Golf Course Length & Injury Risk: What the Data Shows

According to Medical News Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 103,000 golf-related injuries were treated in doctors offices, clinics and emergency rooms in 2007. There were undoubtably additional injuries where the golfer did not request medical attention.

Tiger Woods, David Toms, and Fred Couples are among the many PGA Tour pros who have had golf-related injuries affect their game.

People tend to think of golf as an injury-free sport. You can learn golf as a child and enjoy the game for the rest of your life. So the fact that people get hurt playing golf may come as a surprise.

If you are a golf fan like me you may have noticed some interesting trends over the last 10-15 years:

• longer golf courses
• new long-distance driver technology
• harder-hitting pros on the PGA and European tours
• more pros with personal fitness trainers
• and more reports of pro's injury problems.

Do longer golf courses result in more golf injuries?

Consider the following:

• Championship golf courses seem to be getting longer. Augusta National Golf Course played at 7,325 yards for The Masters 2011.The Tour Players Championship at Sawgrass 2011 played at 7,215 yards.
• Average yards per drive is a key statistic in a pro's portfolio.
• Tiger Woods along with other pros know that competing pros are getting stronger and hitting longer. So Tiger and the others work harder at strengthing themselves for endurance and even longer drives.
• Augusta tried to "Tiger proof" their course -- they wanted to insure that the Augusta National is a challenge to long hitters.
• Golf club manufacturers constantly bring out new clubs that increase driving distance.
• Golf course designers respond by designing longer courses.
• Professional golfers swing harder. Golf technology can now measure the "swing speed" of golfers as well as the"clubhead" speed" produced by the swing, Faster clubhead speed produces long drives. Faster swing speed results in faster clubhead speed. And faster swing speed is often achieved by a higher and longer backswing (putting stress on rotator cups in the shoulder), more torque through the core muscles (with more stress). and a greater twisting force on the left knee (more stress).
• Physical conditioning is now a big part of a pro golfer's life. With a heavy practice and tournament schedule and consequent repetition in hard golf swings -- even the pros are subject to injury.

Be aware of the risks of injuries in golf

If you are a beginner, intermediate or even a scratch golfer, be aware of the risk of injury. Forturnately there are things you can do to prevent golf injuries.

Learn a simple and effective golf swing.

An excellent set of golf instructional resources is offered by a team of professional golf instructors online to help you in every part of your golf game. Follow their advice and you will fix your golf swing.