Golf & Health – Policy Makers & Leaders Briefing

As the health benefits of golf continue to play an increasingly important role both in and out of the sport, the Golf & Health Project is pleased to share a briefing document that can be used as a great starting point to provide some basis and backgrounds around these many benefits with Policy Makers and Leaders.

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HEADLINES – THE BEST SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE SHOWS:

• Golf can provide health-enhancing levels of physical activity, – with golfers living longer, and enjoying comprehensive physical and mental health benefits.
• These benefits are available to persons of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
• All the World Health Organisation/ national governments key criteria for health enhancing physical activity can be met through playing golf.
• Regular exercise, including golf is one of the best things you can do for your immune system, and golf lends itself to physical distancing and can be played safely.

Golf can meet World Health Organisation / Government criteria for health enhancing physical activities.

Recommended domain of physical activity	Adults 18-65yo	Older adults >65yo
150 minutes moderate to vigorous physical activity	YES	YES
Non sedentary time	YES	YES
Muscle/ bone strengthening	N/A	YES
Balance improving	N/A	YES

Professor Fiona Bull, WHO Head of Physical Activity and Programme Manager, Non-Communicable Disease Prevention, highlights:

“Golf is a popular sport for men and women and it’s great to see golf’s global leadership recognising health priorities and identifying ways golf can be more accessible to more people. Thankfully, a six-week ‘come and try course’ showed me how easy it was to enjoy golf as a beginner and how active playing nine holes can be! I’m looking forward to seeing how golf can attract many more girls and women to enjoy the sport and be more active and healthier.”

WHERE CAN WE FIND OUT MORE?

• The Golf & Health website – golfandhealth.org
• The R&A Golf & Health Report: randa.org/en/news/2020/10/randa-golf-and-health-report-published
• Scientific papers:
  • The relationships between golf and health: a scoping review – https://bit.ly/3oL0FpE
  • 2018 International Consensus Statement on Golf and Health to guide action by people, policymakers and the golf industry
  • Infographics and digital resources: an international consensus on golf and health
• Twitter – @GolfAndHealth
• Facebook – @golfandhealth
• Contact details (Science):
  • Dr Andrew Murray docandrewmurray[at]gmail.com
• Contact details (Communications):
  • Aston Ward (Golf & Health Project) aw[at]cpg.golf
  • Ed Hodge (The R&A) ed_hodge[at]outlook.com

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The Golf & Health Project, supported by the World Golf Foundation – made up of European Tour, LPGA, The Masters, PGA of America, PGA Tour, The R&A, and USGA – aims to study the many and varied health & wellbeing benefits of golf, consider any risks, and to publish regularly in international, peer-reviewed journals.

You can also find Golf & Health on Twitter at @GolfAndHealth and on Facebook at facebook.com/golfandhealth.