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Golf offers unprecedented benefits for health and wellbeing.
Golf provides increased life expectancy, has mental health benefits, and can help prevent and treat more than 40 major chronic diseases such as heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, and breast and colon cancer.
did you know?
5 YEARS
Golfers live 5 years longer than non-golfers - enjoying improvements in cholesterol levels, body composition, wellness, self-esteem, and self-worth.
3.5 MILES
Walking 18 holes is equivalent to a 3 1/2 mile run or 5 mile walk, burning up to 2000 calories and accumulating more than 10,000 steps. Spectators walk between 5-6 miles on average and burn more than 1,000 calories per day.
Source: The R&A, Golf & Health Report, 2016-2020
HEALTH
In 2019, participation in golf in the UK was estimated to prevent almost 50,000 physical and mental health conditions, which equated to £175m in healthcare.
The Social Value of Golf in the UK, Sport Industry Research Centre, 2022
GEN Z
For Gen Z (age 16-25), golf presents an ideal setting to destress and disconnect, with 70% saying they play golf to relieve stress and 54% looking to unplug.
insights
Golf fans are interested in food and nutrition:
31% of golf fans have purchased vitamins or supplements in the last month, 52% drink non-alcoholic beer, and 16% are interested in vegan food.
Source: GWI, Q1-Q4, 2022
54% of golf fans describe themselves as health-consciouS
70% OF GOLF FANS RUN AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK
43% OF GOLF FANS GO TO THE GYM AT LEAST
twice PER WEEK
42% OF GOLF FANS TAKE PART IN FIVE OR MORE SPORTS
SOURCE: GWI Q1-Q4 2022
SOURCE: GWI Q1-Q4 2021
SOURCE: GWI Q1-Q4 2022
The R&A, the World Golf Foundation (WGF), the United States Golf Association (USGA), and the European Tour have worked together to raise awareness of the health benefits of golf. The ‘Golf and Health Project’ was formed to produce and publish evidence of golf’s physical and mental health benefits.
Led by Dr. Andrew Murray from the University of Edinburgh, the Golf and Health project reviewed over 5,000 studies into golf and wellbeing. The project has led to research in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), a leading internal journal, supporting the principle that golf provides significant health and wellness benefits. The research has opened up channels of communication with the World Health Organization and policymakers
"Evidence suggests golfers live longer than non-golfers, enjoying improvements in cholesterol levels, body composition, wellness, self-esteem, and self-worth."
HEAR IT FROM THE EXPERTS
padraig
Harrington
Three-time Major Champion
“People who play golf do realise the benefit of it. But the wider public doesn’t understand it – the health benefits of playing golf for your physical and mental health. I have seen how impactful golf can be on peoples’ wellbeing; now it is time to get the message out there.”
Brooke
henderson
Major Champion, Golf & Health Ambassador
“I think it’s really important for people to realise how good golf is for you – not only your health physically, but also mentally and socially, being able to make friends out on the course and to connect with people. The sport offers so many health benefits.”
martin slumbers
R&A, CEO
“These findings should encourage policy makers and healthcare professionals to consider recommending playing golf to older people as part of encouraging them to adopt a more active lifestyle, as well as tackling physical inactivity to reduce healthcare costs.”
Golf is championed for its health benefits, time away from technology, socialisation - which together help form loyal communities and
fan engagement.
(NGF 2017 - Dr. Richard Luker, ESPN Sports Poll)
Source: The Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports; Deloitte TMT Predictions 2021; GWI 2020; Nielsen Sports., Commercial Trends in Sport 2019 ; Deloitte Marketing Trends 2021; Global Web Index Q1-Q4 2021; The R&A Golf and Health Report (2016-20)