By its nature, the game dictates the mind, too, is completely immersed – and on multiple levels.

You don’t have to go far on a Google search to find specialists in the area singing the praises of engaging the brain through activity as we age, and golf is an activity that ticks all the boxes.

In a recent Forbes article Denise Park, Ph.D., professor and director of research at the Centre for Vital Longevity in the School of Behavioural Sciences at the University of Texas in Dallas, said the following about learning to dance later in life:

“You have to remember and match long sequences of body movements to the tempo and mood of the music, as well as to adapt to your partner’s moves,” she said.

“It’s tactile, visual, motor and auditory, and it has the added benefit of improving your cardiovascular system.”

Take out the ‘partner’ bit and you could easily replace ‘dancing’ with golf.

If you consider what’s involved in playing any given golf shot, from a drive to a three-foot putt, there is much more to the equation than simply moving the body.

"There are multiple reasons golf is good for people, but the brain stimulation it ignites is one that is rarely discussed." – Rod Morri.

It starts with analysing all the elements that can affect the ball such as distance to the target, wind, and elevation change.

For those not using range finders or GPS there is an added mathematical element of pacing off yardages from fairway markers and calculating the distance from there.

Once the number has been arrived at, processing the visual information of the lie followed by judgement about how that will impact the ball’s flight comes into play.

If you’re lying in rough how will that change things? Or, God forbid, you find yourself in an unrepaired – or even a sand filled – divot in the fairway?

But sizing up how the lie will affect the ball is only the beginning in many ways.

Once the basics are done the variables need to be added in including wind, temperature and elevation change.

All that will help you pick a club then the real fun can begin: what shot to hit with it?

Before taking a swing, the golfer has to ‘see’ the shot they want to play, especially if something interesting is going to happen to the ball once it gets on the ground.

Is there a mound or hummock to bounce the ball off? Is there water to carry and does it make sense to take an extra club to make sure it’s out of play?

Where’s the best place to miss and what shot shape might you consider based on that?

Adding up all those factors then deciding you need to aim 20 metres left of the flag and carry the ball 10 metres short of it to find a hummock and sling the ball towards the hole requires quite the mental gymnastics.

(The infuriating part is, of course, that none of it helps you actually play a good shot. However, while the resulting duff is maddening it also plays a bigger role: learning to manage one’s emotions.)

There are multiple reasons golf is good for people, but the brain stimulation it ignites is one that is rarely discussed.

Hopefully that changes because it’s another tool in the kit that golf can use when making its case as a worthwhile public and community asset.