The global state of play: A study of the demographic characteristics of disability golfers.
Stanley Guillaume, Tony Bennett, Peter M Allen and 3 others
PMID 36730163WHAT IT FOUND
Most registered golfers with disability were men over 45, came from high-income countries, and 62.6% needed a golf cart.
Golfers with neurologic, spinal cord, or visual impairments had worse golf handicaps.
Key findings
01Of registered golfers with disability, 1589 (91.6%) were men, and 71.1% were older than 45 years.
02Mean handicaps were 20.5 for neurologic impairment, 24.1 for spinal cord injury, and 23.4 for visual impairment, compared with 15.1 for below-knee amputation and 15.7 for orthopedic impairment.
031085 of 1734 players (62.6%) reported requiring a golf cart, and cart need was associated with primary diagnosis.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The database only includes golfers registered with the European Disabled Golf Association, so people who play golf but are not registered are not represented. Data were self-reported and came from a single, non-validated database, so the findings may not accurately describe golfers with disability worldwide. Visual and intellectual impairment categories were added only in the last 3 years, so these groups may be underrepresented. Most participants were from higher-income countries, especially Europe and North America, so the study says little about access in lower-income regions. The study describes who plays and their characteristics. It does not show that golf improves health, function, or quality of life.
Declared interests
One author is President of the European Disabled Golf Association as a volunteer and Head of Disability and Inclusion to the International Golf Federation as a consultant. All other authors declared no conflicts. The paper is listed as supported by NIH extramural research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that golf improves health or function. This paper describes who is registered to play golf, not what happened after they played.