CBD for Golfers: What Every Golfer Needs to Know About Using CBD on The Course

Written by Cathy Rozyczko — Edited by Jason Brett on September 27, 2021

As you have likely heard by now, CBD has quickly become one of the biggest trends in the world of healthy living as more people discover the health benefits that using CBD products can provide.

CBD use has even been taken up by pro athletes in recent years, as many claim that CBD oil has helped them to recover from injuries and maintain better focus during competition.

The world of professional golf is no exception, as a growing number of golfers claim that CBD has helped to improve their game.

In fact, several major players in the 2019 PGA Tour had CBD sponsors including Charley Hoffman, Lucas Glover, and Bubba Watson (just to name a few), and it is even suspected that Phil Mickelson was using CBD oil at the Masters last year.

Yet, those new to CBD may be unsure why its use has grown so popular among golfers. Whether you are an amateur golfer, an aspiring pro, or you are merely a curious fan, here is a quick look at answers to your most common questions about the use of CBD in the world of golf.

How can CBD benefit golfers?

The first thing that you may find yourself wondering is what reason there is for golfers to use CBD? Clearly it must provide some kind of health benefits or improved performance if so many golfers are using it, right?

While CBD oil has been used for centuries to treat a variety of conditions such as depression, skin conditions like psoriasis, and even epilepsy, there are a few unique benefits that CBD can provide golfers with including:

Improved Sleep

Just like any athlete, it is critical that golfers get a good night's sleep. Many professional golfers walk several miles every day on the course, and when they get to the tee, they swing their golf clubs with all their upper-arm strength multiple times throughout the day. These activities obviously can lead to fatigue and muscle strain. Sleep is then an essential component in helping a golfer's body to recover and stay healthy. Additionally, good sleep is also critical in helping golfers to maintain focus and precision on the course.

This is where CBD can prove to be extremely beneficial for golfers. 

Studies have begun to show the extent to which CBD can help to improve sleep by reducing stress and facilitating relaxation. In fact, Scott McCarron claimed in an ESPN interview that he noticed an improvement in sleep quality, and better results on the course, after he began using CBD.

Reduced Anxiety

Another critical way in which CBD can help golfers is by reducing stress and anxiety. The fact is that even professional golfers who have been golfing their entire career deal with anxiety due to the pressures they face on the course, and it is not uncommon for golfers to experience performance anxiety when they step up to the tee.

With all of those eyes on them, and the silence of the crowd suddenly feeling overwhelming, anxiety can severely affect a golfer's performance.

Fortunately, CBD has been shown to be extremely effective at calming anxiety. Researchers believe that CBD helps to reduce anxiety by changing the way that your brain's receptors respond to serotonin, which is a primary chemical in the brain linked to mental health.

Regardless of how it works, many golfers find that CBD provides the calming relief they need to succeed on the course!

Relief from Pain and Inflammation

As we previously hinted at, there is a great deal of strain that is placed on a golfer's body. And chronic pain and inflammation are rampant among both professional golfers and amateurs alike.

Fortunately, instead of having to turn to potentially addicting (and even dangerous) painkillers such as opioids, many golfers have been able to find relief in CBD.

CBD is a natural phytochemical studied to help suppress pain and inflammation. Due to the way that CBD works with our body's endocannabinoid system, CBD has been used for centuries to treat a variety of conditions that cause chronic pain and inflammation such as arthritis, MS, and muscle injuries. Many golfers find that CBD helps to soothe sore muscles and achy joints after a long day.

Is it legal for golfers to use CBD?

Of course, one of the biggest concerns any golfer may have if they have aspirations of going pro is whether or not using CBD is even legal, and if it can be a cause for disqualification if they have it in their system on the course.

Fortunately for CBD enthusiasts across the country, CBD was effectively made legal in the United States with the passing of the Farm Bill in 2018. For the first time, the 2018 Farm Bill differentiated between hemp and other cannabis plants with psychoactive effects.

This made it legal to cultivate and sell hemp plants, and use them to produce CBD products, as long as they do not contain more than 0.3% THC. Delta-9 THC is the psychoactive component in cannabis that produces the “high” sensation associated with its use.

Bottom line? The 2018 Farm Bill makes it legal for people in all 50 states to use CBD. 

In addition to CBD oil use being legal, professional golfers do not have to fear repercussions for taking it on the course. The PGA Tour Anti-Doping Program does not consider CBD oil to be a performance-enhancing drug or substance.

Furthermore, The World Anti-Doping Agency, which governs banned substances for global athletic events such as the Olympics, recently removed CBD from its banned substances list. This paved the way for athletes around the world, including golfers, to take advantage of the health benefits CBD can provide.

What are good CBD products for golfers?

If you are considering incorporating CBD into your health regimen, whether due to an ongoing injury or because you want to improve your golf game, you may be wondering what CBD products are best for golfers to use.

Considering CBD is available to consumers in a variety of forms including drops, pills, vapes, ointments, and even gummies, it is understandable to be unsure where to start.

Whether you are looking to reduce anxiety on the course or reduce inflammation, most golfers choose to take CBD orally on a daily basis either in the form of a CBD capsule or a CBD tincture that can be added to food or dissolved under the tongue.

Of course, if your primary concern is finding pain relief from a specific injury like golfer's elbow, you may find a topical CBD cream or CBD balm to be most helpful.

Final Note: THC Content

One of the most important considerations for competitive golfers to make when choosing a CBD product is its THC content. In order to avoid potential problems, make sure that you choose a CBD product derived from hemp that contains no more than 0.3% THC.

Recent years have seen CBD take the world of golf by storm as more golfers discover the amazing ways in which using CBD can provide relief and improve their game. However, if you are new to CBD and are unsure what products will help you on the course, contact us for advice on selecting the right product to meet your needs.

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