Toxins Killing You and Your Golf Game: The Hidden Health Risks of Golf Courses

For millions of Americans, golf is more than a sport. It’s a way to unwind, socialize, and enjoy the outdoors. But beneath the manicured greens lies a growing concern: toxin exposure from golf courses may be quietly harming your health.

A major new study published in JAMA Network Open (May 2025) has found a significantly increased risk of Parkinson’s disease among people living near golf courses, particularly those sharing a groundwater-based water supply with the course.

“We think of golf courses as pristine, but maintaining that look comes at a cost,” says Dr. Paul Savage, Founder of MDLifespan. “The synthetic pesticides and herbicides used to keep fairways perfect can accumulate in our bodies—especially if they leach into drinking water or drift through the air.”

Researchers reviewed the medical and residency data of 419 individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in Minnesota and Wisconsin and compared them to over 5,000 matched controls. The results were startling:

• Living within 1 mile of a golf course increased Parkinson’s risk by 126%.

• Those within 3 miles still faced significantly elevated risk.

• Sharing water service with a golf course nearly doubled the odds of developing Parkinson’s.
• Risk spiked in areas with vulnerable groundwater — such as regions with karst topography or shallow wells.

These findings point to pesticide exposure through both water and air as key drivers.

Golf courses use pesticides at levels up to 15 times higher than those in Europe, often including chemicals like paraquat, chlorpyrifos, 2,4-D, and maneb (each associated with neurodegeneration).

Here’s how they get into your system:

1. Contaminated Drinking Water

Pesticides applied to turf can leach into groundwater. If your home shares a municipal water supply with a golf course, you may be drinking these toxins – daily.

2. Airborne Drift

Chemicals don’t stay put. Pesticide spraying can release particles into the air, drifting into nearby neighborhoods. Urban and suburban golf courses may pose an even higher risk due to population density.

3. Direct Skin Contact

Golfers themselves can be exposed by walking or playing on recently treated grass, especially if they’re not aware of recent spraying schedules.

Not necessarily. But awareness is key. If you live near a golf course or play frequently, take the following precautions:

• • Use a reverse osmosis water filter to remove pesticides from drinking water.
  • Ask your local course when they spray and avoid visiting during or after those days.
  • Wear gloves and avoid touching your face if golfing on recently treated grass.
    
  • Advocate for organic golf course practices or play at certified sustainable courses, like Pebble Beach (CA) or Chambers Bay (WA).

If you suspect you’ve been exposed to environmental toxins (spoiler alert: you are), whether from golf courses or elsewhere, MDLifespan offers cutting-edge testing and personalized detoxification strategies.

Our PlasmaXchange Protocol uses therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to help remove pesticides, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants from your bloodstream – offering a proactive approach to long-term neurological and immune health.

🧬 Ready to take control of your toxic burden?
Schedule a free consultation with a physician at MDLifespan today.

The beauty of the fairway shouldn’t come at the cost of your brain. Toxin exposure from golf courses is real, measurable, and preventable. As more data emerges, we encourage golfers and nearby residents to stay informed, and take action.