According to an anonymous survey conducted by GOLF.com in 2019, roughly 20% of PGA Tour players said they had used marijuana or THC-containing products in the past year.
It's not just a "high." It's "quiet concentration" that changes your game.
Golf is a sport that requires mental calmness and consistency rather than physical strength. Tee shot preparation, bunker escape, pressure putt – what is needed is “the ability to reduce thoughts and immerse yourself in the present moment.” Now, among some golfers on the West Coast of the United States and in Canada, the state of concentration induced by THC (the main component of marijuana) is being quietly discussed as a “new mind tool.”
Science backs the "zone-inducing powers" of THC
A growing number of studies have shown that small amounts of THC have the effect of “cutting out distracting thoughts,” “relaxing muscles,” and “inducing a flow state.” According to a research team at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), when 5 to 10 mg of THC was taken, an increase in alpha waves (brain waves that control relaxation and concentration) was observed. In addition, in a self-reporting survey of amateur golfers in legal states, the following comments were repeatedly made: “On the contrary, I naturally made a swing that was not trying to do anything,” “I felt immersed in the scenery, the wind, and the club,” “I was having the yips, but I was able to relax and hit the ball smoothly.” In other words, THC is not just a “distraction,” but can be a trigger for the flow state, a feeling of “escape from the self” that golfers should aim for.
A pro speaks anonymously about how he felt like he could even hear the wind
An anonymous PGA Tour player wrote the following in a column for Golf Digest:
“I took a very small amount during a round during a week when there were no qualifying rounds, and my swing became incredibly simple. It felt like the sound of the wind, the texture of the grass, and even the trajectory of the club were all one.”
“Silencing the coach inside your body” is the ideal state that top players strive for.
Beyond the banned list: a new sporting ethic
Of course, under the current rules of the PGA Tour, THC is still classified as a “prohibited substance.” However, on the other hand, CBD has already been legalized, and THC is also being legalized for medical purposes around the world. Now that there is a wealth of clinical data proving that it is “not addictive, violent, or doping,” a movement is beginning to reexamine its value in the sports world. Matt Every, who was suspended from the tournament, said the following:
“I’m not an addict. This is a legitimate choice for my mental well-being.”
It seems likely that more and more athletes like him will choose THC as a way to protect their mental wellness.
Adjusting your swing is not about "strength" but "feel"
The world of professional golf is now being confronted with a new question: “Is THC cheating? Or is it a tool to develop the ability to face oneself?” In a sport where results are achieved not through practice but through relaxation – considering this characteristic, the relaxation and sensory release brought about by THC may actually be very golf-like.
Cannabis opens the door to "green consciousness"
Golf is not a sport about hitting a ball, but a “dialogue between yourself and nature.” What is needed is not the power to beat others, but the power to be at peace with yourself. THC is one tool to achieve this – thinking of it like that is no longer an outlaw or an escape. It may be the next generation sports mindset, an “option for playing more deeply.”