Carnoustie Project Finds Golf Improves Children’s Wellbeing

Most people who have caught the golf bug will have suspected that the sport improves wellbeing. Well, now it’s official, at least for young players.

The Golf Collaboration Project, run by Abertay University and Carnoustie Golf Links, assessed children taking part in Carnoustie’s Carnoustie Craws Programme for Young Golfers for six weeks, measuring their golf skills, physical activity and personal wellbeing. The result? The children all clocked an increase in the final category.

Abertay’s Sport and Exercise Sciences Division’s Dr Graeme Sorbie said: “These findings demonstrate the positive impact that participation in the Carnoustie Craws programme, and golf in general, can have on children. The testing highlighted that children are not only enjoying playing golf but are improving their personal wellbeing and physical skills at the same time. This shows the great work that Carnoustie Golf Links and their coaches are doing to change perceptions around the game of golf.”

The children’s personal wellbeing was measured by testing how the young golfers judged their sense of belonging, self-esteem, self-confidence, resilience and other factors in Carnoustie’s Indoor Performance Centre. 

Testing also included physical measurements such as jump performance, back and grip strength, reaction time and balance, tests which formed the basis of the children’s physical activity scores. In addition to the wellbeing boosts, three out of four children also improved in these over the course of the study.  

Keir McNicoll, Carnoustie’s Head Professional, said: “Golf can and should be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age. Golf for all encapsulates our core value of inclusivity and we are extremely fortunate to have such a fantastic suite of facilities here at Links House which allows young people to get off to a fantastic start enjoying the great game. Our Carnoustie Craws Golf Programme continues to grow each year and it is great to have this level of validation, through the great work that Abertay have done, that the effort and energy we are putting into the programme is benefiting young children beyond just learning the game.”

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