As the conversation around physical and mental wellbeing gains traction, golf’s health benefits are more than just an added bonus; they’re a strategic advantage.

Here’s how you, as a golf coach, can harness the power of Golf & Health messaging to support your business goals, generate new revenue, and connect with wider audiences.

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1. Reach New Audiences with Purposeful Health Messaging

Golf is no longer just for the seasoned swing enthusiast. Its combination of low-impact exercise, outdoor exposure, and social interaction makes it ideal for:

• Older adults seeking an active lifestyle that supports joint health and mobility
• Beginners who may find traditional gyms intimidating or repetitive
• Health-conscious individuals looking for new ways to stay active and mindful

By positioning your coaching services as a gateway to these benefits, you open the door to new customer segments – many of whom may not have previously considered golf.

🟢 Try this: Create a “Health & Golf Taster Session” aimed at beginners or older adults. Promote it through local wellbeing groups, walking clubs, or even local GP surgeries.

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2. Add Depth to Your Marketing and Communications

Yes, golf improves your swing – but it also improves your sleep, lowers stress, boosts brain function, and supports heart health. Those are benefits worth talking about.

Integrating these themes into your website, social media, and email campaigns can help:

• Tell a more holistic, values-driven story
• Differentiate your coaching business from others
• Encourage emotional connections with your audience

🟢 Try this: Share testimonials or short stories from clients who have experienced health benefits through golf, especially those who started for health reasons rather than competition.

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3. Align with Public Health Partners and Unlock New Funding Streams

Many local authorities and charities are looking for partners who can help deliver on community health and wellbeing targets. Golf – especially when led by qualified professionals – ticks a lot of boxes.

By aligning your programmes with these goals, you may unlock:

• New funding streams for health or physical activity initiatives
• Referrals from healthcare providers or local wellness campaigns
• Media opportunities showcasing your work within the community

🟢 Try this: Develop a short proposal outlining how your sessions support mental and physical wellbeing, and share it with local councils, Active Partnerships, or health charities.

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4. Position Yourself as a Wellness Professional, Not Just a Swing Coach

Incorporating Golf & Health messaging into your coaching doesn’t mean changing everything you do – it means reframing the value you already offer. You’re not just improving someone’s backswing; you’re supporting their overall quality of life.

That kind of impact builds stronger client relationships, long-term loyalty, and referrals that go far beyond the first tee.

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Final Thought

As a golf coach, you’re uniquely placed at the intersection of sport and wellbeing. By integrating Golf & Health messaging into your approach, you’re not just helping people play better – you’re helping them live better. And in doing so, you’re building a business that’s more resilient, more relevant, and more rewarding.

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Useful Links:

GOLF & HEALTH RESOURCE HUB

The UK study found that most (72%) of coaches, teachers, and outdoor leaders are not properly trained on sun or heat protection, and 43% feel unsupported in protecting the young people they work with. Rising temperatures and increasing UV risks should raise concern and require action.

The Melanoma Fund conducted the research to mark Sun Awareness Week, 12th – 18th May 2025, and increase understanding of the challenges coaches, leaders, and teachers face around sun safety for the children in their care.

Key findings include:

• 72% of coaches, leaders, and teachers have never received any training on sun or heat protection
• Only 16% of organisations have a separate sun protection policy
• 43% of those working with children outdoors say they feel unsupported or poorly supported by their organisation
• Just 4% believe all the children they work with truly understand sun safety
• 80% of respondents would like access to free or discounted sunscreen
• Over two-thirds reported sun or heat-related incidents, including cancelled sessions, sunburned children, and heat exhaustion

“These findings are concerning, but unfortunately, not surprising. They highlight why we support this sector with free, practical sun safety resources. Although so many leaders are on the case and proactive, these findings are a wake-up call for everyone, including parents who entrust their children to organised outdoor activities,” says Michelle Baker, CEO of the Melanoma Fund.

“With over two-thirds of respondents reporting sun or heat-related incidents – including cancelled sessions, sunburned children, and heat exhaustion—it’s obvious that action is needed,” adds Michelle Baker. “We provide clear, practical solutions that can help address this issue, and ultimately, protect the next generation from skin cancer.”

Sun safety habits begin in childhood, as does melanoma. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood doubles the risk of skin cancer later in life. Melanoma is the most common cancer in young adults, which makes it even more crucial that we protect children from harmful UV exposure.

Parents also play a vital role in setting a good example for sun safety. By showing children how to properly apply sunscreen, rather than just smearing it on their faces, they help teach kids how to protect themselves effectively. This is crucial when children participate in outdoor activities.

Outdoor coaches and leaders are uniquely positioned to lead by example and instil sun-safe habits early on. But this new data shows that only 11% of coaches regularly apply sunscreen in front of children, and just 19% wear a sun hat consistently.

To help organisations and individuals address gaps in education, awareness, and support, the Melanoma Fund offers two key resources:

• Sunguarding Course: A free online course that offers accreditation and 3 CIMSPA CPD points, designed to help anyone working outdoors understand and manage the risks of UV exposure.
• Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code: Aimed at empowering organisations to create and implement sun safety policies specifically for children in outdoor sports and activities, educating both adults and children.

Sport England is focused on increasing participation in youth sports and physical activity, with great success. However, UV risks in outdoor activities remain largely unaddressed. Backed by hundreds of national governing bodies of sport, the Melanoma Fund is pushing for more awareness and action, protecting young participants from these risks to prevent skin cancer in the next generation.

FIND OUT MORE AT MELANOMA-FUND.CO.UK

• The conference will share 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

• Delegates will also learn about the mental fitness of Formula 1 drivers and leading golfers, and the challenges of competing at the highest level.

• Delegates will delve into key topics like injury prevention and management, adaptations for disabled golfers, nutrition, strength, and conditioning

The 3rd International Congress on Golf and Health is set to return to the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh on 31 March and 1st April.

The event celebrates the wide-reaching health and wellness benefits of golf with research from Finland, Sweden, and Scotland highlighting that:

• Golf can provide health enhancing physical activity for people of all ages
• This 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

Sport Minister at the Scottish Government Maree Todd 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 is 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, outlined:

“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.”

Stephen Gallacher, 4x DP World Tour Winner, and founder of the Stephen Gallacher Foundation added: “Our mission is to help and encourage golfers to live a healthy life and enjoy their golf. This scientific Congress coming to Scotland is 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”.

Although there is compelling evidence of mental health and wellbeing benefit 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 press.

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 shared:

“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 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.”

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Any players with any symptoms of COVID-19, should not play.

Any players from a household with someone with any symptoms of COVID-19 should not play,

Any players without symptoms of COVID-19 is currently free to play following these measures, in order to reduce the risk of transferring the virus to others:

• Book online, so reducing contacts in and around the Clubhouse
• Change shoes in the car park and avoid the Clubhouse, or changing areas, whenever possible
• Use social distancing (2metre rule) on the putting green
• Meet on the first tee with modified greetings at a distance
• Insist on social distancing (2 metres rule) on tees, greens and throughout the rounds
• Golf buggies should only be used by single individuals and cleaned afterwards
• Golfers should only pick their own ball up
• Handle your own scorecard only
• Do not use public drinking fonts and ball cleaners, bring own refreshments, towels and ball cleaners if needed.
• Leave the flag in place while putting
• Sort out the sand in the bunker with a club (or your own rake!)
• Do not use airlines for cleaning shoes or equipment following the round
• Players should use hand sanitiser on the way round and at the end
• No handshakes on 18th green (do not hand over money either??)
• Avoid the Clubhouse, whenever possible
• Finish and go home!

Of course, for all those who are self-isolating as a result of contact with an infected person or in families who are self-isolating, it would not be appropriate to visit a club and play golf at this time.

Nevertheless, playing shots in your own garden and putting in the living room will encourage people to reduce the sitting time which we know is an independent risk factor and needs addressing.

Message to Golf Clubs and Management

• Organise online booking to reduce congregation around the Clubhouse
• Allow shoes to be changed in the car park
• Follow general hygiene advice and e.g. make hand sanitisers available in the clubhouse
• Golf buggies should be used by single individuals and cleaned afterwards
• Take drinking fonts and ball cleaners out of play.
• Close air pressure cleaners for cleaning shoes following the round

Message to Players

• Book online so less congregation around the Clubhouse
• Change shoes in the car park and avoid the Clubhouse, whenever possible
• Meet on the first tee with modified greetings at a distance
• Insist on social distancing (2 metres rule) on tees, greens and throughout the rounds
• Golf buggies should be used by single individuals and cleaned afterwards
• Golfers should only pick their own ball up
• Handle your own scorecard only
• Leave the flag in place while putting
• Sort out the sand in the bunker with clubs or own rake
• Do not use air pressure cleaners for cleaning shoes following the round
• Hand sanitise on the way round and at the end
• Avoid the Clubhouse, whenever possible
• Finish and go home!

Message to Policy Makers

• Golf is a health enhancing physical activity, especially in the older population
• Golf facilities can provide a safe environment for players and staff
• Clubhouse use can be avoided

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Up to date information can be received from:

World Health Organization, Rolling updates on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen

EU ADVICE:

• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control National information resources for the public by EU Country – ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china/sources-updated

UK ADVICE:

• NHS advice – nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
• Guidance for employers and businesses – gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19

US ADVICE:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

For more information in countries not listed above then more information will be available on your government’s own Coronavirus COVID-19 guideline websites.

Thank you to the Senior Public Health Advisors in the UK and Golf & Health Project Director, Dr Roger Hawkes, for their assistance in preparing this guidance.

Find out more about the health benefits of golf at golfandhealth.org

Golf is played by around 55 million people on 32,000 courses in over 100 countries.¹ With over half a billion homes worldwide tuning in for each day of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, a series pitting Europe’s best against the cream of the American crop. We look at the health benefits of playing golf available not only to Rory McIlroy and the game’s elite, but also to those inspired to visit their local course.

Indeed former British Prime Minister David Lloyd George viewed less talented golfers as reaping more benefits than those bestowed upon the likes of McIlroy:

“Golf is the only game where the worst player gets the best of it. He obtains more out of it as regards both exercise and enjoyment, for the good player gets worried over the slightest mistake, whereas the poor player makes too many mistakes to worry about them.”

But what of the available evidence? Do golfers really live longer happier lives?

A landmark Scandinavian study² of over 300,000 golfers estimated they lived a remarkable 5 years longer than those who do not play golf, regardless of age, gender, or socio-economic status. Evidence also suggests that golf has a role in preventing and treating many chronic diseases, and has positive mental health effects.

Golf & Walking

A 2006 study³ found a mean of 11,948 steps are taken per 18-hole round, exceeding the commonly recommended daily amount of steps for health.  With technological advances coming into the game, calls have been made to reduce the use and availability of motorised carts to transport players around the course. Cart use reduces walking distance from an average 8+km to 3.86km per round.⁴

Another study⁵ found that walking 18-holes was the equivalent of moderate-high intensity exercise for the elderly, moderate for the middle-aged, and low for the young. A 1998 study⁶ determined that golf should be classified as a form of aerobic training for middle-aged people.

An Inclusive Sport

Golf suits participants of all ages, with people of mixed ability, sex, and age able to play together.  The Walker Research Group concludes: “golf is well suited for the development of social capital” with designated social spaces and natural breaks providing unparalleled socialisation opportunities and thus potential psychosocial benefit to participants of all ages⁷.

A 2006 study⁸ engaged children in non-traditional sports such as golf during extra-curricular time and found that such an intervention coupled with lifestyle activities such as walking, significantly increased physical activity in primary school aged children. This also slowed unhealthy weight gain.

In regards to gender inclusion, the recent news of women winning the right to R&A membership at St. Andrews after a 260-year wait, exhibits a positive step by the game’s administrators to quash these barriers and see more women playing and staying in the game⁹.

Was David Lloyd George right?

There is clear evidence that regular physical activity, in the form of golf, increases life expectancy.  And although Lloyd George was correct that the benefits can be accrued by players of all abilities, research suggests that low handicap players tend to play more often and have the lowest mortality rates.  Encouraging friends, family, and patients to take part in regular physical activity is time well invested, and golf can offer significant benefit to Joe and Jane Public and Rory McIlroy alike.  Just don’t hire a buggy!

References

1. Wilson B. Golf industry facing challenges: BBC News Online: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12731099, 2011:Online News Article.
2. Farahmand B, Broman G, de Faire U, Vagero D, Ahlbom A. Golf: a game of life and death–reduced mortality in Swedish golf players. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2009;19(3):419-24.
3. Kobriger, S. L., Smith, J., Hollman, J. H., & Smith, A. M. (2006). The contribution of golf to daily physical activity recommendations: How many steps does it take to complete a round of golf? May Clinic Proceedings, 81(8), 1041-1043
4. Sell, T. C, Abt, J. P., Lephart, S, M. (2008) Physical activity-related benefits of walking during golf. Science and Gold V: Proceedings of the World Scientific Congress of Golf. 128-132
5. Broman, G., Johnsson, L., & kaijser, L. (2004) Golf: a high intensity interval activity for elderly men. Aging – Clinical and Experimental Research, 16(5), 375-381
6. Magnussen, G. (1998). Science and golf III: Proceedings of the 1998 World Scientific Congress of Golf. (eds.) Martin R. Farrally, Alastair J. Cochran. Human Kinetics
7. Walker Research Group. The Health & Wellness Benefits of Golf Participation & Involvement. Review of Academic Literature. Golf 20/20 & World Golf Foundation. (2011)
8. Taylor, R., Mculey, K., Williams, S., Barbezat, W., Nielsen, G., & Mann, J. (2006). Reducing weight gain in children through enhancing physical activity and nutrition: The APPLE project. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 1(3), 146-152
9. Women win right to R&A membership after 260-year wait as other clubs are told to remove barriers. The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/11107633/Women-win-right-to-RandA-membership-after-260-year-wait-as-other-clubs-are-told-to-remove-barriers.html Online news article.