Longevity – we are all living longer
In recognising, we are all living longer, in 2021, the United Nations declared, 2021 to 2030, the Decade of Healthy Ageing, with The World Health Organisation taking the lead in activating Governments and Health & Social Care Providers globally. To learn more about this work click the button below:
To complement the WHO Decade of Health Ageing, The World Economic Forum (WEF), who engages governments on political, business, academic, civil society and other leaders of society to shape the global, regional and industrial economic and financial agendas, has identified 6 principles to support the ageing population, these form the key pillars in “The Longevity Economy“. To read the WEF report on the Longevity economy click HERE
Key to Longevity: Prioritise Healthspan to improve Lifespan
The challenge is to expand our Healthspan, the years we live without chronic health conditions, are a larger proportion of our lifespan, the number of years we live. American Scientific magazine have published a special report Healthspan: The science of Aging Well
Golf has a role to play…
The relationship between Golf and Wellbeing is being more widely recognised by the Golf and Health and Wellbeing Communities. There is an increase in the academic research from around the World, which is both proving the value of golf to diverse groups, which include individuals living with chronic or terminal conditions and their carers and also the areas of concern about the mental health of older women golfers, highlighted in Spanish research published in 2024.
The World Golf Foundation sponsor research in to the Health benefits of golf, the Golf and Health website, provides information and links to the various studies and work that has been carried out to date, much of which is being discussed and presented at the International Congress on Golf and Health, the 3rd conference was held in Edinburgh on 31st March and 1st April 2025.
In 2022, the R&A commissioned research by Sheffield Hallam University to quantify the Social Value of Golf, a copy of their research report is HERE
The Financial Social Value of Golf in the UK was £1, 040million, the key areas of social value are identified in the graphic below from the report, click on image to download.
How can Golf Clubs and organisations leverage this research to create new golfer experiences?
The documents below highlight the value of Golf to
Senior Women, 50 and over
Dementia Suffers and their carers through Golf in Society
Spectators
Golf and Healthy Ageing
The report on the value of golf supporting womens ageing, provides insight in to how the current senior womens golf experience provides women with purpose, physical and mental health, life long learning and social interaction and connectedness. While this report is primarily based on the womens golf experience, much of it is also relevant to men.
Identify how your clubs current senior womens and mens golf experiences map to the 5 longevity principles, will provide a gap analysis on where improvements can be made, not just for senior players, but for other members of the club, as all ages can benefit from a rich and extensive golf experiences 7 days a week.
Golf and Dementia
Golf in Society, founded in 2015, has developed a program which can be easily adopted by clubs, driving ranges, indoor studios and Care Homes, to support both individuals living with Dementia and their carers, through a respite program.
The Golf in Society team, provides training and guidance on setting up a program and work with clubs to recruit, paid Golf Activators and Volunteer Golf Buddies.
There are currently over 30 venues across the UK engaged with Golf in Society, providing their programs, which start with simple taster sessions and can be developed in to a 12 week program and ongoing
To find out more about how to start your venue on a Dementia support pathway, please contact Golf in Society HERE
Click on the Image to download the full report on the Sport for Confidence Website.
Golf Spectating and Walking Exercise
Golf is unique in that event spectators walk around the golf course, building up their steps as they go. Walking is a good exercise and encouraging more people to spectate at different events at your club, within the county and beyond, will provide more opportunities for individuals to exercise in nature.
Golf offers the opportunity to spectate at many elite amatuer events as well as entry level and world renowned championships, encouraging more people to enjoy the benefits of spectating is a role that clubs could offer, not just for members but for other groups within their communities, for example Age UK, MIND, or walking therapy organisations.
