A sustainability expert has made a worrying claim that living near a golf course could seriously harm your health. Barrie Quinn, who specialises in growing chemical-free produce, took to TikTok with a stark warning for those residing close to a course. “Did you know that living near a golf course can increase your risk of Parkinson’s Disease?” he cautioned in his video.

Barrie referenced a 2024 study by the American Medical Association, which revealed a staggering 126% increased risk of developing the neurological condition for those living within a mile of a golf course.

“Why?” Barry queried his audience. “Because the chemicals used to keep those grasses neat and green are neurotoxins. They don’t just stay on fairways – they drift into the air, into the water and into people’s homes. The grass is green and it looks good, but the cost is hidden – and it’s high.”

The cited neurology study, authored by Brittany Krzyzanowski, Aidan F. Mullan, E. Ray Dorsey et al, further notes: “This case-control study found the greatest risk of Parkinson’s Disease within 1 to 3 miles of a golf course, and that this risk generally decreased with distance. Effect sizes were largest in water service areas with a golf course in vulnerable groundwater regions.

“These findings suggest that pesticides applied to golf courses may play a role in the incidence Parkinson’s Disease for nearby residents.”

The researchers proceeded to back up their statement with data, as they continued in their paper: “A total of 419 incident PD cases were identified (median [IQR] age, 73 [65-80] years; 257 male [61.3%]) with 5113 matched controls (median [IQR] age, 72 [65-79] years; 3043 male [59.5%]; 4504 White [88.1%]).

“After adjusting for patient demographics and neighbourhood characteristics, living within 1 mile of a golf course was associated with 126% increased odds of developing PD compared with individuals living more than 6 miles away from a golf course.”

The findings sparked reactions online, with one TikTok user sharing details of their family tragedy: “Omg! My father just died of Parkinson’s, there is a golf course at the top of our road! He had lived in that house since the age of 4!”

Another person disclosed: “My grandparents house was built on one and my uncle now has Parkinson’s disease, plus he played all the time. Grandparents died young so we won’t know if they would be affected.”

A third individual expressed their astonishment at the revelation: “That’s shocking. TikTok has taught me more in one year than life experience of my other 59.” Whilst a fourth TikTok user lamented the difficulty in obtaining information from local authorities on the matter: “I live next to one, and think I’m lucky because of the lovely view.

“It’s council run, how can I find out if they use these? Never easy to speak with council ever about anything never mind this, they would deny. I’ve been ill for years now.”

Doubters weighed in with their thoughts too, meanwhile, pointing out that it might be a case of older citizens settling down near golf courses, thereby skewing statistics. One person reflected: “Is it not because there’s lots of old people who move near a golf course when retired?”

And a second declared: “No, it’s because old people like golf, so they move by a golf course, get old and it’s messes up the data.”

A further study featured in Science Direct, however, indicates that pesticide exposure on golf courses is thankfully somewhat less concerning in the UK, Norway and Denmark than the US. The research highlighted: “20 or fewer active ingredients were available to golf course superintendents, than it was in US where depending on the state between 200 and 250 pesticide active ingredients were registered for use on golf courses.”