Golf by David McPherson The more things change, the more they stay the same. The above quote from one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence, a learned man often called the “father of American psychiatry,” wrote about the restorative powers of golf in his 1772 booklet: “Sermons to Gentlemen Upon Temperance and Exercise.” Beyond the sexist language (i.e. this advice was only aimed at men), which one can ignore today, Rush was onto something and so were the Scots. On my bookshelf, I have the fascinating read, “How the Scots Invented the Modern World.” The non-fiction book examines the Scottish Enlightenment and how – during the 18th and early 19th centuries – individuals in Scotland made many intellectual and scientific discoveries that helped shape modern society. While the title strays towards hyperbole, the reality is that my ancestors were innovators and left an impact on future generations with their inventions. Take golf. The sport originated on the eastern coast of Scotland, near Edinburgh. Originally, the game saw players hit a pebble with a bent stick or club over sand dunes and around tracks. Fun fact: the sport became so popular that King James II banned golf in 1457 because people were playing so much that they forgot about their military training. This edict did not last, and most people ignored the king’s decree. In 1502, King James IV of Scotland gave golf the royal seal of approval and the nation became the world’s first golfing monarch. More than 500 years later, the Scots have developed yet another sensible prescription. Recently, the R&A and the University of St. Andrews School of Medicine partnered with several other groups to pilot an initiative called “Golf for Health,” by which physicians prescribe golf to individuals/patients to encourage a more active lifestyle. I’ve written in the past about the numerous health benefits of golf – both physical and mental – so this is no surprise, but what makes it fascinating is that medical professionals are actually prescribing a daily dose of golf. GP doctors in Fife, known worldwide as the home of golf – boasting more than 40 courses – were invited to participate in this pilot initiative that initially partnered with four local golf clubs and offered a six- to eight-week free program. Thirty golfers took part in the initial pilot, with another round expected this spring for eligible primary care patients to be prescribed golf activities. One participant touted the effectiveness of the pioneering pilot program by saying: “It’s helped me get out in the fresh air and meet other people. The health benefits for me have been 10, 20, 30-fold.” Once the findings of this pilot have been evaluated, assessments will be done to assess the feasibility of rolling out the program across Scotland and the U.K. Past research has shown that, on average, golfers live for five years longer than non-golfers while golf, as a physical activity, can help prevent and treat 40 major chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, breast and colon cancers, depression and dementia. A recent Finnish study, published in the British Medical Journal Open, suggests that playing golf may be more effective in reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases than Nordic walking. According to the World Health Organization, insufficient physical activity is the fourth-leading risk factor for mortality. People who are insufficiently physically active have a 20-30 per cent increased risk of all-cause mortality, compared to those who engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week. Great Scott! Get Your Daily Dose Golf is an exercise which is much used by a gentleman in Scotland … man would live 10 years the longer for using this exercise once or twice a week. - Dr. Benjamin Rush (1745 - 1813) “ “ 38 | www.snowbirds.org
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