Author: Golf & Health
Posted on: 28th Mar 2025
• Scotland, the home of golf, welcomes world leading scientific congress, with experts from The R&A, the Ladies European Tour, DP World Tour, G4D Tour, The Confederation of Professional Golf, and delegates from over 20 countries
• 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.”
