Joy Stephenson-Laws, Holistic Coach, J.D., Founder

Early summer hands us extra daylight and one perfect excuse to use it: National Best Friends Day, June 8. Congress made it official in 1935, picking a date when the weather is ideal for picnics, park walks—or a twilight tee-time.

But this isn’t just a hashtag holiday. Modern science treats friendship like a super-supplement—good for your heart, your brain, and even your final scorecard.

Why Your Bestie Is Basically a Multivitamin

Longer life. People with strong friendships cut their early-death risk by roughly 50 percent—the same advantage as quitting a pack-a-day smoking habit.
Less stress. Just having your best friend by your side during a tough moment keeps cortisol (your stress hormone) from spiking.
Happier brain. Close pals beat loneliness and lower depression risk.
Sense of purpose. Friends remember your wins and remind you why you matter—linked to sharper memory in later life.

Putting it simply: hanging out with your best friend is free preventive medicine for body, mind, and spirit.

Golf + Friendship = Health on the Move

Built-in cardio. Walking 18 holes covers 4–6 miles and can burn up to 1,400 calories.
Fitness gains. Twelve weeks of “walking golf” boosts aerobic capacity and trims waistlines.
Five-year bonus. Swedish data on 300,000 golfers shows a 40 percent lower death rate, or about five extra years of life.
Conversation lanes. A round lasts four unrushed hours—prime time for stories, laughs, and high-fives after miracle putts.

How Many Best Friends Do You Really Need?

Social scientists map our connections in circles:

Core clique: 3–5 people you’d call at 2 a.m.
Sympathy group: ~15 friends for birthdays and study sessions.

Most of us thrive with three to five close friends. Even one trusty pal moves your health needle.

5 Moves to Build Your Dream Foursome

Picking the right golf (or park-walk) crew isn’t about a killer drive. It’s about chemistry and shared values—turning casual hangs into lifelong friendships.

Why these matter: Friendships grow like a fairway narrows toward the green: with clear markers. Knowing your values keeps you on course; rituals keep the game alive; positive competition sparks fun without drama; boundary check-ins keep you out of the rough.

Bullet-Point Playbook

Know Your Values
• List three non-negotiables (e.g., honesty, kindness, curiosity).
• Notice who owns their slices and who blames the wind.
Start Small & Level Up
• Friendship is like game levels: memes → coffee → real talk.
• Suggest nine holes or a range session before committing to 18.
Lock In a Ritual
• Consistency > epic hangouts. Same Saturday tee-time or weekly iced-coffee walk.
• Book the next outing before you leave the course.
Keep Competition Positive
• Friendly wager: winner buys smoothies; loser picks the playlist.
• Cheer every great shot—enthusiasm boosts focus and fun.
Run Boundary Check-Ins
• Every few months ask, “Still fun or feeling crowded?”
• Swap a full round for a 20-minute FaceTime if life’s busy.

One-Day Action Plan for June 8

8 a.m.
Send your crew a goofy “Best Friends Day!” GIF to kick off the dopamine drip.

10 a.m.
Head out for nine (or 18) holes with your golf squad—cardio, sunshine, and great conversation all in one.

Hole 9
Pause for a snack of apple slices and peanut butter to steady your energy and dodge the sugar crash.

Hole 18
Hold a “Fairway Gratitude” moment: have each player share one highlight of the day to lock in that joy.

3 p.m.
Sip sparkling water with a lime wedge, then book your next tee-time—so this becomes a regular tradition, not just a one-off.

Daily Friendship Check-In

Use this micro-ritual each morning to keep gratitude front and center—no extra time, no guilt:

Trigger: First sip of coffee.
Breathe: Two calm, full breaths.
Recall: Picture one friend who helped you this week.
Record: Jot a one-line thank-you in your phone’s Notes.
Reach Out: Send a heart emoji, a meme, or a 10-second voice note.

Doing this for just a week can lower stress and boost happiness—science backs it..

Fast Facts (for the Quiz Bowl Crowd)

Date: June 8 every year
Founded: 1935 by U.S. Congress (nationaltoday.com)
Golf & Calories: Walking 18 holes can torch up to 1,400 calories (golf.com)
Longevity Boost: Golfers live about five years longer than non-golfers (sciencedaily.com)
Friendship Bonus: Strong social ties = 50 % better survival odds (journals.plos.org)

Bring It Home

June 8 isn’t just another date—it’s your annual reminder to lace up, grab the people who know all your embarrassing stories, and step into the sun together. Whether you’re draining a ten-footer to save par or laughing at a heroic splash-shot, remember:

“Friendships built on fairways travel the longest distance—straight to the heart.” — Joy Stephenson-Laws

Charge your phone, shine your clubs (or rent some), and celebrate the friends who turn life’s rough patches into fairways. Your body, brain, and besties will thank you—today and for many sunny June 8ths to come.

Happy National Best Friends Day!

Sources

Calendarr. “National Best Friends Day,” origin & date.
Holt-Lunstad, J., et al. “Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality,” PLoS Medicine, 2010.
Bukowski, W. M., et al. “Presence of a Best Friend Buffers Cortisol,” Developmental Psychology, 2012.
Wandersee, K., et al. “Health Benefits of Walking Golf,” Journal of Sports Medicine, 2000.
ScienceDaily. “Golfers Live Longer,” Swedish registry study, 2008.
Golf.com. “Calories Burned Walking 18 Holes,” 2022.
PMCID: 5538015. “Social Stress Buffering by Friends,” Frontiers in Psychology, 2017.

Birdies & Besties: Celebrate National Best Friends Day on the Fairway