For many golfers, living on a course feels like the ultimate lifestyle upgrade: early tee times just steps away, a perfectly mown fairway as your backyard, and the quiet rhythm of the game unfolding outside your window. Communities around iconic venues like TPC Sawgrass promise exactly that—luxury homes perched beside the game’s most recognizable holes.
But a new study published in JAMA Network Open raises serious questions about the safety of that dream. Researchers found that living near a golf course is associated with significantly increased odds of developing Parkinson’s disease, particularly in neighborhoods where municipal water is drawn from vulnerable groundwater sources. The culprit? Pesticide contamination—both in the air and in the water—linked to the aggressive turf management practices common in the U.S.
This hit close to home for me. I’ve long thought about retiring to a house just off the 17th green, maybe even sneaking out for short-game practice at dusk. But after reading this study, I found myself relieved to live eight minutes away from the nearest tee box. I still get to play regularly—but I no longer see distance from the course as a drawback. It might be a layer of protection. And for other golfers considering a home on the fairway, it may be worth asking: what’s the real cost of that perfect view?
The Health Tradeoff
According to a case-control study published in May 2025, people who lived within 1 to 3 miles of a golf course had significantly higher odds of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to those who lived farther away. The highest observed risk came not from being right next to the course, but from living 1 to 2 miles out—likely close enough to be exposed to airborne pesticides or affected drinking water supplies.
“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.”
— Krzyzanowski et al., JAMA Network Open, 2025
Here’s how the odds look visually:
The study also found elevated Parkinson’s risk among people whose water came from groundwater sources near golf courses, especially in areas with vulnerable aquifers. That suggests chemicals used for turf maintenance may be leaching into shared municipal water systems.
“Individuals getting their tap water from water service areas with a golf course in vulnerable groundwater regions had 82% greater odds of PD.”
— Table 3, JAMA Study
The American Turf Obsession
The health concerns raised in the recent study are rooted in how differently American golf courses are maintained compared to their European counterparts. In the U.S., conditioning is king. At courses like TPC Sawgrass or Bethpage Black, turf is kept green, dense, and uniform through aggressive chemical programs. Fairways are lush year-round, greens are kept soft and receptive, and even the rough is regularly treated to maintain a consistent visual standard. Achieving that look often involves weekly applications of fertilizers, fungicides, and herbicides—particularly 2,4-D and chlorpyrifos, both linked to neurological risks.
In contrast, traditional courses in the British Isles, such as Royal Dornoch and Royal County Down, embrace a minimalist philosophy. Fairways are firm and fast, often browned by summer sun. Rough is allowed to grow naturally or even managed by grazing animals. Pesticide use is minimal or avoided entirely. These courses aren’t considered scruffy—they’re celebrated for their authenticity and environmental harmony.
Where TPC Sawgrass reshapes the land to maintain control, Royal Dornoch lets the land define the course. The difference isn’t just visual. It’s chemical. And for residents living nearby, it may also be neurological.
Rethinking the Dream
I still love golf. I still want to play often. But I no longer feel a pull to live beside a tee box or alongside a green. My short drive to the course now feels like a buffer—a lucky distance that lets me enjoy the game without sharing in its risks and environmental costs. Living on a course might look like paradise—but sometimes, the healthiest place to be is just far enough away.