Life near a golf course related to Parkinson’s risk

They don’t play,
But live next to me
Custom-made grass.

Fairway curve
Where should the warning be.

Air loaded
What water cannot accommodate.

One hand began to shake.
name
Slide off the scorecard.

No fence
Something never invited.

The poem is inspired by recent research that found that life adjacent to a golf course increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Many people like to live near green, open spaces – including golf courses – but there are growing concerns about hidden risks such an environment may pose. In particular, pesticides commonly used to maintain golf courses cause alarms due to potential links to Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological condition. While previous studies have explored pesticide exposure in agricultural settings, it is well known how exposure to golf courses affects exposure to people living nearby. Drinking water can be a possible route of contact, especially in areas where groundwater is more susceptible to contamination.

The study examined a health record over two decades in a region of the United States, comparing people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease with similar people without the condition. The study found that people living within one to three miles of golf courses are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, with the greatest risk for those living within one mile. This connection is stronger among people in areas where drinking water comes from fragile groundwater resources. These findings suggest that the use of pesticides on golf courses may lead to a risk of Parkinson’s disease, especially when drinking water contamination is more likely. This study provides important evidence to provide future public health decisions regarding land use, pesticide regulation and water safety.