Golf courses are often seen as peaceful getaways—green, quiet, and tucked away from the chaos of daily life. But according to new research, that peaceful view might come with an unexpected and unsettling side effect. A recently published study in JAMA Network Open has found that people living close to golf courses—specifically, within one mile—have a 126% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to those who live more than six miles away.
This discovery has sparked concern not about golf itself, but about what might be lurking beneath the surface: pesticides, drinking water, and a growing mystery surrounding environmental exposure.
Why This Discovery Matters
While the idea that where you live can impact your health isn’t new, the specificity of this connection is striking. The study doesn’t claim that playing golf or even living by a course is inherently dangerous. Rather, it draws attention to what’s often invisible: chemicals used to maintain the lush landscape, and how they can seep into groundwater systems, possibly ending up in your tap water.
These findings suggest that it’s not about how close you are to tee time, but about your proximity to potential environmental toxins that may accumulate silently over time and contribute to brain disorders.
Understanding Parkinson’s: Not Just a Movement Disorder
Parkinson’s disease is more than just shaky hands and slowed movement—it’s a complex, degenerative brain disorder that impacts the nervous system and progresses gradually. People with Parkinson’s often develop tremors, stiffness, slurred speech, poor balance, and a host of other physical and cognitive symptoms. While medications can help manage these effects, there is currently no known cure.
The causes of Parkinson’s have long been suspected to involve a mix of genetics and environmental factors. This new study bolsters the argument that where you live and what you’re exposed to in your environment might have a much larger role in the disease than previously thought.
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The Numbers Behind the Alarming Link
The researchers analyzed a vast amount of public and geographical data. Here’s a breakdown of what they examined:
- 224 water service areas across 27 counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin
- 711 municipal wells provided by the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office
- Golf course locations throughout the U.S., mapped against residential areas
- Health records from Olmsted County, Minnesota, covering 450 Parkinson’s cases recorded between 1991 and 2015
The results showed a strong pattern: the closer someone lived to a golf course, the more likely they were to develop Parkinson’s. Those living within 1–3 miles faced more than double the risk, and the odds decreased steadily as distance from a golf course increased. This linear drop in risk points to a possible environmental factor rather than chance.
A Closer Look at Pesticides: The Hidden Villains
So what could be driving this risk? The prime suspects are pesticides—chemicals used liberally on golf courses to keep them immaculate and free of pests, fungi, and weeds. Two chemicals in particular stand out:
- Paraquat – A herbicide that has been banned in many countries due to its proven link to neurological harm but is still used in parts of the U.S.
- Rotenone – Another pesticide once used in agriculture that’s been associated with nerve cell damage and oxidative stress in the brain.
Both have been linked in earlier studies to the death of neurons, particularly those that produce dopamine—a critical chemical involved in movement and mood. Parkinson’s disease is largely defined by the loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain.
And these chemicals don’t stay put. They can travel via runoff into nearby groundwater, potentially ending up in municipal water systems. That’s where things get especially concerning.
The Role of Tap Water: You Might Be Drinking the Problem
According to the study, individuals who got their tap water from groundwater service areas near golf courses had:
- Almost double the odds of developing Parkinson’s compared to those in groundwater areas without golf courses
- 49% greater odds compared to people who relied on private wells
This suggests that pesticides used in maintaining golf courses might not just stay on the fairways. Instead, they could migrate underground, contaminate drinking water, and slowly increase neurological risks for those living nearby.
It’s a subtle but significant finding. We often think of pollution as something you see—smog in the air, oil in the water. But here, the danger may be invisible and odorless, flowing quietly through your kitchen faucet.
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Where Are Parkinson’s Hotspots in the U.S.?
The Parkinson’s Foundation has noted that the disease appears to be more common in specific regions:
- The Rust Belt – covering parts of the Midwest, where heavy industry once thrived
- Southern California
- Southeastern Texas
- Central Pennsylvania
- Florida
Interestingly, these areas often overlap with places that have intensive agriculture, golf courses, or industrial histories—all potential sources of long-term chemical exposure.
According to the CDC, Utah had the highest mortality rate from Parkinson’s at 12.4%, while California had the largest number of total deaths, with 4,289 fatalities attributed to the disease.
Medical Experts Sound the Alarm
Dr. Michael Okun, a leading neurologist and medical adviser to the Parkinson’s Foundation, recently voiced concern on social media. He said, “Parkinson’s cases are exploding. We now face 11.8 million cases globally, and the numbers are climbing fast.”
He emphasized that only 2–3 cents per Parkinson’s dollar is spent on prevention, despite the clear warning signs. He highlighted the study’s findings, noting that the risk more than doubles for people living within a few miles of a golf course.
“This isn’t about blaming golfers,” Dr. Okun wrote. “It’s about recognizing preventable risks that are hiding in plain sight.”
Why Prevention Is the Key
Treatments for Parkinson’s often focus on managing symptoms after the disease has taken hold. But what if we started earlier? What if we asked deeper questions about the chemicals in our environment, the safety of our water, and how our surroundings might affect our long-term brain health?
Dr. Okun called for a shift in mindset: from reaction to prevention. That means conducting more research, regulating harmful substances more effectively, and educating the public about environmental health risks that don’t get enough attention.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The researchers behind the study acknowledge that more information is needed. Their findings point strongly toward a pesticide–water–Parkinson’s connection, but more precise studies are necessary to pinpoint the most harmful chemicals and how exactly they influence the brain.
Meanwhile, the Parkinson’s Foundation estimates that 90,000 new diagnoses will be made this year alone. By the end of the decade, the U.S. could see 1.2 million people living with the disease.
This isn’t just a health crisis—it’s a societal challenge. One that calls for better water monitoring, tighter pesticide regulation, and more investment in neurological research.
Read more: Scientists Just Found Out Parkinson’s May Start Somewhere Outside Of The Brain
Final Thought: Not Just a Golf Course Problem
The real takeaway from this study isn’t to panic every time you pass a golf course—it’s to look more closely at how our environments silently shape our health. Whether it’s the water we drink, the chemicals used on our lawns, or the air we breathe, invisible factors can leave lasting marks on our bodies and minds.
So the next time you drive by a perfectly manicured green, remember: what lies beneath that smooth surface might be more complicated than it looks.
