Hands, Habits, and Hazards: Evaluating Fecal Coliform Exposure and Hygiene Risks on the Golf Course

Golf is a relatively unique sport played in natural outdoor environments that provides an ideal environment for the proliferation of coliforms and fecal coliforms. Natural features, combined with golfers’ frequent hand-to-mouth behaviors (e.g., using fingers to remove mud from a ball, eating during play), increase the risk of exposure to harmful bacteria. This study aimed to assess golfers’ potential exposure to coliforms and fecal coliforms by swabbing their hands and equipment. A brief survey examined golfers’ hygienic behaviors during gameplay. No golfer’s hands tested positive for fecal coliforms before a round of golf, one golfer’s glove tested positive before the round and 44% of golfers’ hands or gloves tested positive after the round of golf. The survey revealed that golfers were highly likely to engage in hand-to-mouth behaviors and reported not cleaning their gloves or bags. These findings suggest a need for increased awareness among golfers to reduce bacterial exposure.