Home / The evidence
Golfers tend to live longer, with better physical and mental health. The likely reasons are simple: walking, using your muscles and spending time with other people. Here’s what the research has found so far, and where the evidence is still thin.
Pick a topic
Golfers have been found to live around five years longer than non-golfers.
Read about living longer →
Heart health, type 2 diabetes, balance, strength and falls in older people.
Read about physical health →
Anxiety, depression, confidence and self-esteem, plus golf for people living with dementia.
Read about mental health →
Friendship, social connection and keeping your cool under pressure.
Read about social wellbeing →
Good news for fans: watching golf on the course has health benefits too.
Read about spectating →
Sun exposure, skin cancer and common golf injuries, and how to avoid them.
Read about the risks →
Why it works
1
A round means hours on your feet, walking at a steady pace in the fresh air.
2
Swinging, carrying and pushing a trolley all work your muscles, which helps strength and balance.
3
Golf is a social game. Playing with other people is good for confidence, mood and friendship.
Myth or fact?
Three things people often say about golf. Flip each card to see what the research says.
Common questions
The questions people ask us most, with short answers and the research behind them.
Golfers tend to live longer, have better heart and metabolic health, better balance and strength in later life, and lower rates of anxiety and depression. Source: Murray et al., 2016.
Three things come together: walking for hours at a steady pace, using your muscles to swing, carry or push a trolley, and spending time with other people.
Yes. A round of golf counts as moderate-intensity physical activity, the level health guidelines recommend. Walking the course rather than using a buggy adds to the benefit. Source: Murray et al., 2016.
The strongest evidence links golf to longer life and better physical health. Evidence on mental health and on specific conditions is growing but still thinner, and most studies show links rather than prove cause and effect. Source: Murray et al., 2016.
Aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, walk the course when you can, warm up before playing and protect your skin from the sun. Source: Murray et al., 2018.
Key reference
The University of Edinburgh’s 2016 review pulled together the research on golf and health. Much of what you’ll find on this site is built on it.
Murray AD, Daines L, Archibald D, et al. Br J Sports Med, 2016. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-096625
Listen
Dr Andrew Murray talks to the British Journal of Sports Medicine podcast about the review and what it found.
The Golf & Health Project brings together published research on golf and health. Page last reviewed: November 2026.
