Inequities in the Training Environment and Health of Female Golfers Participating in the 2022 International Golf Federation World Amateur Team Championships.

Objective: To assess health problems and training environment of female golfers participating in the 2022 World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) and to compare golfers (a) with and without health problems prior the WATC and (b) living and training in countries ranking in the upper versus lower 50% of the team results at the 2022 WATC.

Design: Cross-sectional cohort study using an anonymous questionnaire.

Setting: International Golf Federation WATC.

Golf participants in Australia have a higher lifetime prevalence of skin cancer compared with the general population.

Objective: To estimate the age-specific lifetime prevalence of skin cancer in a sample of Australian golf participants and estimate skin cancer risk in golf participants compared with a general population-based sample.

Methods: Golf participants in Australia (n=336) completed the Australian Golf Health Survey which collected data on skin cancer diagnosis (self-reported history), physical activity levels and participant demographics. Data were compared with a sample of the Australian general population (n=15780, Australian Health Survey).

Golfing after Orthopaedic Surgery: A longitudinal follow-up (GOLF) study protocol.

Aims: The primary aim of this prospective, multicentre study is to describe the rates of returning to golf following hip, knee, ankle, and shoulder arthroplasty in an active golfing population. Secondary aims will include determining the timing of return to golf, changes in ability, handicap, and mobility, and assessing joint-specific and health-related outcomes following surgery.

Methods: This is a multicentre, prospective, longitudinal study between the Hospital for Special Surgery, (New York City, New York, USA) and Edinburgh Orthopaedics, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, (Edinburgh, UK).

Australian golfers with and without osteoarthritis report reduced psychological distress and improved general health compared to a general population-based sample.

Objectives: To (i) evaluate psychological distress and general health in Australian golfers and compare with a general population-based sample, and (ii) explore the relationship between playing golf, psychological distress and general health in individuals with osteoarthritis.

Design: Cross sectional.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey collected outcomes in 459 Australian Golfers (Kessler-10 Psychological Distress Scale, Short-Form 12 (Health Status), International Physical Activity Questionnaire, osteoarthritis status).

The global state of play: A study of the demographic characteristics of disability golfers.

Background: Golf is a moderate-intensity physical activity that provides positive physical and mental health benefits. However, the inclusiveness of the sport for individuals with disabilities globally is unknown.

Objective: To characterize the demographics and disability characteristics of individuals engaging in disability golf globally.

Evidence-based classification in golf for athletes with a vision impairment: A Delphi study.

Vision-impaired (VI) golf is a global para-sport currently played under several different classification systems under different bodies. This study aimed to gather expert opinion to determine whether the current classification systems are fit for the purpose intended and to identify any particular issues where VI impacts the game of golf for the disabled (G4D). A panel of 20 participants with expertise in G4D took part in a three-round Delphi study.

Strength and Balance in Recreational Golfers and Non-Golfers Aged 65-79 Years in Community Settings.

Inactive older adults tend to have decreased strength and balance compared with their more active peers. Playing golf has the potential to improve strength and balance in older adults. The aim of the study was to compare the strength and balance of recreational golfers with non-golfers, aged 65-79 years.

Perceived Facilitators and Barriers to Participation in Golf for People With Vision Impairment: A Qualitative Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to participation in vision impaired golf.

Design: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 vision impaired golfers, 10 guides, and 5 novices during the British VI Golf Open tournament in August 2021.

Results: Qualitative content analysis identified the benefits, facilitators, and challenges of playing vision impaired golf.

Rugby Health and Well-Being Study: protocol for a UK-wide survey with health data cross-validation.

Introduction: Rugby football (Union and League) provides physical activity (PA) with related physical and mental health benefits. However, as a collision sport, rugby research and media coverage predominantly focus on injuries in elite players while the overall impact on health and well-being remains unclear. This study aims to provide a greater understanding of the risks and benefits of rugby participation in a diverse sample of men and women, current and former rugby Union and League players from recreational to the elite level of play.

International consensus statement: methods for recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injuries and illnesses in golf.

Epidemiological studies of injury in elite and recreational golfers have lacked consistency in methods and definitions employed and this limits comparison of results across studies. In their sports-generic statement, the Consensus Group recruited by the IOC (2020) called for sport-specific consensus statements. On invitation by International Golf Federation, a group of international experts in sport and exercise medicine, golf research and sports injury/illness epidemiology was selected to prepare a golf-specific consensus statement.

Maximising and evaluating the uptake, use and impact of golf and health studies.

Introduction: The dissemination of research, and evaluation of its impact is an increasing priority for the scientific community and funders. We take the topic of golf and health and aim to outline processes that may contribute to improved research uptake, use and impact proposing a research impact (RI) tool. We then evaluate our published research using the Research Contributions Framework (RCF).

Do golf fans walk the talk? Follow-up of spectators' beliefs and self-reported physical activity 3 months after they attended a professional golf tournament in the UK.

Background: Previous research of spectators at professional golf tournaments has highlighted that obtaining exercise/physical activity (PA) can be a motivator to attend, and that spectators can engage in health-enhancing PA while at the event. We assessed whether attending a golf event and receiving an intervention improve knowledge and change attitudes related to physical activity, and self-reported physical activity 3 months later.

Methods: Follow-up observational study.

Relationships between Challenge Tour golfers' clubhead velocity and force producing capabilities during a countermovement jump and isometric mid-thigh pull.

A number of field-based investigations have evidenced practically significant relationships between clubhead velocity (CHV), vertical jump performance and maximum strength. Unfortunately, whilst these investigations provide a great deal of external validity, they are unable to ascertain vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) variables that may relate to golfers' CHVs. This investigation aimed to assess if the variance in European Challenge Tour golfers' CHVs could be predicted by countermovement jump (CMJ) positive impulse (PI), isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) peak force (PF) and rate of force development (RFD) from 0-50 ms, 0-100 ms, 0-150 ms and 0-200 ms.

Systematic review of musculoskeletal injuries in professional golfers.

Objective: The distribution of injuries affecting professional golfers is yet to be fully understood. We performed a systematic review of the clinical literature to establish the epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries affecting professional golfers.

Design: Systematic review.

2018 International Consensus Statement on Golf and Health to guide action by people, policymakers and the golf industry.

Scientific and public interest relating to golf and health has increased recently. Players, potential players, the golf industry and facilities, and decision makers will benefit from a better understanding of how to realise potential health benefits and minimise health issues related to golf. We outline an International Consensus on Golf and Health.

Looking Further When Symptoms Are Disproportionate to Physical Findings.

A 36-yr-old man presents with left ulnar-side wrist pain during an ice hockey game that prevented him from playing hockey or golf. There was no acute mechanism of injury. The usual clinical examination revealed only minimal tenderness and minimal pain with resisted wrist extension.

An observational study of spectators' step counts and reasons for attending a professional golf tournament in Scotland.

Background: Spectators at several hundred golf tournaments on six continents worldwide may gain health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) during their time at the event. This study aims to investigate spectators' reasons for attending and assess spectator physical activity (PA) (measured by step count).

Methods: Spectators at the Paul Lawrie Matchplay event in Scotland (August 2016) were invited to take part in this study.

A Scoping Review of the Associations of Golf with Eye Injuries in Adults and Children.

Introduction. Sport presents a risk of ocular trauma and accounts for a significant number of eye injuries that require hospital admission. The sport of golf presents a risk to eyesight from fast moving objects such as golf clubs and balls.

Hip morphology in elite golfers: asymmetry between lead and trail hips.

Aim: During a golf swing, the lead hip (left hip in a right-handed player) rotates rapidly from external to internal rotation, while the opposite occurs in the trail hip. This study assessed the morphology and pathology of golfers' hips comparing lead and trail hips.

Methods: A cohort of elite golfers were invited to undergo MRI of their hips.

Professional golfers' hips: prevalence and predictors of hip pain with clinical and MR examinations.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hip pain in professional golfers, comparing the lead (left hip in right-handed golfer) and trail hips, and to establish what player characteristics predicted hip symptoms.

Methods: Male elite professional golf players were invited to complete questionnaires and undergo clinical and MR examinations while attending the Scottish Hydro Challenge 2015. Questionnaires determined player demographics, self-reported hip pain and an International Hip Outcome Tool 12 (iHOT12) score (hip-related quality of life).