ABSTRACT
There are a number of studies that assessed golf and its associations with health, allowing the relationships between golf and life expectancy. This chapter includes the principal thematic areas: golf and physical activity, golf and physical health, golf and mental health, and golf and injury/illness. Golf can provide health-enhancing physical activity, although the relative intensity of exercise varies while playing golf. Golf as a moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity can be expected to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, with a clear inverse relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular risk established. The chapter highlights implications and potential actions for players. It focuses on specific injuries and musculoskeletal complaints suffered by golfers. While there is little quality research assessing golf and mental health, the chapter looks at how health behaviours amongst golfers can be influenced to benefit health, and demonstrates cause and effect relationships specific to golf.
