Research Highlights Golf as More Than a Sport : Pinehurst Opens a New Perspective on “Science-backed Wellness”
When Every Step and Every Swing Can Become Part of a Healthier Lifestyle
Amid growing interest in health and wellness—particularly cardiovascular health and stroke prevention—one question increasingly facing people today may not simply be, “What exercise should I do?” but rather, “How can I choose an activity that I can enjoy consistently and that fits naturally into my lifestyle?”
Pinehurst Golf Club & Hotel invites people to look at golf from a new perspective: not only as a sport, but also as an activity that can become part of everyday health and wellness. Through the concept of “Golf = Science-backed Wellness,” Pinehurst encourages people to consider golf through the lens of scientific evidence and data.
This does not mean that golf is a treatment for disease or a substitute for medical care. Rather, it means looking at the different components of the sport—from walking and physical movement to muscle engagement, balance, spending time outdoors, concentration and social interaction—and exploring how these elements may connect with both physical and mental well-being.
Golf Is More Than the Swing: It Is Physical Activity Over Several Hours
One reason golf has attracted attention from a health perspective is the body of research examining the relationship between golf and health.
A scoping review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine examined more than 300 studies related to golf and health. The findings indicated that golf can constitute moderate-intensity physical activity, particularly when players walk the course rather than relying on a golf cart throughout the round.
The interest, therefore, lies not simply in hitting a single golf shot, but in the “cumulative effect of movement” throughout several hours—from walking between holes and standing to shifting weight, moving the body and continuously maintaining balance.
For working professionals and executives who spend much of their day in front of screens or in meeting rooms, golf may offer another opportunity to transform leisure time into meaningful physical movement.
However, the intensity and potential health benefits vary depending on playing style, age, physical condition, course characteristics and individual consistency. Golf should therefore not be interpreted as an activity where a single round alone can produce comprehensive health outcomes.
From More Than 500 Records to Cardiovascular Health, Balance and Overall Well-being
Another important body of evidence comes from research published in Sports Medicine. The review identified 572 relevant records and selected 23 studies that met the criteria for systematic analysis.
The findings indicated that the overall evidence remains diverse, but positive signals were observed in certain areas, including balance, blood pressure and blood lipid markers. There were also indications that golf may offer potential benefits related to the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular health and metabolic health in certain dimensions.
Importantly, the research does not say that “playing golf prevents heart disease or stroke.”
Rather, it reinforces the broader understanding that appropriate and consistent physical activity is one component of maintaining good health, and that golf can be one of the activities that encourages people to move more.
This is why Pinehurst chooses the term “Science-backed Wellness.”
Credible wellness should not be simply a marketing term. It should acknowledge both what current evidence supports and what still requires further research.
“Looking at Golf Beyond the Scorecard”
Ms. Kornpassorn Juangroongruangkit, Vice President Advisor, Pinehurst Group, said:
“We want to encourage people to look at golf from a broader perspective. Golf does not have to be only about competition or achieving a good score. It can also be a time when we move our bodies, spend time in nature, and connect with ourselves and the people around us.
“At Pinehurst, we believe that taking care of our health should not necessarily be something that we have to force ourselves to do or separate from everyday life. If we can choose activities that we enjoy while gaining benefits for our bodies at the same time, that is wellness that fits into real life.
“We want to invite everyone to reconsider the idea that every step we take, every swing we make and every hour we spend on the golf course can be another opportunity to take care of ourselves for the long term.”
Because Health Is Not Only About the Heart, but Also About Body, Mind and Balance
Beyond physical activity, golf contains a number of elements that may be connected with well-being.
Spending time outdoors, changing the environment from the workplace, concentrating on the game and interacting with other people are all elements that distinguish golf from some other forms of exercise.
Mental Wellness
In terms of Mental Wellness, some reports have linked golf participation with lower perceived stress and anxiety. However, evidence specifically examining the direct effect of golf on cortisol, a hormone involved in the body’s stress response, remains limited.
It would therefore be inappropriate to claim that “playing golf reduces cortisol” directly in everyone.
What Pinehurst aims to present is not the claim that “golf makes stress disappear,” but rather an invitation to consider that golf contains multiple elements that science continues to explore in relation to well-being—including physical activity, stress management, outdoor exposure and the quality of time we spend with our bodies and minds.
Posture and Balance: Every Swing Requires More Than Technique
Every golf swing also requires posture and balance.
From the initial stance and core control to weight transfer, body rotation and maintaining balance throughout movement, golf requires the body to coordinate multiple physical components simultaneously.
Some evidence has found associations between golf participation and balance and musculoskeletal performance in certain population groups. However, this should not be interpreted as evidence that golf can directly correct postural abnormalities.
Vitamin D: The Benefits of Sunlight Must Be Balanced with Safety
Another element of golf is the amount of time spent outdoors, which naturally raises the subject of Vitamin D.
The human body can synthesize Vitamin D when the skin is exposed to UVB radiation from sunlight. However, Vitamin D production from sunlight depends on a range of factors, and spending time outdoors should always be accompanied by appropriate protection from UV radiation.
Therefore, science-backed wellness is not about getting as much sunlight as possible. It is about understanding both the potential benefits and the risks, and finding an appropriate balance for each individual.
From “Golf Course” to a Golf & Lifestyle Community
The concept of “Golf = Science-backed Wellness” is part of Pinehurst Golf Club & Hotel’s broader repositioning as it moves beyond the traditional definition of a golf course toward becoming a “Golf & Lifestyle Community”—where golf can coexist with wellness, leisure, nature, lifestyle and meaningful connections.
Set within a green environment and featuring a 27-hole golf course, Pinehurst encourages people to reconsider how they spend their free time.
Instead of simply asking, “Where should I go to relax today?”, perhaps the question can become:
“How can I spend my time today in a way that benefits both my body and my mind?”
For today’s generation, taking care of one’s health does not always have to be an activity separated from everyday life.
When an activity we genuinely enjoy can combine movement, nature, relaxation, social connection and physical performance, it may become a form of wellness that fits naturally into real life—and something we are more likely to continue over the long term.
This Is What “Golf = Science-backed Wellness” Means to Pinehurst
It is not about saying that golf is the answer to every health concern.
Instead, it is about opening up another perspective: that self-care can happen naturally while we are living our everyday lives.
The next time we visit a golf course, perhaps we are not simply “going out to play a sport.”
We may also be giving several hours to our bodies—to walk more, move more, practice concentration, spend time in nature and connect with the people we care about.
Because when health becomes one of the most valuable resources in life, every step we take, every swing we make and every moment we choose to care for ourselves can become a small beginning toward a healthier and more balanced life in the long term.
Research References
1. Murray AD, et al. The relationships between golf and health: a scoping review. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The review examined 301 studies and found that golf can constitute moderate-intensity physical activity and is associated with positive aspects of physical health and mental wellness. The researchers also highlighted the need for further research in certain areas, particularly to establish direct causal relationships.
2. Golf and Physical Health: A Systematic Review. Sports Medicine.
The systematic review identified 572 records and included 23 studies for analysis. The findings indicated some positive evidence relating to balance, blood pressure and health-related cardiovascular and metabolic markers, although the overall evidence was diverse and further long-term research is needed.
3. Singh B, et al. Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The overview included 97 systematic reviews, covering 1,039 trials and more than 128,000 participants, supporting the broader evidence that physical activity can benefit symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress across diverse adult populations.
For More Information
Pinehurst Golf Club & Hotel
Tel: 02-516-8679-84
LINE: @pinehurstline
Website: www.pinehurst.co.th
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