Golf may just be the perfect way for elderly people to maintain their physical and emotional well-being. In February 2020, research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference revealed that golfing at least once a month is linked to a lower risk of death among older adults.

Researchers followed nearly 5,900 adults aged 65 and up for a decade, and found that those who were regular golfers, playing at least once a month, were more than eight per cent less likely to die from any cause than non-golfers.

There are many reasons hitting the links might be so beneficial for elderly players, according to the study’s lead author, neurologist Dr Adnan Qureshi.

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“Another positive is that older adults can continue to play golf, unlike other more strenuous sports such as football, boxing and tennis. Additional positive aspects are stress relief and relaxation, which golf appears better suited for than other sports.”

Research teams at the University of Southampton in England and the University of Southern California in the United States did another review over two years that looked at the effects golf playing had on elderly participants.

Compared to sedentary non-golfers, elderly people who played golf enjoyed not only improved muscle strength, endurance, flexibility and balance, but also mental health benefits from increased access to green spaces and from the social interaction that comes with golfing. 

“Taking part in group exercise has been shown to enhance older adults’ mood, improve their self-esteem and even stave off depression,” says Dr Kong Tak-kwan, a Hong Kong specialist in geriatric medicine.

“In older adults, pain, such as knee or hip pain, and disability can contribute to social isolation, feelings of helplessness and anxiety, loneliness, and depression,” he explains. “Group-based exercise provides social support and helps seniors connect with others, combat loneliness and reduce emotional stress, all while raising their physical fitness levels,” Kong says. 

“Studies have found that people who have greater social support and friends to be active with are more likely to exercise for pleasure, which translates to better overall health. Older adults who exercise with others also demonstrate better attention, memory, and visuospatial [referring to the ability to tell where objects are in space] and cognitive functions.”

If golfing or exercising with friends is restricted because of the pandemic or for other reasons, Kong says, joining a group exercise class online is a practical alternative.

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Fanny Lai Ka-yan, a physiotherapist at Matilda International Hospital, agrees. She refers to a Japanese study, published in 2017 in medical journal BMC Geriatrics, that examined the effects of regular group exercise on adults aged 66 to 86 and found that regular group exercise contributes to balanced health as we age.

“Although the participants perceived that they were physically and cognitively ageing, group exercise helped them to improve or maintain their functional health, socialise with peers, and enjoy their lives,” Lai says.

“They cared for and supported one another during the group exercise. Consequently, they felt socially connected and experienced a sense of security in the community.”

“Consider what your body can and cannot handle. If vigorous intensity workouts are deemed to be too risky to your health, then you should think twice about doing them,” she adds. “If you suffer from a chronic disease or other health problems, you should seek medical advice before starting any exercise regime.”

Teoh, who is in good health, is looking forward to getting back out on the courses now that they have reopened, albeit with social distancing measures and restrictions to help cope with pent-up demand.

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“Since the pandemic started, I have mostly had to stay home and find other ways to occupy my time,” she explains. “I miss playing golf with my friends and meeting new golfers. I am eager to get back to enjoying conversations with them while out on the course, exchanging golfing tips, and just talking about what’s going on in our lives.

“It’s this social part of the game that I looked forward to the most.”