31 March - 1 April 2025
Join us in the heart of Edinburgh The Third International Conference on Golf and Health, taking place in 2025.
Register Here
Event Information
CPD: 11 CPD Points
Join us in the heart of Edinburgh for the Third International Conference on Golf and Health. This two-day event offers a comprehensive exploration of health, sports, and orthopaedic advancements.
The Golf and Health Conference will focus on maximising health benefits through the game of golf. Sessions will cover topics such as the impact of golf on well-being, the role of golf clubs as health-promoting facilities, and the concept of “golf on prescription.” Delegates will also delve into key topics like injury prevention and management, adaptations for disabled golfers, nutrition, strength, conditioning, and insights tailored for female golfers. From examining specific injuries to learning shot-saving techniques from professionals, this conference will provide essential tools for integrating golf as a health-enhancing activity.
This event will provide a unique opportunity to network with leaders in golf, orthopaedics, and sports medicine, offering practical insights for healthcare professionals working to optimise athlete health and enhance patient outcomes across various settings.
Abstracts
The deadline for submissions of abstracts has closed.
Ticket Pricing
Purchase your ticket here.
Ticket Type
Cost
Online
£95
Presenters 2025
Name
Biography
Dr Tony Bennett
Tony serves as the Head of Disability and Inclusion for the International Golf Federation, championing accessibility in the sport. Formerly the National Coach of the Federation of Portuguese Golf, he has coached champions on the European and Ladies European Tours and is credited with modernising golf in Portugal. His contributions earned him the prestigious Order of Merit from the former President of Portugal, Dr Jorge Sampaio.Tony holds a PhD from Durham University and a Master’s from Birmingham University, both in Philosophy. He voluntarily leads the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) as President, promoting inclusivity for golfers with disabilities at all levels of the game.
Dr Chris Bishop
Chris is an Associate Professor of Strength and Conditioning at the London Sport Institute, Middlesex University, where he is also the current Head of Department. He also serves on the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board for the European Tour Group.
Dr Alex Bliss
Alex is Associate Professor in Strength and Conditioning Science at St. Mary's University. He is Editor-in-Chief at the International Journal of Golf Science and published "Strength and Conditioning for Golf" via Routledge in 2022. Outside of academia, Alex consults for England Golf and supports a number of high-performance golfers across various tours.
Mr Lewis Clarke
Lewis serves as the Lead for Sport Science at the PGA. He has been consulting with professionals, amateurs and coaches for over 8 years, specifically in the area of golf biomechanics. This includes swing analysis using 3D motion capture and force plate data. Lewis holds a Masters of Science in Sports Performance, with an applied focus on sports biomechanics. This academic journey has led him to studying for a doctorate, focussing his research on female golf biomechanics. His research is in collaboration with the Research Group in Breast Health, Ladies European Tour and The R&A.
Mr Nick Clement
He undertook his specialist training in the Southeast of Scotland. During his training he obtained a PhD for his work on patient factors influencing the outcome of total knee arthroplasty and a MD for his work on outcomes of elderly and super-elderly fractures. Nick is now a Consultant at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with an interest in lower limb arthroplasty and hip fracture care. He is the author of over 250 publications and several book chapters and believes that only through collaboration can orthopaedic science progress.
Dr Angela Duncan
Based in Dundee, Tayside, she graduated from the University of Dundee in 2005 and qualified in General Practice in 2010. In 2011 she undertook Postgraduate training in SEM at University of Bath and has been working in elite and professional sport since then. She worked as Club Doctor for Dundee Football Club for many years. She now work in Sports & Exercise Medicine and in General Practice. She is involved in the Female Athlete Health group within Sport Scotland Institute of Sport and also supports the AIGWO Golf.
Dr Marie-Elaine Grant
A graduate of University College Dublin, she is a Specialist Member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists and an honorary fellow of the faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. She served as the Lead Physiotherapist for Ireland's Olympic Team from 1992 to 2008, providing sports physiotherapy, injury prevention, and rehabilitation for athletes. In 2010, she was appointed to the International Olympic Committee's Medical and Scientific Commission, where she monitors physiotherapy services for both Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
Dr Andrew Hall
Andrew is a Clinical Lecturer and Specialty Registrar in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery at University of St Andrews. He is pursuing dual training to become a Consultant Surgeon in T&O, and Consultant Physician in Sport & Exercise Medicine. He is the current BASEM Research Scholar (2024-25) and BASEM International Travelling Fellow (2024-25). He works in elite men's and women's sport, including roles as: Club Doctor at Heart of Midlothian FC, Research Fellow at the European Tour Performance Institute, Tour Doctor at DP World Tour golf events, Match Doctor at Scottish Rugby Union, and has experience at sporting events from international to grass roots levels.
Dr Roger Hawkes
Presently The Director of Eligibility for EDGA, the international agency promoting G4D (Golf for Players with Disability). He is the retired CMO of European tour (now DP World Tour) and the founder and executive director of the Golf and Health Project. He has published widely on injury and public health aspects of golf. He is also the immediate past President of BASEM and has served on both the ICC and IGF Medical committees.
Dr Phil Hopley
Phil is a globally recognised expert in mental health and performance across a range of sectors. He leads the MDT sport practice at Cognacity which had the honour of looking after the 10,000 plus athletes performing at the London Olympics. Since 2020 Phil has been mental performance lead for the McLaren F1 Team, supporting their return from midfield to World Champions last season. Phil is also Mental Health and Well-being Specialist Advisor to the European Tour Health and Performance Institute and to the R&A Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. He has considerable experience as a medico-legal expert in high profile elite sport cases covering criminal matters, doping violations and contractual disputes.
Julia Kettinen
Julia is a Sport and Exercise Medicine PhD and Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zürich and Balgrist University Hospital. She specialises in Golf and Exercise Medicine and is also a teaching golf professional with over 10 years of experience helping golfers improve their performance. Her research focuses on golf's physiological effects, particularly related to cardiometabolic health, glucose metabolism, and brain health, investigating how golf might help prevent major global health risks. Her recent Golfix-study garnered significant media attention across multiple scientific and mainstream publications. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between science and practice, ensuring that research on golf's health benefits translates into real-world applications for players, professionals, and healthcare providers.
Dr Chris Nevill
Born and bred in East Africa, he has had a very varied career since training at Cambridge/ StThomas’ Hospital and Tropical Medicine in Nairobi. This has included emergency evacuations, epidemic control and drug resistance surveillance with education and policy action with The Flying Doctor Service. Rural General Practice with Community Hospital and Police Surgeon additions in Wales, and now nearly 10 years as CMO for the R&A, developing and providing medical support services for elite amateur golfers, as well as major event planning and servicing for The Open and other significant golf tournaments.
Ronald John Maughan
He is an Honorary Professor in the School of Medicine at St Andrews University. He has spent much of his career trying to understand the physiological and metabolic responses to exercise and the nature of fatigue, but has included many digressions along the way. He has published extensively in the scientific literature and is author or editor of a number of books on sports nutrition and exercise biochemistry. He has completed a number of football-related projects with FIFA and UEFA and has worked with a number of International and National associations in various sports.
Mr Ray Nyabola
In the traditionally exclusive world of golf, Ray is driving sustainable change. As the founder of Black British Golfers (BBG), he is reshaping the sport’s culture by fostering a community where growth and opportunity thrive. BBG was born from a desire to illuminate the untold stories of Black golfers in the UK. What began as a social media initiative has grown into a transformative movement delivering lasting impact within the golfing community. Through community programs and flagship events, BBG has showcased the potential for golf to create meaningful connections and unlock value for participants from all walks of life. Ray—widely known as ‘Coach Ray’—envisions golf as more than just a sport; it’s a platform for personal development, community empowerment, and sustainable growth.
Miss Amy O'Donnell
Performance Nutritionist working under Close Nutrition servicing the LET, Challenge Tour, GB & I Curtis Cup Team, European Solheim Cup Team, England Golf and Golf Ireland. Any is also doing her Professional Doctorate at LJMU, studying Golf and Nutrition.
Ms Clare Queen
As a former Scotland and GB&I golf internationalist, she turned professional in 2005 and spent seven years competing on the Ladies European Tour before retiring in 2012. She has held a number of roles in sports development, including Scottish Golf Head of Performance. After a spell as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Pathways at Scottish Fencing Clare returned to Scottish Golf in 2024 as Head of Performance and Pathways. Leading on the development of a new Performance strategy for Scottish Golf, she works with the team to provide coaching and competition opportunities for players to progress to the professional game. She is currently focused on developing the pathway for young golfers who aspire to compete at the top level.
Dr Philip Robinson
He is a Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist in Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor University of Leeds and Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, UK. Philip is President-Elect of the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR). He has previously been President of the British Society of Skeletal Radiologists (BSSR) (2018-2020) and Clinical Director for Leeds Radiology (2011-18). He has authored over 120 peer-reviewed papers, 25 book chapters and 1 textbook. His main research interests include: sports acute and overuse injuries (particularly groin, hip, knee and ankle pain), clinical effectiveness studies as well as sarcoma imaging and management.
Dr Graeme Sorbie
He is a lecturer and the Sport and Exercise Science programme leader in the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences at Abertay University. His research interests are primarily focused on the field of golf, particularly within the areas of golf biomechanics and golf and health.Graeme has worked closely with several golf associations within the United Kingdom and worldwide, with the overall aim of understanding and promoting the benefits of playing golf. Graeme is a BASES accredited sport scientist and a member of Research Hub committee at Carnoustie Golf Links.
Dr Michele Verroken
Michele has expertise in anti-doping, sports integrity and governance, her career spans education, international policy consultancy. As founding director of SPORTING INTEGRITY LTD since 2004, Michele advises on integrity strategies, anti-doping policies, and regulations for professional sports organisations, securing WADA Code signatory status for an International Federation. Michele actively collaborates with top-tier golfers, helping them navigate the complex landscape of anti-doping regulations, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of fairness and integrity. Her practical insights and deep understanding of sports law make her sought-after not only in golf, but across other sports. Michele is a qualified arbitrator and adjudicator, experienced in anti-doping, selection, safeguarding, and governance disputes.
Mr Aston Ward
Aston is the Chief Operating Officer at CPG, leading the organisation’s strategic operations and communications. He plays a key role in advancing CPG’s mission to support PGAs and their individual Members and grow the game globally. Alongside his work at CPG, Aston manages communications for the Golf & Health Project, helping to highlight research on golf’s physical and mental health benefits. With expertise in strategic communication and industry collaboration, he works to ensure the sport’s positive impact is widely recognised.
Dr William Wynter Bee
He works as a Sport and Exercise Medicine for the European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI). As part of this he is completing a PhD looking at injuries in elite professional golfers through the UK Collaborating Centre on Injury & Illness Prevention in Sport (UKCCIIS) at the University of Edinburgh. He has a specific interest in Mental Health in Elite Athletes and has completed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Diploma in Elite Athlete Mental Health and is working to continue develop effective Mental Heath strategies across the golf tours. He also works for Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford.
Dr Graeme Close
He is the Head of the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences (RISES) at Liverpool John Moores University and a globally recognised expert in sport science. With extensive experience in leading high-impact research trials, he has secured over £3 million in research funding and has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers. Beyond academia, Professor Close has a distinguished applied track record in elite sport, having served as Head of Sport Nutrition for England Rugby, the DP World Tour Golf, and most recently, The British and Irish Lions.
Ticket Type
Cost (1 Day)
RCSEd Members, IOC Members & BASEM Members
£125
RCSEd Members, IOC Members & BASEM Members + Dinner
£180
Non Members
£150
Non Members + Dinner
£215
Full Time Student
£75
Full Time Student + Dinner
£130
Ticket Type
Cost (2 Days)
RCSEd Members, IOC Members & BASEM Members
£190
RCSEd Members, IOC Members & BASEM Members + Dinner
£245
Non Members
£240
Non Members + Dinner
£295
Full Time Student
£100
Full Time Student + Dinner
£155
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