Golf is open to all
Case Study
Golf on Prescription
Medical profession pleased with progress of Golf on Prescription.
The Golf on Prescription pilot in Fife has the potential to grow further in 2023, according to leading medics involved in the programme.
Dr Andrew Murray, who acts as a consultant to The R&A across health activity, and Frank Sullivan, Professor of Primary Care Medicine and Medical School Director of Research at the University of St Andrews, have both been involved. The R&A and the University of St Andrews’ School of Medicine have collaborated with partner organisations to develop ‘Golf for Health’ – a social prescribing project that aims to connect eligible primary care patients with appropriate golf activities in Fife. Last year, GP practices in Fife were invited to take part in the study, with participating practices linked to four local golf clubs offering a six-to-eight week, free-of-charge programme.
Dr Andrew Murray - R&A Consultant
“Golf on prescription is a great example of The R&A’s work and the projects they have taken on related to health and performance.”
Focus on health
It continues The R&A’s drive to improve people’s mental and physical health through raising awareness of the benefits of golf, building on scientific research. Dr Murray explained, “Golf on prescription is about people’s health. As a day-to-day general practitioner, we can prescribe tablets, or other treatments, but what we can also prescribe is other things that can boost people’s longevity or their physical and mental health and we know that golf can deliver important benefits. “The pilot that has been going in Fife has been very successful. We wanted to get people playing golf to benefit their physical and mental health. The feedback that we’ve heard is that people have taken part, enjoyed it and it’s benefiting their health so it’s going really well. “Golf on prescription is a great example of The R&A’s work and the projects they have taken on related to health and performance.”University involvement
Professor Sullivan leads a team of expert academics in the School of Medicine at the University to support the activity. “The pilot is meant to test whether it is possible to get referrals from health care setting to golf clubs in order that patients can benefit from additional exercise more than they are already taking,” he added. “We know already that golf gives a lot of health benefits, both physical and psychological. The psychologists in our department were interested in working out how that could be made to work in real life. The pilot is meant to test out their theories based on the existing literature so we can then take it forward into a much bigger study.” Researchers in the School have developed a model with The R&A, Fife Golf Trust, NHS Fife, Scottish Golf, PGA Scotland, the European Tour Group and Ladies European Tour to enable primary care professionals and community link workers to prescribe golf for eligible patients. The project has also been supported by founding partner ISPS Handa through their work with the University.Golf on Prescription
Around 30 participants were involved in 2022 with more programmes planned for spring 2023 and beyond.
The message that golf is open to all has to go out loud and clear.
“Golf is a lifetime sport, people can start off fairly early on in childhood and carry on for quite a long time, even with some disabilities, so we think the sport is a good exemplar to encourage people to be more active.”
Working together
Professor Sullivan continued, “It’s been a revelation to see how keen people are to take part. From the University, clearly there was an academic theoretical issue that the psychologists were keen to explore. We’ve been really pleased working with The R&A and several other golf organisations. Also the practices have been keen to facilitate to try and make it work. “Golf is a lifetime sport, people can start off fairly early on in childhood and carry on for quite a long time, even with some disabilities, so we think the sport is a good exemplar to encourage people to be more active.” The clubs running the programme are Cluny Clays, Dunfermline, Dunnikier Park and Elmwood in Fife. The region hosted The 150th Open in July and the pilot continues the hard work to promote the benefits of golf for health. “As part of The 150th Open we were promoting physical activity, working with local schools and nursing homes and further afield through a range of activities,” said Murray. “Even Fiona Bull was here, the World Health Organization’s Director of Physical Activity in Sport, playing golf at entry participation level. She was very impressed with what happened at The 150th Open. Golf events are amazing spectacles but they can promote health and well-being as well and nowhere was that better done than The 150th Open.”“Golf helps you live longer and be healthier and happier. Anyone can play of all ages and abilities.”
Dr. Andrew Murray
R&A Health ConsultantFuture work
While Professor Sullivan and his team will look at any barriers to the initial Golf on Prescription pilot in Fife, there are proposals for a larger study within the UK or beyond. “We already have interest from a few other places in Scotland and three areas of England who are doing related work,” explained Sullivan. “We might well all come together in a large UK-wide study to provide information, including potentially for other countries whose health systems could see the benefits of getting patients to be more active.” Dr Murray added, “The pilot for golf on prescription started in 2022 but for 2023 we are very excited about it. It started in Fife, it can go beyond that into other parts of Scotland, and further afield into the UK, Asia and parts of America and so on. We’ve got the start of golf on prescription in Fife but I can see this expanding in 2023 quite substantially.” For more information on Golf on Prescription, please visit here.More Golf and Health Resources
Iona Investigates
Golf’s widespread physical, mental and social health benefits have been brought to life in a new video series from The R&A in which broadcaster and presenter Iona Stephen uncovers how playing the sport can help you become fitter, healthier and happier. At a time when record numbers are now playing golf worldwide, ‘Iona Investigates’ is a three-part series where Stephen learns how people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are reaping the rewards of playing the sport.
