Golf May Have Better Health Benefits Than Pickleball, Says Study

Here's another reason to pick up those golf clubs instead of a pickleball racquet this spring.

Two studies have confirmed that golf is gentler on the body for anyone playing the sport over the age of 65 — and that's quite a few people. The National Golf Foundation (NGF) told MarketWatch that more seniors than ever hitting the golf course, it's a number that's risen 27% since 2019 for a total of 5.9 million participants in the 65-and-up category.

The health benefits were cited in a 2008 study of Swedish golfers and a 2020 American Heart Association study. The research showed that the sport "may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by providing regular exercise and stress relief." That sounds like good news for anyone looking for an alternative to pickleball which is seeing a rise in sport-related injuries.

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The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons revealed in February 2024 that bone fractures from pickleball were up 200% in the last 20 years, per NBC News. The sport also has a higher rate of knee and rotator cuff injuries as well as aggravating arthritis and foot fractures.

“While pickleball is a great sport, nothing is without risk,” the study’s lead author, Yasmine Ghatta told the media outlet during her last year of medical school at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando. The study discovered that men "were 2.3 times more likely to be admitted to the hospital after breaking a bone" from pickleball because they were often hip or femur fractures.

That information might be enough for some people to pivot to golf which has a social, physical, and mental aspect to it.

"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," Dr Julia Kettinen, researcher and Golf Exercise Medicine Specialist, said at the 3rd International Congress on Golf and Health earlier this month. 

“Even a single 18-hole round can offer significant cardiovascular and cognitive benefits, particularly for older adults, compared to regular walking," she added. "Globally, more and more people are playing golf – over 100 million now – which is great for both individuals and populations.”

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