Spring is arriving across much of the country, inviting people outdoors to enjoy warmer temperatures and greener landscapes. For golf enthusiasts, the season brings a welcome opportunity to return to the course as conditions improve.
There’s encouraging news for older adults who play golf. Preliminary research presented at the American Stroke Association’s 2020 International Stroke Conference suggests that playing golf at least once a month may be associated with a lower risk of premature death among older adults.
The growing popularity of golf
Golf’s popularity continues to rise. In 2019, the National Golf Foundation reported that 34.2 million people age six and older participated in golf-related activities across the U.S., including rounds on traditional courses, trips to driving ranges, and sessions at indoor golf simulators and entertainment venues. The sport remains especially popular with older adults: 5.3 million players were age 65 or older in 2019, a number expected to grow as Baby Boomers move into retirement.
Golf is often described as a lifelong sport, and that label fits because many players continue well into later life. In 2019 the average golfer played 18.2 rounds, while the average senior golfer played about twice as many rounds at 36. The game’s moderate intensity and social nature make it suitable for older adults, even for those recovering from medical events such as heart attacks or strokes, and this continued engagement may contribute to golf’s potential health advantages.
A lower risk of early death?
Researchers from the Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Institute and the University of Missouri analyzed data from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a long-term observational study tracking risk factors for heart disease and stroke in adults 65 and older. Throughout a decade-long period (1989–1999), participants received yearly clinical exams and semiannual clinic visits, and were later followed by periodic phone calls to document heart attacks, strokes, and other outcomes.
Among the roughly 5,900 participants, with an average age of 72, researchers identified 384 individuals who played golf at least once a month and classified them as regular golfers. During follow-up, 8.1 percent of those golfers had experienced a stroke and 9.8 percent had suffered a heart attack—rates that were not meaningfully different from non-golfers. However, overall mortality differed: golfers had a significantly lower all-cause death rate than non-golfers—15.1 percent versus 24.6 percent. In other words, the golfers had more than an 8 percent lower risk of death from all causes during the study period.
The analysis suggests that while golf may not reduce the likelihood of heart attack or stroke specifically, it could be associated with a reduced risk of early death from all causes.
Golfing for your health
Why might golf help seniors live longer? The researchers did not identify a single cause, but several plausible factors likely contribute.
Golf is a low-impact activity compared with sports like football or competitive running, making it accessible to older adults with mild joint or mobility limitations. Walking a course provides steady physical activity, and numerous studies link regular physical activity to lower mortality risk.
Time spent playing golf also means time outdoors—exposure to fresh air, greenery, and sunlight. Outdoor activity has documented benefits for brain function, sleep quality, stress reduction, recovery, and immune health, partly due to vitamin D from sun exposure.
Added benefits of hitting the links
Beyond physical activity and outdoor exposure, golf offers psychological and social benefits that may influence longevity. The game combines relaxed recreation with competitive elements that require focus and strategy, keeping the mind engaged. Additionally, golf is inherently social: typical rounds involve one to three playing partners and can last around four hours for an 18-hole group, offering ample opportunity for conversation and companionship.
Social connection matters for health. Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to a substantially increased risk of mortality, and golf’s social structure may help offset those risks by fostering regular interaction and camaraderie.
Dr. Adnan Qureshi, lead researcher and neurology professor at the University of Missouri, summarized these points by noting that walking and light jogging offer comparable physical benefits but lack golf’s competitive excitement and social engagement. He highlighted that golf exposes players to less polluted environments and provides stress relief and relaxation—advantages that make it accessible and beneficial for many older adults compared with more strenuous sports.
Teeing up better health for seniors
Golf and other low-impact, social activities such as bocce ball and pickleball are gaining popularity among older adults. The research led by Dr. Qureshi suggests these activities may yield a range of mental and physical health benefits and could contribute to longer lives.
Senior living communities, including continuing care retirement communities and life plan communities, are responding by expanding wellness programs and facilities to support these activities. Many communities now offer putting greens, golf simulators, bocce courts, and pickleball courts to meet growing interest and help residents stay active and socially connected.
By promoting accessible, enjoyable forms of exercise and social engagement, such communities aim to help older adults maintain healthier, more fulfilling lives for longer.