Fore! Should You Be Worried About Living Near a Golf Course?

New study links proximity to golf courses with Parkinson's risk, but don't pack your bags just yet

Here's a sentence you probably never thought you'd read: living near a golf course might be hazardous to your health. No, we're not talking about the risk of getting beaned by an errant tee shot from your neighbor's backyard driving range. A new study published in JAMA Neurology has found that people living within a mile of golf courses have more than double the risk of developing Parkinson's disease compared to those living farther away.

Before you start planning your escape from the 19th hole lifestyle, let's take a closer look at what this study actually found—and what it didn't.

Earlier this month, researchers published findings on the link between proximity to golf courses and risk of Parkinson's disease. The publication has generated significant media buzz and sparked conversations about environmental toxins and pesticides, especially as golf season approaches. But should this study cause you to panic? Do golf courses actually cause Parkinson's? Should you be house-hunting if you live near the back nine? Let's discuss…

What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement due to the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons. As these neurons deteriorate, symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement, and impaired balance and coordination develop. Over time, non-motor symptoms may also arise, including cognitive decline, mood disorders (such as depression and anxiety), sleep disturbances, and autonomic dysfunction such as constipation and blood pressure fluctuations. While the exact cause remains unknown, researchers believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors contributes to the disease.

What the study found

The researchers set out to investigate whether living near golf courses increases Parkinson's disease risk, possibly due to pesticide exposure from course maintenance contaminating water and air. They analyzed data from 419 PD patients and over 5,000 matched controls in Minnesota and Wisconsin, comparing how close they lived to golf courses and their water sources. Here's what emerged:

• Living within 1 mile of a golf course was associated with a 126% higher odds of PD compared to living more than 6 miles away

• People in water service areas with a golf course had nearly double the PD risk compared to areas without golf courses

• Vulnerable groundwater regions (areas easily contaminated by pesticides) showed 82% higher PD risk than non-vulnerable areas

• Urban areas showed stronger associations between golf course proximity and PD, possibly due to higher population density

Red flags in the research design

While this study provides intriguing preliminary evidence, several methodological issues should make us pump the brakes on any major life decisions:

Limited scope and diversity: The study population was 88% white and confined to the Midwest, severely limiting how well these findings apply to other racial, ethnic, or geographic groups. Golf course management practices, climate conditions, and pesticide regulations vary dramatically across regions.

Timing troubles: The researchers only examined data for three years prior to diagnosis. Since Parkinson's can take up to 20 years or more to develop, the pesticide exposure that might have triggered the disease likely occurred decades earlier, when golf course practices may have been completely different.

No direct pesticide measurements: This is perhaps the biggest limitation. The study assumed pesticide exposure based solely on proximity to golf courses, without testing air, soil, or water for specific chemicals. That's like trying to determine if someone got food poisoning by looking at which restaurants they drove past, rather than what they actually ate.

Water contamination assumptions: The researchers made several leaps about water contamination, assuming everyone in a water service area had equal exposure and inferring groundwater vulnerability from soil and geography data rather than actual contamination measurements.

The correlation vs. causation classic: This observational study design cannot prove that golf course pesticides directly cause Parkinson's disease. Other unmeasured factors—socioeconomic status, lifestyle differences, occupational exposures, or genetic predispositions—could explain the association.

Sample size concerns: With only 419 Parkinson's cases spread across multiple distance categories, some subgroups had very small numbers, making the statistical estimates less reliable.

Is it time to panic?

The short answer is no—you don't need to start packing boxes just yet. Even the study's lead author, Dr. Brittany Krzyzanowski, concluded there's no need to consider moving if you live near a golf course. However, she does offer one practical suggestion regardless of where you live: investing in a carbon water filter or reverse osmosis system, which are effective at removing pesticides from drinking water.

It's important to remember that this is a single study with preliminary results that, at best, suggest a weak association between golf courses and Parkinson's risk. As Krzyzanowski notes, the next crucial step is to "replicate this study nationwide in a dataset of more than 22 million Medicare beneficiaries and approximately 16,000 golf courses," which should help clarify and contextualize these findings.

The bigger picture

This research adds one more piece to the growing puzzle of environmental factors that may influence Parkinson's risk. While the findings are certainly worth further investigation, they're far from definitive. The pesticide-Parkinson's connection has biological plausibility—certain pesticides have been shown to damage the brain cells affected in Parkinson's disease—but one study in two Midwestern states hardly settles the matter.

Golf course superintendents and communities might use these findings as motivation to explore safer turf management practices, but individual residents shouldn't lose sleep over their proximity to the local country club. After all, living near a golf course probably comes with plenty of other health benefits, like easy access to walking, fresh air, and the stress-relieving effects of watching someone else struggle with their short game.

Bottom line

While this study raises interesting questions about pesticide exposure and Parkinson's risk, it's hardly time for a real estate mulligan. The research has significant limitations, represents just one study, and requires replication in larger, more diverse populations before we can draw firm conclusions. If you're concerned about pesticide exposure, focus on practical steps like water filtration and supporting safer chemical practices in your community—but don't let this study drive you off course from your housing decisions.

Stay Curious,

Unbiased Science

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