Living within one mile of a golf course doubles your Parkinson’s disease risk, turning a dream neighborhood perk into a hidden health hazard.
Story Highlights
- 126% increased odds of Parkinson’s for residents within 1 mile of a golf course, per JAMA Network Open study.
- Risk drops 9% per additional mile, peaking in 1-3 mile radius with public water and vulnerable groundwater.
- Pesticides contaminate groundwater and air, exposing 25 million Americans nationwide.
- Study analyzed 419 patients and 5,000+ controls in Minnesota and Wisconsin using Rochester Epidemiology Project data.
- Associations hold after adjusting for age and income, though causation unproven due to methodological limits.
Study Design and Core Findings
Barrow Neurological Institute and Mayo Clinic researchers conducted a case-control study published in JAMA Network Open in 2025. They compared 419 Parkinson’s patients to over 5,000 matched controls from Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Rochester Epidemiology Project supplied comprehensive health and residential data. Living within 1 mile of a golf course linked to 126% higher odds of Parkinson’s versus over 6 miles away. Risk showed a dose-response: 9% decrease per extra mile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eykUsBeJbuc
Proximity and Water Supply Risks
Public water service areas with golf courses showed 96% higher Parkinson’s risk than those without. This exceeded private well users by 50%. Vulnerable groundwater regions, defined by bedrock and topography, carried 82% higher risk than stable areas. Greatest effects appeared in municipal systems overlapping golf courses and porous geology. Dr. Brittany Krzyzanowski noted these patterns suggest environmental mechanisms beyond chance.
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Pesticide Exposure Pathways
Golf courses apply vast herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides for maintenance. Researchers hypothesize groundwater contamination taints drinking water. Airborne drift from spraying reaches nearby air. Prior clues included 19 of 26 patients living within 2 miles of courses, plus Parkinson’s in 2 golf superintendents. Associations persisted after age and income adjustments, aligning with conservative emphasis on personal environmental choices over blanket regulations.
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Expert Views and Limitations
Dr. Rodolfo Savica cautioned inability to quantify individual exposures or rule out confounders like socioeconomic status or traffic. Retrospective data from 2013 missed older pesticide patterns. Parkinson’s Foundation called it a strong association, not causation, urging more research. Facts support concern without overreach; common sense demands scrutiny of unmeasured variables before policy shifts.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wEkRkYrKSYA
Implications for Communities and Industry
25 million Americans live within 1 mile of golf courses, facing potential risks amplified in public water zones. Residents may rethink premium locations. Golf operators confront pesticide scrutiny; utilities eye monitoring. Real estate pitches evolve. Long-term, regulations or integrated pest management could emerge, prioritizing health without stifling recreation central to American life.
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Sources:
Living near golf course linked to Parkinson’s risk, study; some cite limitations
JAMA Network Open study publication
Parkinson’s Foundation on golf courses
The Unbiased SciPod on golf course risks
Henry Ford Health on golf courses and Parkinson’s
House Beautiful on living near golf courses
News-Medical on golf courses and Parkinson’s risk
APDA on golf course concerns
