Research Alert: Golf for Health Social Prescribing Scheme Wins Backing from Patients, Clinicians and Clubs
New research from the EAGLE Golf for Health Project suggests that golf-based social prescribing can be enjoyable, welcoming and health-supporting for participants – but making these programmes work in the real world depends on simple, practical referral pathways for everyone involved.
The EAGLE Golf for Health project is building a clearer picture of how golf can support health and wellbeing through social prescribing. Across two linked studies, researchers explored both the participant experience and the views of the wider team needed to deliver the programme, including healthcare professionals, community link workers and golf club staff.
The programme offered eight weeks of free group coaching at five local golf clubs, with equipment provided and no dress code, aiming to remove barriers and make golf feel more accessible from the outset. Anybody who did not consider themselves to be a ‘golfer’ and who was not meeting physical activity recommendations was eligible to sign up for the programme, designed to take advantage of the many health benefits that golf has to offer.
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What the Studies Found
In the first study, published in BMC Primary Care, researchers examined participants’ experiences of the Fife pilot through post-programme focus groups.[2] Across the pilot, 66 participants took part, with an average session attendance of 69.9%.[2] Participants described the programme as welcoming, friendly and enjoyable, valuing the chance to get outdoors, learn something new and make new friends, while also raising concerns about the sign-up process and how people are connected into the programme.[2]
The second study, currently available as a Research Square preprint, investigated more widely whether the scheme felt acceptable to the people involved in each stage of running it.[3] That evaluation included 44 responders: participants, non-engagers, healthcare practitioners, community link workers and golf club staff.[3]
The overall picture was again positive. Participants appreciated the opportunity, stakeholders saw real community health potential, and many were keen to support the scheme. However the study also found a common challenge across the board: time. For participants, this affected attendance. For healthcare teams, it made referrals harder to fit into already pressured appointments – reflecting an all-too familiar theme across healthcare literature.[3]
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The Bigger Picture
Taken together, the two studies tell an important EAGLE Project story. This is not only about whether people enjoy golf once they start – which many clearly do.[2] It is also about whether the route into that experience is easy, reliable and realistic for patients, practitioners and delivery partners alike.[3] The message is encouraging: golf-based social prescribing shows promise, but future growth will depend on better communication, smoother sign-up, and referral systems that are practical in everyday settings.
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What This Means for You
For golfers and potential golfers: these two EAGLE Project studies suggest golf can be more than a sport. It can offer a welcoming way to move more, spend time outdoors, build confidence, improve health, and connect with others.
For healthcare professionals and link workers: golf may be a useful addition to the social prescribing toolkit, especially for people who may be less interested in traditional exercise offers. But the research also shows that referral pathways need to be simple, clear and realistic to use.
For golf facilities: clubs can play a meaningful role in supporting community health. The studies show real enthusiasm for that role, but also underline the need for programmes that are easy to deliver, well communicated and accessible to newcomers.
For policymakers and partners: the opportunity is growing clearer across the EAGLE Project research. But success will depend on practicalities — simple referral systems, good local promotion and systemic infrastructure, clear follow-up communication and flexible pathways that do not place too much extra pressure on frontline staff.
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References
[1] EAGLE Golf for Health – medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk/eagle
[2] Warne SJ, Brown LR, Barker K, Carstairs SA, Cunningham KB, Duggal S, Evans I, Martin A, Murray A, Ozakinci G, Williams AJ, Sullivan F. “Walking around the golf course is the exercise you need”: Exploring the acceptability of a golf on referral scheme amongst participants through post-programme focus groups. BMC Primary Care. 2026;27:108. Published 27 January 2026.
[3] Warne SJ, Brown LR, Barker K, Carstairs SA, Cunningham KB, Duggal S, Evans I, Martin A, Murray A, Ozakinci G, Williams AJ, Sullivan F. Exploring the perceptions and acceptability of a “Golf for Health” social prescribing scheme amongst key stakeholders and healthcare professionals. Research Square preprint. Version 1, posted 1 April 2026.
