Golfers live five years longer

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir September 6, 2013 10:55

Heart Research UK is urging everyone in the UK to take up golf – as regular golfers live, on average, five years longer than non-golfers, according to Swedish research.

The national charity is calling for all Britons to book a tee time at their local pay and play venue, and is citing Scandinavian research into the health benefits of golf as motivation for the move.

The Karolinska Institutet in Sweden studied more than 300,000 golfers and concluded that the death rate for regular golfers is 40 percent lower than for other people of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status. This equates to a five-year increase in life expectancy.

“Get the golfing bug and work on that handicap to enjoy the many benefits a healthy golfer’s lifestyle can bring,” said Heart Research UK in an official statement. “Suss out your local pay and play courses and driving ranges and tee-off to a healthy heart.

“Playing golf regularly could be adding years five extra years to your life compared with those not participating in regular activity. A similar study [to the one by the Karolinska Institutet] in Finland found that inactive middle-aged men who took up golf two to three times a week improved their aerobic fitness, reduced their weight and waist size and had higher levels of protective HDL cholesterol in their blood – all good news for preventing heart disease.

“Walking is one of the best ways to get your dose of heart-healthy activity and, with the average round of golf involving walking anything between three and seven miles, golfing is an excellent work out.

“Depending on the size of the course, the terrain, and your pace, golfers can burn as many calories as a 45 minute intense workout, especially if carrying their own clubs or pulling a trolley.

“Golf is a low-injury risk sport to be enjoyed with friends, and playing outdoors throughout the year will give your body plenty of opportunity to top up on vitamin D. Regular golfing may also help to reduce stress, so focus on taking the perfect shot and blow your worries and those cobwebs away.”

However, the charity warned that golfers can undo the good work carried out on the course immediately afterwards.

“Golfers need to get the balance right – a full English breakfast, heavy lunch or several drinks at the clubhouse could undo all the benefits gained from your round,” added the statement.

 

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir September 6, 2013 10:55
Write a comment

26 Comments

  1. @Stephen__Gordon February 13, 10:38

    http://t.co/aKAxnVORzK.

    There it is! Fact that golf is good for you!

    Reply to this comment
  2. @kohe46 September 23, 12:49

    スウェーデンの医科大学、カロリンスカ研究所が30万人以上のゴルファーを対象に行った調査によれば、ゴルフをしない同じ層の人に比べ、死亡する割合は40%減、余命に換算すれば5年寿命が延びるという結論に達したとのこと。http://t.co/ebwYSBxcfw #fb

    Reply to this comment
  3. @mmcgolf September 23, 12:39

    Golfers live five years longer » Golf Club Management http://t.co/uWrY5TXuJv

    Reply to this comment
  4. @LuchoTorresM September 19, 14:46

    “@GolfTip5: #Golfers live five years longer. #Health http://t.co/aCs5DvKeM3“C.c: @cvillasboa @dani_da_rosa

    Reply to this comment
  5. @GolfTip5 September 19, 14:40

    #Golfers live five years longer. #Health http://t.co/Pe06u0oYb5

    Reply to this comment
  6. @WestviewGolf September 19, 13:09

    As if we needed another reason to golf, but this is a good one. http://t.co/yKCbMrUXg9

    Reply to this comment
  7. @UKGCOA September 19, 12:01

    Golfers Live Longer http://t.co/P1YUoFtYTu via @gcm_mag

    Reply to this comment
  8. @TWApr September 19, 11:06

    It’s official; golfers live longer – http://t.co/kDxrmeyBAE #golf

    Reply to this comment
  9. @SIVGolf September 18, 09:56

    Take note people – wanna live longer?
    http://t.co/K8lcS9KmM4 http://t.co/6U9ZCuOFPb

    Reply to this comment
  10. @FashionPhotos4U September 16, 14:36

    Golfers live five years longer: http://t.co/uPeppFaxkW

    Reply to this comment
  11. Adrian Stiff September 14, 11:09

    This is the type of news we need to convey over to the 60,000,000 that live her in the UK. Its a great reason to stimulate more to take up golf. Many people go to the gym now because of the benifits and a 1000 calorie loss in a round of golf not to mention the stretching and muscle exercise. More money should be spent getting this news out there, England Golf should invest in an advertising campaign. We need new golfers to make our courses work, not cut throat schemes to nick other clubs members.

    Reply to this comment
  12. @xa4vdp September 14, 05:52

    Golfers live five years longer » Golf Club Management http://t.co/An9c4PiHwS

    Reply to this comment
  13. @GlobalTurfEquip September 11, 17:12

    According to Swedish research, golfers live on average 5 years longer than non-golfers. Hmmm, it must be tee time! http://t.co/V7OfMx0ZfT

    Reply to this comment
  14. @ShrewsGolfClub September 10, 18:41

    #HeartResearchUK says everyone should play golf as study finds regular golfers live 5 years longer than non-golfers❤⛳ http://t.co/qNfmo40gT4

    Reply to this comment
  15. @ProQuipGolf September 10, 08:47

    Golfers live five years longer » Golf Club Management http://t.co/epomOwesKi You can even play when it’s raining with #ProQuip #golf apparel

    Reply to this comment
  16. @TrevoseGC September 10, 08:11

    Another VERY good reason to get-in-to-golf! Golfers live five years longer » Golf Club Management http://t.co/kUKbXqzkNb #getintogolf

    Reply to this comment
  17. Mark Kemp (@markuskempus) September 9, 05:44

    “Golfers live five years longer” good read http://t.co/O74BIavDGT

    Reply to this comment
  18. Antonio Gómez September 9, 05:17

    I am totally agree with this article. The senior network is growing up in our Golf Clubs around, and they are committed with this sport as a hobby that helps to health benefits.
    Here in Spain a lot of communities works hard to promote it between their members.

    Congratulations for the great website and best regards
    Antonio Gómez

    Reply to this comment
  19. Chesfield Downs (@ChesDowns) September 8, 11:56

    Golfers live five years longer » Golf Club Management http://t.co/8S8v8fKVFY

    Happy Days!!

    Reply to this comment
  20. @ReadingGolf September 8, 09:50

    #Golfers live five years longer http://t.co/NzokcIuZOD #golf

    Reply to this comment
  21. @AlnwickGolf September 6, 19:00

    Golfers live five years longer » Golf Club Management http://t.co/mE3WIBkEBz

    Reply to this comment
  22. @stevenaventi September 6, 15:33

    Makes sense. Game designed to torture people! MT @fscavo I knew it! Swedish study concludes, golfers live 5yrs longer http://t.co/IzuaaDSM5d

    Reply to this comment
  23. @AleksiValta September 6, 13:38

    Hello @okmfi:“@GCM_mag: #GolfClubManagement Golfers live five years longer http://t.co/BPQ5exDx8i” #golffi

    Reply to this comment
  24. Bothwell Castle GC (@bcgolfclub) September 6, 11:47

    So this is why we play this game!! “@GCM_mag: #GolfClubManagement Golfers live five years longer http://t.co/eTSNQqEG3h”

    Reply to this comment
  25. @LopezERP September 6, 11:35

    Play #golf and live longer http://t.co/ovrAayGjzx

    Reply to this comment
View comments

Write a comment

Click here to cancel reply.

<

Join Our Mailing List


Read the latest issues

Advertise With Us

For editorial enquiries in the magazine or online, contact:

Alistair.Dunsmuir@hdidmedia.com


For advertising enquiries in the magazine or online, contact:

georgina.hirst@hdidmedia.com