between four and eight miles, and burn around 1,000 calories. The calorie expenditure is not, in fact, that important. And is easily regained at the 19th hole when you have a restorative drink or two with your golfing partner. 
 

Understand, here we are only talking about golf in which you do not use a motorized buggy. It is fine to use a trolley for your golf clubs or even have a caddy lug them around for you. But do not ride in a golf buggy. That takes away the exercise, although it may still be pleasurable. Note that once past a certain age, this restriction does not apply.
Brisk walking increases cardiovascular capacity, improves lung capacity and blood flow which means, normally, a drop in blood pressure figures. When playing golf, your heart rate is probably somewhere between 90 and 120 beats per minute. Yes, jogging takes it higher (depending on your age and fitness) but golf is a low-intensity workout with extra benefits. 

Researchers in Sweden, for example, studied the physical demands on middle-aged golfers. They discovered that golfers' exercise intensity ranges from 40 percent to 70 percent of maximum aerobic power, despite short walking intervals typical of the game.  According to Golf Science International, researcher Gi Magnusson calculates that four hours of playing golf-walking is comparable to a 45-minute fitness class. He said, “Golf is unique in the way it motivates middle-age and elderly individuals to walk a fairly long distance on a regular basis.” 

Most studies show it doesn't matter what speed you walk, the key is the distance that is covered. These are the other benefits of golf:

You are out in the open air. It does not matter if it is raining, hot, cold, or whatever. Being out in the open air is good for you. There is more oxygen out there and the rays of the sun - you still get them even if it is cloudy - are good for you on several levels. The body manufactures Vitamin D, "the sunshine vitamin", after being exposed to ultraviolet rays. You don’t need much: and don’t forget sunscreen.

Swinging your club, bending down to place your ball on its tee and picking up your ball helps keep your joints supple and muscle groups in trim.

The activity releases endorphins into your bloodstream, and these have a tranquilizing and positive effect on your mind. A recent study showed any exercise that releases endorphins is better for, for instance, mild depression, then any doctor-prescribed medicine. 

Golf keeps you from worrying about other matters. If you start thinking about a cash flow forecast when making a longish putt, you will miss - for certain. Golf concentrates the mind wonderfully. 

Reading all this through again, I realize that golf is not just a game, it is a health cure.