Want to know how to live longer and enjoy life to the fullest? The secret is to play golf.
A Swedish study confirmed that people with the golf bug live longer than those who don’t.
The 2009 research tracked 300,000 participants across Sweden and found the death rate among golfers was 40 per cent lower than non-golfers with the same age, gender and socioeconomic standing.
It equates to golfers living up to five years longer and Professor Anders Ahlbom, co-author of the Karolinska Institute research, said it was hardly surprising.
“A round of golf means being outside for four or five hours, walking at a fast pace for six to seven kilometres, something which is known to be beneficial for our health,” he said. “People play golf into old age, and there are also positive social and psychological aspects to the game that can be of help.”
While the study doesn’t discount other factors contributing to the diminished death rate for golfers — such as a generally healthier lifestyle among its participants — researchers are confident the game has a significant impact on improving health.
The study also revealed that golfers in blue-collar occupations gained greater longevity playing the game than those working in white-collar jobs.
The lowest death rates were also linked with players who had the lowest handicaps.
“Maintaining a low handicap involves playing a lot, so this supports the idea that it is largely the game itself that is good for the health,” Professor Ahlbom said.
