The experience and meaning of leisure golf activities from a positive psychology perspective

Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the experience and meaning of leisure golf activities through self-study from the perspective of positive psychology. Methods The researcher's golf diary was collected as data, and the results of the analysis using inductive category analysis were compared to the four seasons. Results The spring story of golf is about learning golf and is categorized into learning basic movement skills, exploring strategies for each distance, and experiencing fear and fear in unfamiliar experiences. Golf's summer story is about learning golf and is categorized into applying basic movement skills, acquiring strategies for each distance and targeting holes, and feeling confidence and accomplishment through challenges. The fall story of golf is about applying golf, and is categorized into demonstrating athletic performance, managing scores, and increasing self-motivation and control. Golf's winter story is a content of reflection and introspection on golf and was categorized into reflection and introspection to improve athletic performance, securing practice routines, selecting and modifying course-specific strategies, and forming resilience and grit. Conclusions This study is a story about the experiences and meaning of recreational golf activities over 20 years of sports enthusiasts. A recreational sports enthusiast will identify the growth and changes in physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects and reflective reflection on physical activities through golf.