It has been maligned as a "good walk ruined". But golf could have greater health benefits than walking and even more strenuous forms of exercise, according to research in Sweden that shows that playing the game adds an average of five years to your life.
A study of more than 300,000 golfers found they were almost half as likely to die at a given age than non-golfers.
The study's authors, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, calculate that this adds an extra five years on to the average player's lifespan.
Professor Anders Ahlbom, who led the study, said many aspects of the game were beneficial. "A round of golf means being outside for four or five hours, walking a fast pace for six to seven kilometres, something which is known to be good for the health."
People play golf into old age, and there are also positive social and psychological aspects. Professor Ahlbom said other factors outside the golf course, such as the fact people who enjoy sport also generally lead a healthier lifestyle, could play a part in the findings, published in teh Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. However, it was "likely" that playing the game itself had a significant impact.
The effect was stonger for golfers from blue-collar backgrounds than players with professional jobs. The lowest death rates were among players with the lowest handicaps.
They are 47 per cent less likely to die at any time than non-golfers of the same age. "Maintaining a low handicap involves playing a lot, so this supports the idea that it is largely the game itself that is good the the health." Professor Ahlbom said. |
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