🏌️♂️Living Near A Golf Course May Raise Risk of Parkinson’s Disease — Here’s What You Need to Know
- Ava
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
A new study links pesticide exposure from golf courses to higher odds of Parkinson's disease, especially through contaminated drinking water.
Introduction
Golf courses may look serene and green — but beneath the fairways and manicured lawns lies an unsettling truth. A groundbreaking study published in JAMA Network Open has revealed a troubling connection between residential proximity to golf courses and a significantly increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD).
If you or someone you love lives near a golf course, this post breaks down the science, the risks, and what you can do.
The Study at a Glance
Researchers from Mayo Clinic, Barrow Neurological Institute, and others conducted a population-based case-control study in Minnesota and Wisconsin. They examined:
419 cases of Parkinson’s disease
5,113 matched controls
Residential addresses in relation to 139 golf courses
Drinking water sources, groundwater vulnerability, and municipal well data
Their conclusion? Living near golf courses, especially in areas where drinking water comes from vulnerable groundwater sources, significantly increases your risk of developing Parkinson’s.
The Numbers: How Much Higher Is the Risk?
Living within 1 mile of a golf course increased the odds of Parkinson’s by 126% compared to those more than 6 miles away (aOR 2.26).
The odds nearly tripled for people living 1–2 miles away (aOR 2.98).
Drinking water from a groundwater source in a water service area that includes a golf course nearly doubled the odds of PD (aOR 1.96).
If the groundwater was deemed vulnerable, the odds increased even more — by 82% (aOR 1.82) compared to those in nonvulnerable areas.
Why Golf Courses?
Golf courses use up to 15 times more pesticides than farms in Europe. Chemicals commonly applied include:
Chlorpyrifos
2,4-D
MCPP
Paraquat
Rotenone
Organophosphates and organochlorines
Many of these pesticides are neurotoxic and have been independently linked to Parkinson’s disease in prior research¹².
How Do These Chemicals Reach You?
Two main routes of exposure:
1. Drinking Water Contamination
Pesticides applied to golf courses can leach into groundwater, which supplies municipal wells. One previous study found pesticide levels in groundwater under golf courses up to 200x higher than health safety limits¹⁶.
2. Airborne Exposure
Pesticides don't stay put. They can evaporate and drift into surrounding neighborhoods — particularly problematic in urban settings where homes are closer together. The study found the strongest associations between proximity and PD risk in urban environments.
What Makes Groundwater “Vulnerable”?
Vulnerable groundwater areas have:
Shallow soil
Coarse textures
Karst or fractured bedrock
These features allow pesticides to move quickly from surface applications into the drinking water supply.
Should You Be Concerned?
This isn’t alarmism — it’s evidence-based science. Parkinson’s disease has a long latency period, meaning exposure today might not cause symptoms for years. If you live within 3 miles of a golf course, particularly in a groundwater-fed municipal water area, you may be at elevated risk.
What You Can Do
Here’s how to reduce potential exposure:
Get your water tested. Especially if you're on a private well or groundwater system.
Use water filtration. A certified system that removes pesticides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is ideal.
Advocate locally. Ask your town or HOA how often pesticides are used and push for safer landscaping policies.
Stay informed. If you're house-hunting, look into both the water source and proximity to golf courses or other large treated areas.
Consider taking supplements such as Fulvic Mineral Powder (see below for info)
🌿 Fulvic Mineral Powder: A Natural Ally Against Glyphosate
Fulvic acid is a potent natural compound that helps the body detoxify harmful substances like glyphosate—the widely used herbicide found in many conventional landscaping and agricultural products, including those often applied on golf courses.
Thanks to its small molecular size and strong negative charge, fulvic acid binds to positively charged toxins like glyphosate and escorts them out of the body through urine or feces⁴⁵. Beyond detoxification, fulvic acid may also help repair damage to the gut lining caused by glyphosate, restoring tight junction integrity and supporting a healthier, more resilient microbiome⁶⁷.
🧪 How Can You Know If You're at Risk?
While there’s no single test that can definitively predict Parkinson’s disease (PD), science is catching up — especially for those concerned about environmental exposure, like living near pesticide-treated golf courses.
🔬 Most Relevant Testing Options for PD Risk
1. Uric Acid Test (Blood or Urine)
Lower uric acid levels have been linked to higher PD risk.
This is a simple, accessible test that may offer clues about your oxidative stress profile.
2. Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) – Blood Test
A general marker of neurodegeneration.
Not specific to PD but may reflect brain cell damage years before diagnosis.
3. Alpha-Synuclein Assays (Specialty Test)
Misfolded α-synuclein protein is the defining feature of PD.
Currently requires a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample via lumbar puncture.
Used mainly in research or high-specialty clinics.
4. Genetic Screening (Blood or Saliva)
Recommended if there’s a family history or early-onset PD.
Genes of interest: LRRK2, GBA, PINK1, SNCA.
Note: Most PD is not inherited, but genetics can elevate your baseline risk.
5. DaTscan (Imaging)
A brain scan that detects dopamine transporter activity.
Can help identify early PD in symptomatic individuals but not used for screening.
Should You Get Tested?
If you’re asymptomatic but live near a golf course or have a family history of PD, consider:
Speaking to a neurologist or movement disorder specialist
Starting with basic blood tests (uric acid, NfL) and genetic testing
Getting an early DaTscan if any motor or non-motor symptoms arise (e.g., tremors, loss of smell, REM sleep issues)
Being proactive could help you identify risk early — and explore protective lifestyle interventions while it still matters.
Conclusion
This isn’t about avoiding golf — it’s about recognizing environmental exposures that silently impact neurological health. The manicured lawns may look pristine, but the invisible costs could be devastating. As research evolves, public health guidelines may need to address the hidden risks of living “green-adjacent.” In the meantime, concerned individuals can avoid exposure, get tested, and start taking supplements to counter the effects of poisonous pesticides.
References
Krzyzanowski B, et al. Proximity to Golf Courses and Risk of Parkinson Disease. JAMA Network Open. 2025;8(5):e259198. DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.9198
Tanner CM, et al. Rotenone, paraquat, and Parkinson’s disease. Environ Health Perspect. 2011;119(6):866-872.
Cohen SZ, et al. Ground water monitoring study on golf courses. Ground Water Monit Remediat. 1990;10(1):160.
Zhao, Y., et al. Application of Fulvic Acid in Agriculture: A Review of Recent Advances. Molecules. 2021;26(13):3612. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26133612
Kaur, R., et al. Detoxification potential of fulvic acid on herbicide-stressed plants and its environmental implications. Environmental Research. 2023;216:114542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114542
Seneff, S., Swanson, N., & Li, C. Evidence that glyphosate interferes with gut barrier function and microbiome integrity. Journal of Environmental Analytical Toxicology. 2016;6(4):384. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0525.1000384
Szabo, A., et al. Fulvic acid mitigates oxidative stress and intestinal permeability in inflammatory models. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2020;123:109753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109753
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