That quote summarizes how many amateur golfers feel after a round
of 100+ golf, on a nine hole course, after watching Tiger and the pros
make it look simple. But new research suggests that golf is actually
very good for health. A study has shown that those who play golf have
a death rate almost 40 percent lower than non- golfers. This
corresponds to an extra five years of life for those who spend time
on the links.
Many cynical readers may jump to the conclusion that golf is played more often by the financially well-off who, in general, have
access to better medical care. This study, by the Swedish Karolinska Institutet, found that this decrease in the death rate
persisted when age, sex, and socioeconomic status were taken into account. The research, which is set to be published in the
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, looked at 300,000 Swedish golfers and found that traditional blue-collar
workers see a greater benefit than white-collar workers, and those with a lower handicap see more benefit than those with a
higher handicap (see above quote).
The study attributes these benefits to the simple fact that golf is a good form of low-intensity exercise. "A round of golf means
being outside for four or five hours, walking at a fast pace for six to seven kilometres, something which is known to be good for
the health," noted the study's corresponding author Professor Anders Ahlbom.
The research does not rule out other potential factors, such as the fact that someone who exercises on a regular basis tends
to lead a healthier lifestyle overall, but the authors believe the simple act of going out and playing a round on a regular basis is
a health benefit. As for the greater benefit seen in those with a low handicap, according to Prof. Ahlbom it is simple:
"Maintaining a low handicap involves playing a lot, so this supports the idea that it is largely the game itself that is good for the
health."
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 2008.
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