The British Journal of Sports Medicine, una de las publicaciones más importante del mundo en materia de medicina deportiva, se ha hecho eco del estudio de la Universidad de Edimburgo (Escocia), dirigido por el Dr. Andrew Murray, en el que se especifican los beneficios del golf en la salud de las personas y se detallan los motivos por los que este deporte “ayuda a alargar la esperanza de vida”.

La prestigiosa publicación británica ha dado espacio al estudio, cuya conclusión es, entre otras, que “los profesionales y políticos deben motivar a la gente a jugar al golf, debido a la mejora de la salud física y mental” que conlleva la práctica de este deporte, y a “su posible contribución al aumento de la esperanza de vida”.

Asimismo, entre las conclusiones de la investigación se encuentra la importancia del golf “en el fortalecimiento muscular, en la mejora del equilibrio y en la prevención de lesiones”.

Este proyecto de investigación, titulado ‘Golf & Health Project’, se ha realizado bajo la supervisión de destacados académicos internacionales como la profesora Nanette Mutrie Liz Grant, y pasa por ser el más completo sobre golf y salud. En total, el estudio consta de 5.000 folios en los que se detalla el impacto del juego en la salud y su papel en la prevención de enfermedades y en la gestión de lesiones asociadas.

“Este proyecto es un paso adelante”

El tres veces ganador de un ‘major’ y embajador de The World Golf Foundation (WGF) Padraig Harrington espera que la investigación contribuya a demostrar el impacto positivo que un deporte como el golf puede tener en la vida de las personas.

«This project represents an important step forward in our efforts to highlight the benefits of our sport,» says the winner of fourteen European Tour events. «I’m very happy to be involved as an ambassador, and I hope to help spread this message,” he adds.

«"For me, being healthy and happy is key to enjoying my own game; throughout my career I have seen how golf can impact people's well-being, and it's time to get that message across," he adds.

These benefits include improvements in life expectancy and quality of life, as well as physical and mental health benefits. Playing golf helps reduce the risk of serious chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, and colon and breast cancer. Furthermore, this research demonstrates the positive impact golf has on people with high cholesterol.

The project has eight great ambassadors

The project is being launched with the support of the European Tour and leading golf organizations, and is backed by its eight global ambassadors: Aaron Baddeley, Annika Sorenstam, Brooke Henderson, Gary Player, Ryann O'Toole, So Yeon Ryu, Padraig Harrington, and Zach Johnson. Between them, they have won 30 majors and 350 tournaments.

«"I am very happy to be an ambassador for this project; I wholeheartedly support the work they are doing to demonstrate the health benefits of golf," explains Gary Player.

«"The systematic and academic confirmation of the physical and mental benefits of golf for people will be of great use to all of us in our mission to spread the idea to institutions and governments around the world," he adds.

The project aims to show the current and future benefits that playing golf has for individuals of all ages in all societies, not just for a specific sector of the population.

The WGF and the main organizations represented on its Board of Directors, together with partners such as the PGA of Europe and the University of Edinburgh, and academic collaborators such as the University of California, and other organizations, are working together on the project in order to disseminate its findings worldwide.

«"The importance of the golf and health project in the development of this sport is vital, not only for WGF partners, but for everyone involved in the golf industry worldwide," said Steve Mona, CEO of The World Golf Foundation.

“This is a project we will all support, as it is universally accepted that golf is good for you. It will provide real and tangible information and data that can be used by governments and politicians, professional tours, governing bodies, businesses, golf professionals, and others. All for the benefit of the sport,» he says.
Consulta la investigación publicada en The British journal of Sports Medicine más abajo, en el apartado de Enlaces relacionados.