Golf and Health

Benefits of Golf for Health shared at International Congress

The R&A

04 Apr 25

3 mins

The 3^rd International Congress on Golf and Health recently returned to Scotland, highlighting the health benefits of the sport and placing a focus on mental health and wellness.

The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh hosted the world leading scientific congress over two days of sessions, with experts in attendance from The R&A, Ladies’ European Tour, DP World Tour, G4D Tour, the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) and delegates from over 20 countries. The conference shared insights on the health benefits of golf, with golfers enjoying a reduction in over 40 major chronic diseases, better well-being and length of life. Dr Andrew Murray, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer for the DP World Tour and a Health Consultant with The R&A, was at the forefront of organising the event.

Bigger than ever

“It was a Congress bigger than ever before, with more speakers too, which was fantastic,” said Murray, “It was a great opportunity to get together and then think about the health benefits of golf – how we can promote health through major events, how we can help people be at their best, maximizing performance and decreasing illness and injury. Then it’s just about giving everyone the opportunity to play golf. “I think everyone who attended is very passionate about golf and health, very knowledgeable as well, and I really enjoyed the two days.” Stephen Gallacher, the Ryder Cup star and four-time DP World Tour winner, was among those who took part in the discussions as delegates learned about the mental fitness of competing at the highest level. Gallacher, who played for 28 years on the DP World Tour, said, “The great thing about the conference was that it was all about golf, all about the positives of the sport for longevity of life. You can start at such a young age and you can still be playing at such a late age. “It was important also to discuss how much the golfing world has changed, how much the health side has come into it. It’s changed a lot since I was a kid, like proper advice on nutrition, recovery and hydration. There is so much data and technology to plot their goals. As the home of golf in Scotland, it was also fitting to be in such a beautiful place to talk about it.”

Key topics

Attendees also delved into key topics like injury prevention and management, adaptations for disabled golfers, nutrition, strength and conditioning. Research presented from Finland, Sweden and Scotland highlighted that:

Golf can provide health enhancing physical activity for people of all ages
Regular physical activity achieved through golf can help prevent and treat more than 40 major chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, depression, anxiety and dementia
Golf also promotes mental well-being, social connections and connection with nature
Golf has additional benefits compared to walking

Alyson Mckechin, Head of Golf It! in Glasgow, was also among the speakers in the impressive surroundings of the Royal College, fresh from recently winning Coach of the Year at the Scottish Golf Awards.

Fantastic opportunity

Maree Todd, Sport Minister at the Scottish Government, said, “Regular physical activity and participation in sport is one of the best things you can do for physical, mental and social health. The Congress was a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge and experience, to celebrate what golf is accomplishing and to understand barriers to participation and how we can work to remove them.” Dr Julia Kettinen, researcher and Golf Exercise Medicine Specialist, added, “Our research highlights that golf can help people achieve the physical activity they need. Golf also kept senior golfers active during the pandemic and supported their quality of life. “Even a single 18-hole round can offer significant cardiovascular and cognitive benefits, particularly for older adults, compared to regular walking. Globally, more and more people are playing golf – over 100 million now – which is great for both individuals and populations.”

Improving mental health

Although there is compelling evidence of mental health and wellbeing benefits through golf and other sports, life as a professional athlete can be incredibly demanding, with pressure to perform, much time away from friends and family, and at times intense and unwanted scrutiny in social media and in the media. The golfing industry has recognised these challenges, and conducted research with the players to implement mental health and well-being toolkits, emergency action plans, mind gyms, and a network of specialists for the players, collaborating with tennis and Formula 1 experts who also have intensive travel schedules. Dr Phil Hopley, Consultant Psychiatrist at Cognacity, who has been instrumental as Mental Fitness Coach with the McLaren F1 Team on their journey from midfielders to World Champions said, “I felt honoured to be at the conference. “We've all got mental health, but it changes sometimes across the course of a week, sometimes during the course of the day. So we can be flourishing or can be mentally well, or we can be struggling a bit, have a mental health problem or a mental disorder.

Collaborative work

“There are so many mental and physical benefits to participating in sport, and we know how important the mind is to being at your best, be that on the Formula 1 track, playing in the Champions League, playing in a golf major or just in life in general. “Cognacity are delighted to be working with The R&A and the DP World Tour providing psychology and mental fitness support to players, caddies and Tour staff. The untimely passing of top professional golfer Grayson Murray last year was a painful reminder of how challenging life on Tour can be. That is why the collaborative work that golf is prioritising with IOC mental health experts and the provision of industry leading facilities like the Mental Fitness Centre at the Dubai Desert Classic is so important.” Alyson Mckechin, Head of Golf It! in Glasgow, was also among the speakers in the impressive surroundings of the Royal College, fresh from recently winning Coach of the Year at the Scottish Golf Awards. Gallacher, the founder of the Stephen Gallacher Foundation which continues to blossom, summed the sessions up. “Our mission is to help and encourage golfers to live a healthy life and enjoy their golf,” he added. “This scientific Congress coming to Scotland was great as it helps us understand the health benefits, hear about how golf is even being prescribed now in Scotland and further afield, and also look at supporting the mental health of players. “I have had some incredible highs like winning in Dubai, India and Scotland, and being on the winning side at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, but life in professional sport can be lonely and tough, so the work on mental health is so important”.

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