Thanksgiving is a holiday built on gratitude, and golfers in particular have much to be thankful for. Studies in sports psychology show that adopting a thankful outlook — both on and off the course — improves focus, resilience, and overall well-being. Gratitude doesn’t just benefit your health, it also makes you a better playing partner and a more enjoyable golfer to spend time with
And for those who book a round at TPC Danzante Bay in Loreto, Baja California Sur, there’s even more to celebrate: world-class golf surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
Why Should Golfers Practice Gratitude?
Thanksgiving is the perfect reminder to slow down and reflect. For golfers, gratitude can:
- Reduce stress and improve concentration on the course.
- Help recover faster from mistakes and maintain composure.
- Strengthen relationships with fellow players through positivity.
A thankful mindset not only makes you a better golfer, but also enriches your life beyond the fairways.
What Are Golfers Most Thankful For?
Time in Nature
Golf offers the chance to be outdoors in beautiful, well-maintained natural environments. This is especially true at TPC Danzante Bay, a multi-themed layout where players cruise from canyons, arroyos and desert foothills to rolling dunes within view of the sea. It’s the perfect place to take a deep breath of sun-kissed fresh air and drink in the scenery. With six sets of staggered tees, golfers at all ability levels can enjoy a peaceful escape from everyday life at TPC Danzante Bay. And at No. 17, a breathtaking par 3 that drops sharply to a green that crowns a pinnacle of rock high above the glittering sea, even globe-trotting players will be “wowed” by one of the most spectacular settings in the sport.
Better Equipment
The centuries-old Scottish pastime has evolved. Modern golf gear, from custom-fitted clubs to GPS devices, make the game more accessible for everyone. Older players had to make do with persimmon woods, forged irons and soft balata balls that were easy to curve but also easy to cut. Fifty years ago, a unique skill set was required to advance a dimpled sphere around the course. Today’s equipment, comparable to the wider, more forgiving S-shaped skis now available to alpine enthusiasts, flattens the learning curve for novices. Not only do modern golf balls fly straighter and last longer, graphite-shafted hybrids have replaced hard-to-hit long irons. Also, perimeter-weighted irons are far more forgiving to off-center hits than their predecessors. With upgrades such as these, playing golf is a little easier and a lot more fun.
Camaraderie & Friendships
Golf provides a platform for socializing, whether with a regular group of friends or new acquaintances. It also builds lasting relationships. Rare is the player who chooses to go it alone. Golf is and was meant to be a social game. Applauding the good shots of fellow players, and expecting to be complimented in return, is a big part of the game. While golf is a solo pursuit, the round was meant to be shared with fellow enthusiasts. Perhaps because the struggle is so great and the prize (of a perfect shot) so elusive, relationships forged by golf tend to last a lifetime. Plus there’s the 19th Hole, where players can recount the round, settle bets and cement friendships.
Game for a Lifetime
All it takes to play a decent game of golf is enough hand-eye coordination to knock the head off a daisy with a pitching wedge. OK, there’s a little more to it than that, but today’s high-tech equipment enables players, especially those on the back nine of life, to enjoy a sport that renews itself with each round. The pleasurable excitement, from crisp iron shots to clutch putts, is always fresh, never boring. Because its playing fields are not uniform, golf is one of the few games that is different every single time you play it. This is especially true at TPC Danzante Bay, a diverse layout where shifting winds present a new challenge every day.
Honesty
In what other sport do players call rules infractions on themselves? The answer is none. In most team sports, an advantage is gained by a wily player who can break or bend the rules and get away with it. Golf has an unwritten code of honor and a strict policy of self-policing. Every golfer is expected to play by the rules. The famous quote by Bobby Jones, the game’s greatest amateur, remains relevant. Applauded for calling a penalty on himself, Jones replied, “You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank.”
Competition & Handicaps
Golf is really three games. There’s the solitary game golfers play against themselves to do better than they did before. There’s also match play, a golfer versus an opponent; and medal (or stroke) play, where golfers play against a field of competitors. What sets the game apart is a handicapping system that offers an equitability not found in other sports. A 36-handicapper, who normally wouldn’t stand a chance of beating an expert, can, with a fair stroke allowance, play a match against a pro or scratch golfer and emerge the victor.
How Does Golf Encourage Gratitude?
Golfers everywhere recognize how much the game gives back — joy, resilience, discipline, and lifelong friendships. Many even describe today as a golden age of golf, where advances in culture, technology, and accessibility make the sport more rewarding than ever.
As George Peper, former Editor-in-Chief of GOLF Magazine, once noted:
“If you were lucky enough to discover this maddening, magnificent game sometime in the last half-century, then you’ve been part of a golden age — maybe the golden age — of golf and everything surrounding it.”
He added:
“Golf hasn’t just filled our weekends — it’s filled our souls. We’ve laughed until we cried. We’ve thrown clubs and we’ve raised glasses. We’ve chased birdies and dodged doubles. Golf has humbled us… it’s healed us… and it’s refused to let us grow old without a fight.”
Golf encourages gratitude not just because of what happens on the course, but because it continually reminds players of how meaningful the game can be in their lives.
Why Visit Loreto for a Fall Golf Getaway?
For golfers planning a Thanksgiving golf vacation in Mexico, Loreto is the ideal choice. Here you’ll find:
- The award-winning TPC Danzante Bay, one of the most scenic courses in the world.
- Seasonal weather that makes every round comfortable and enjoyable.
- A destination where golf and gratitude come together, offering the perfect balance of sport, nature, and reflection.
A Thanksgiving Reminder
This Thanksgiving, take a moment to appreciate all that golf gives you — the friendships, the challenges, the honesty, and the joy of being outdoors. And when you’re ready to combine gratitude with golf at its finest, plan your next round at TPC Danzante Bay in Loreto, Baja California Sur.
Book your fall getaway to TPC Danzante Bay and experience golf, gratitude, and world-class scenery in one unforgettable trip.
