Golf can Provide Cure to World Health Organisation Alert on Loneliness

 The Loneliness of The City Dweller - A Response to World Health Organisation Announcement 

 - Why Cities Need Urban Golf  Venues More Than Ever to Combat This Silent Killer 

There have been challenging times for city golf courses lately. From Sydney to Seattle there have been call for urban golf courses to be 'Re-wilded' or sold off to make way for more concrete jungle.

All of those clamouring for such changes conveniently ignore the myriad research that shows how important urban golf courses can be as oases of safety for flora and wildlife amongst the asphalt. This research has also demonstrated the many health and wellbeing benefits that living close to a golf course can have on city dwellers. Often the results can be surprising such as the massive study in the British Medical Journal showing that urban living mothers of new-borns had significantly lower levels of post natal depression than expected when they lived near a golf course.

Now the World Health Organisation has created a Special Commission to address the silent killer of loneliness - especially on the older segment of society.  Loneliness has been equated to smoking by some health experts due to the significant differences in mortality between those defined as lonely and those with strong social connections.  

In a world where it is easier than ever to be connected electronically it seems that the loss of interpersonal contact and chronic isolation is increasing exponentially and with tragic consequences for those most impacted.

In a global conference of experts it was stated that one of the main challenges was how to support individuals who have no partner and relationship with any family or friends. The key to reducing the impact of loneliness on this group was for them to:

"Take part in community life, have the opportunity to be part of the collective identity that creates connections to wider society with meaning and purpose"

As a neuroscientist I cannot agree with this more. In the same paper the experts acknowledge a fundamental principle of human psychology: Humans are primates and we are programmed to live as part of a group. One of the most damaging aspects of urban isolation is no longer feeling connected to or part of a group - everyone NEEDS to feel they are part of something bigger than themselves - it's in our human DNA.

This gives urban golf a great opportunity to fill that gap and underline the importance of the game to society in general. We have already seen the impact of the 'Golf It!' initiative in Scotland. Here a municipal facility has been re-visioned by the R&A to become a thriving community resource for all. 

Every national and local golf organisation, club and facility in the world now has an opportunity to cement its importance to the local community whilst increasing revenue and creating sound financial foundations for a successful future - but only with a change of mind set.

This may have some members spluttering into their gin and tonic but many golf venues can only achieve this by becoming more inclusive and open to non golfing members of their local community.

The simple truth is that many golf clubs and venues have tumbleweed blowing through them during the week and especially on dark winter evenings. Many charities and social groups that enable people to meet and 'Feel' part of something special are desperately seeking decent premises where they can invite those members of the community that they serve.

For the older members of any community - often the most vulnerable in terms of loneliness- a golf club is the perfect location for them and they are likely to be a segment of the community that golf clubs can welcome with confidence. By working in partnership with local charities and community groups clubs and golf venues can bring in extra food and beverage income and may even find that they can convert some of these visitors to long term social membership and beyond.

Clubs may also find that they are now able to apply for and gain from funding that they could not access when they were operating an isolationist approach with the drawbridge fully up above the moat protecting them from the locals.

For example, 'Golf on Prescription' is being trialled in Scotland in an independent study being run at the prestigious University of St Andrews. The study is not completed but early indications are that it is already a great success. With the costs of a sedentary and ageing population rising daily governments are looking at what sports offer the powerful combination of exercise appropriate to this age group and the social interaction that they need. Whether it's is a 9 hole course, a short par 3 course or simply a game on the putting green followed by a drink and a convivial chat with others golf is uniquely positioned to enable all societies to provide the community contact that everyone needs.

Creating  partnerships with the local community is going to act as a very effective long term strategy against the challenges to golf's very existence that we are already seeing and will only increase if the game does nothing. At national and local government levels any initiative that is inclusive for all and provides powerful community hubs will be very hard for any politician to fight against.

On the other hand golf clubs/venues can continue to present themselves as insular, exclusive and uncaring about the communities in which they sit. My advice to golf is:

"Be very careful what you wish for!"

Best wishes

Stephen Smith

The Golf Scientist

Chair of The Division of Sport & Exercise Psychologists at the British Psychological Society

Independent Scientific Advisor to Department of Culture Media and Sport in the UK Government

AFBPsS- Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society

CSci - Chartered Scientist

CPsychol - Chartered Psychologist

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