To carry or to pull: A study to investigate the transport of a junior's golf bag

Excessive load carrying by children and its resultant problems is not a new issue. Given the popularity of golf amongst youngsters, this study set out to examine the proportion of junior golfers who carried a bag; the weights junior golfers were carrying around the course in their bags; what type of bag and how they carried it; whether and where they experienced any pain or discomfort; and a number of other related factors. Seventy-five junior golfers responded to a questionnaire examining their carrying habits. The weight they carried was calculated using a balance and they self-reported any incidence of pain or discomfort felt and its location. Results showed that a significant proportion of juniors carried a bag, rather than pulled a trolley, that they carried an average of 18.7% of bodyweight in a bag, which falls outside acceptable recommendations, and 51% of bag carriers experienced some measure of pain or discomfort whilst carrying. The location of the discomfort was consistent with the manner in which the bag was carried. It is recommended that parents and professionals could take a greater interest in the problem and be more pro-active in encouraging youngsters to adopt alternative methods of club transport.