Sports are a funny old thing. They exist in the exact middle spot between exercise and culture. We play them, we watch them, we even bet on their outcome. One can be obsessively in love with sports while never having played them in their lives, and one can also be an avowed sports nut, playing anything they can that involves a ball, yet live their whole lives happily without ever watching a game on the TV. Most Americans, however will have played a range of sports by the time they leave high school and have at least a layman’s knowledge of staples like football, baseball, basketball and soccer. But these sports really are just the tip of the iceberg.

If you’re looking for a new activity to keep you fit or a new pastime to help you to remain active despite a sedentary desk-job, it behoves you to think a little outside the box when choosing a new sport. Here are some great sports with a range of fantastic benefits that all readers should try at least once…

Golf

While many of us enjoy fast-paced, explosive and dynamic sports, there’s a great deal to be said for golf. It may not be the best workout to be had, but it offers a range of great benefits for your hand-eye coordination, concentration, strategy and mental health.

Golf is a great stress-busting game, combining the various gratifications of competitive sports while also giving you access to fresh air, beautifully manicured grounds, trees and other plants. Play a few rounds at Fiddler’s Creek Golf and it’s hard not to feel the stress of the day slip away. No wonder so many busy executives swear by it. There’s even evidence to suggest that playing golf could help you live up to 5 years longer!

Boxing

Even if you’ve never thrown a punch in your life (and don’t ever intend to), boxing is still a great stress-busting sport and one of the best cardiovascular workouts there is! Boxing rounds only last 3 minutes but they are among the most gruelling 3 minutes you’ll ever experience in the world of sport.

Boxing is great for heart health as well as physical strength and coordination. What’s more, there’s no better way to let go of the frustrations of your day than punching the hell out of a bag! Even if you don’t feel up to stepping into the ring there are a great many training drills you can try without ever needing to spar with another boxer.

Tennis

Tennis is one of the most fun sports out there and it’s astonishing that so few people take the chance to try it out. It’s a great full-body workout that burns over 400 calories an hour when playing singles and almost 300 calories an hour when playing doubles. It’s also a great mood booster and a fantastic way to vent after a busy day.

Rugby

Finally, if you’ve tried your hand at football and want to try something a little different, how about giving its British cousin rugby a try? Named after the town in which it was invented, rugby football was created during a soccer game when one of the players picked up the ball and started running with it. It may not be quite as high-impact as football, but perhaps that’s as well as players wear no padding (except maybe a headguard). The British have a saying “Give blood, play rugby!”. It’s not for the faint hearted but you’ll find no better strength and cardio workout.

A great game for playing with groups of friends!