Golfers should ditch baseball-style caps and wear wide-brimmed bucket hats, experts say, after a study found that playing the game more than trebles the risk of developing skin cancer.
Players hitting the links and spending several hours on a course are exposed to large amounts of UV rays from the sun, with their legs, arms and necks often exposed to the elements.
A survey of more than 300 golfers in Australia found that more than a quarter suffered from skin cancer at some point, compared to just 7% of the general population.
Analysis from scientists at the University of Oxford and the University of South Australia found that golfers were 2.4 times more likely to get the condition than non-players.
“Golf participants should use high-Sun Protection Factor (SPF) sunscreen reapplied regularly, wear clothing that protects high-exposure areas such as arms, legs, neck and ears and wear broad brimmed hats rather than peaked caps,” the researchers wrote in the study, published in the journal BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine. “Strategies such as these are particularly important for junior golfers, who may be less aware of the risk of skin cancer, and the need to use skin protection from an early age to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer in later life.”
Dr Brad Stenner, the lead author, says the findings highlight the importance of being careful when hitting the fairway.
“Playing golf regularly has a range of excellent health benefits – from helping you stay fit and active, to keeping you in touch with friends,” he said. “For example, if you walk an average golf course, you’re walking at least five to seven kilometres every game, often more. Add a bag of golf clubs and maybe two to three rounds a week, and you can see just how good golf is for your endurance, muscle tone and wellbeing.
“While there are clear health benefits of engaging in golf, this study explored the risks of playing golf as golfers tend to play for four or more hours in the sun, using various sun protection strategies.”
The scientists are also calling on golf courses, and the sport as a whole to do more to promote skin cancer awareness in a bid to try and protect players.
Cancer Research UK recently said melanoma skin cancer diagnoses across all age groups have reached a record high – with 17,500 people diagnosed each year in the UK. The charity pointed to a particular rise in cases among adults aged 55 and over.