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Golf is a low-risk sport, but it isn’t risk-free. The main things to watch are injuries, mostly to the back, shoulder and knee, and the sun. Heart emergencies on the course are rare but serious. Here’s what the research says and how to stay safe.
2.4×
One in four golfers surveyed in Australia had been diagnosed with skin cancer, compared with 7% of the general population. The researchers recommend high-SPF sun cream, a hat and suitable clothing every time you play.
Source: Stenner et al., 2023
Key findings
01
910 amateur golfers in the USA and Switzerland reported their health every week for five months. Injury and illness rates were low compared with many other sports. Source: Robinson et al., 2024
02
The lower back caused the most time out of the game, followed by the shoulder and knee. Risk was higher with age, osteoarthritis and a previous injury. Source: Robinson et al., 2024
03
37% of 1,170 male golfers had low back pain in the previous week, about the same as the wider population, and their aches were similar in everyday life and when playing. Source: Murray et al., 2023
04
Golf courses are the fifth most common public place for a cardiac arrest in the US. When a defibrillator was used, 38% survived to leave hospital, compared with 19% without one. Source: Gustafson et al., 2025
How sure can we be?
The injury figures are solid: golfers were followed week by week rather than asked to remember. Source: Robinson et al., 2024
The skin cancer study relied on golfers reporting their own diagnoses, and it was done in Australia, where the sun is especially strong. The message to protect your skin applies everywhere. Source: Stenner et al., 2023
Overall, a major review concluded that more people should be encouraged to play golf for its health benefits, with steps taken to reduce injuries and illness. Source: Murray et al., 2016
Stay safe
Based on the 2018 International Consensus on Golf and Health and the studies above. Source: Murray et al., 2018
A few minutes of warming up before you tee off helps prevent injury.
Use high-SPF sun cream, wear a hat and cover up.
If you have back pain or a past injury, ask a physio about exercises that suit you.
Clubs: have one on site and people trained to use it. Golfers: find out where it is.
Common questions
Yes, compared with many sports. Amateur golfers tracked over a season had low rates of injury and illness. Source: Robinson et al., 2024.
Lower back problems cause the most time out, followed by the shoulder and knee. Source: Robinson et al., 2024.
Back pain is common in golfers, but about as common as in the wider population, and golfers’ aches were similar on and off the course. Source: Murray et al., 2023. If it persists, see a doctor or physio.
Golfers in Australia were 2.4 times more likely to report a skin cancer diagnosis than the general population. Wear high-SPF sun cream, a hat and suitable clothing. Source: Stenner et al., 2023.
Yes. In US data, survival after a cardiac arrest on a golf course was roughly twice as high when a defibrillator was used. Source: Gustafson et al., 2025.
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The Golf & Health Project brings together published research on golf and health. Page last reviewed: November 2026.
