Living Near Golf Courses Linked to Higher Risk of Parkinson’s Disease

A new study published in JAMA Network Open has revealed a troubling link between living near golf courses and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. According to the research led by Brittany Krzyzanowski and colleagues, residents within 1 to 3 miles of a golf course had significantly higher odds of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s compared to those living over six miles away.

The study examined over 5,500 people in Minnesota and Wisconsin, using decades of medical records and address histories. After controlling for demographics and environmental factors, the researchers found that those closest to golf courses were over twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s. The risk was even greater in areas where groundwater was vulnerable to contamination.

So what’s behind this pattern? The researchers suggest pesticide use. U.S. golf courses are known to apply pesticides at levels up to 15 times higher than their European counterparts. These chemicals, including substances like chlorpyrifos and 2,4-D, can leach into drinking water and are already known to damage the nervous system. Groundwater collected in municipal wells—often from areas adjacent to golf courses—may carry these toxins directly into people’s homes.

The study doesn’t claim causation, but it strongly supports previous warnings about the health risks tied to pesticide exposure from recreational green spaces. With many pesticides already linked to neurological diseases and some even banned in other countries, it’s time to rethink our priorities.

Why should aesthetics on the fairway trump public health? Let’s demand tighter regulation of pesticides and advocate for organic landscaping. Protecting our water, air, and communities from harmful chemicals isn’t radical—it’s responsible. Ditch the toxic turf—Support cleaner green spaces for all.

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