Those who breathe in society, silence, and freedom
Golf: a stage for excitement
Walking, hitting, silence, and laughing over the long course of 18 holes. Golf is a sport, but also a place for socializing and reflection. Perhaps that is why this gentleman’s game has long been deeply connected to “indulging in something.” Playing while smoking a cigar. Brandy in the clubhouse. And now, joints and CBD are spreading in states where it is legal. Golf has always been associated with “quiet exhilaration.”
Smoke and swing: the honeymoon of cigars and golf
In the early 20th century, cigars were part of the golf scene at American country clubs. Arnold Palmer was also photographed smiling with a cigar between his fingers during a tee shot. For golfers, cigars were not just smoking tools. They were a tool to distance themselves from pressure and regain their rhythm. They smoked between each shot to regulate their breathing. Cigars were not smoked to compete for scores, but to “regulate” their play.
A drink after a birdie: The social history of drinking and golf
Along with cigars, alcohol was also a part of the golf course scenery. In the United States, especially in the 1950s to 1980s, drinking beer or whiskey during a round was a natural habit. The bar counter in the clubhouse was already an extension of the game, a place to ruminate on “who I was today” while looking at the scorecard. The reason to sip a brandy glass was not to be a winner or loser, but to quietly face oneself.
時代の転換点──“大麻の静けさ”が加わる
And now in the present day. As marijuana (THC) is legalized, the time has come when golf and marijuana meet. In Colorado, California, Oregon, and Nevada, it is no longer uncommon to see players riding in carts with joints in their hands. Whereas cigars and alcohol were “external socialization,” marijuana brings more “inward serenity.” Relieving tension, quieting distractions, and freeing yourself in nature — that is the way of getting high in the new era.
Is a joint a social or meditative experience?
Interestingly, many golfers who use cannabis say that they are able to “appreciate each shot more.” Breathing, rhythm, sensation, and wind – these five senses become clear, and the game itself becomes a “journey of the senses.” This is not just a hobby, but an exhilaration as “part of the performance.”
PGA and the "Borderline of Tradition"
THC is still a prohibited substance on the PGA Tour, and there is a risk of suspension. However, CBD has already been legalized, and its use is spreading among tour professionals. CBD does not make you intoxicated like alcohol, and does not smell like cigars, but it quietly tunes your mind and body. This quiet high is becoming established as a “preparation ritual” for many golfers. Now, high may be shifting from “something that gets you excited outward” to “something that adjusts you inward.”
The Cultural History of Golf and "Transformation of Consciousness"
Cigars, alcohol, marijuana. In each era and in each social context, golf has always accompanied the “transformation of human consciousness.” Rather than just swinging a club, it is a time to feel, organize, and release oneself. And now, marijuana is quietly emerging as a new option in this trend. Elevation is no longer about being disturbed. It is about “quietly deepening.”