“Living within 1 mile of a golf course (often saturated with pesticides) was linked to 126% higher odds of Parkinson’s. The farther away people lived, the lower the risk.” Per Brandon Luu, MD
Controversial New Study Links Parkinson's With Living Near a Golf Course HEALTH14 May 2025 By CARLY CASSELLA A contentious new study has found that people who live near golf courses may face a higher risk of Parkinson's disease. That does not mean that golf courses are directly causing Parkinson's, but the authors of the study, led by Brittany Krzyzanowski of the Barrow Neurological Institute in the US, have a hypothesis. They think that rampant pesticides on fairways and greens may be exposing nearby residents to toxic chemicals via the air and water. That's a scary prospect, to be sure, but independent experts at the non-profit Parkinson's UK, who were not involved in the current research, have called these suspicions "reductive.” Parkinson's disease is a complex neurological condition without known cause, and in recent years, intense debate has raged over whether certain pesticides may increase the risk of neurodegeneration. (More content about study) … The current research elevates recent concerns around pesticides, but it is hardly a hole-in-one. Researchers will need to take quite a few more swings to prove that pesticides from golf courses are leaching into groundwater and raising the risk of Parkinson's for those living nearby. The study was published in JAMA Network Open. # Source: Science Alert https://www.sciencealert.com/controversial-new-study-links-parkinsons-with-living-near-a-golf-course
Sort of on the topic, when I purchased here in 1998 I had two giant Mexican bird of paradise plants in the backyard which faced the South Golf course. A family of quail had taken up residence in each plant. While visiting here, it was nice to see the parents taking the young ones out for food, exercise and I guess quail training. Each family had between 6-8 chicks each year. After it moving here in 2005, I have noticed that for the past 9 years or so the number of chicks has dropped significantly to the point they are having only 2-3 chicks a year. I brought this up with the golf director about 7 years ago about the declining population and whether the chemicals could be responsible as the quail were feeding on the course. His reply was that no one else has brought this to my attention. I have been thinking lately about the quail as I think it is about time to see the new family, how this would affect other wildlife where I live. I have coyotes feeding here occasionally, some feral cats and raptor birds. Not sure if they have been affected, but I would like to know more about what the RCSC is spreading on the courses. I have hand tremors occasionally and Parkinson’s does not run in either side of my family. What to do? I think that the RCSC should post on the website a list of the chemicals used annually on the courses so we can determined if they should be stopped and suggest safer products that would achieve their goal. Anybody else live on a course or plays golf regularly that has noticed quail population diminishing or physical problems not related to family history or general health? I would like to know as these chemicals do leach into the aquifer.
The Gambel's quail have a clutch of between 6 and 15 eggs, twice a year. That hasn't changed. What has is that this area has become so built up that habitats for all wildlife (including predators of quail) are limited and more closely confined than ever before. Combine that with feral cats, somewhat increasing coyote population and more competition for food and resources and all the wildlife suffer. So if Mr. & Mrs. GQ have a clutch of 10 or 12 babies, by the time they run across my yard from the wash there are maybe 8, the next day 4, and so on. If you go up to Cave Creek Regional park just before sunrise and check out the pond near the visitor's center you will see many more quail with their babies as they have much less dense environment. Our bird population numbers everywhere are sharply declining for sure. We're losing saguaros at an alarming rate due to the worsening summer heat here. In the past few years I've seen fledglings fall from wires and literally fry on the pavement below. It's fn heartbreaking. The heat will kill us all first. We have an increasing and healthy population of Harris Hawks here and they are amazing raptors. I would love to be able to walk our golf courses before sunrise with a pair of binoculars. I have noticed (last year not this year yet) finch eye disease in house finches. I have also seen bill and foot deformities in house finches as well. Bacterial and mite infections, respectively. As for the golf course chemicals, I am not concerned at this point. We've done this to ourselves. Rachel Carson warned us many years ago.
