Background Epidemiological study analyzing golf specific injury mechanism has not been conducted in women's professional level golf.

Objective To analyze the golf specific injury mechanisms of Korean ladies Professional Golfers in different tour levels of play (ie, Division I, II and III tour).

Design Prospective epidemiological study.

Setting Using Yonsei Institute of Sports Science and Exercise Medicine Injury Surveillance System (YISSEM ISS) questionnaire survey division I, II and III tour Korean women professional golfers were participated in this study.

Patients (or Participants) A total of 388 professional golfers in the 2015 KLPGA tour were recruited.

Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors) Injuries sustained as a professional golfer.

Main Outcome Measurements Time of injury, basic injury mechanism, when and where the injury occurred, amount of golf swing training per day and ground status while injured. A chi-square and logistic regression analysis were conducted to evaluate the golf-related injury mechanisms and any possible risk factors.

Results The injury rate was greater in the morning practice (34%) than afternoon (14%) or evening (4%) practice (P<0.05). A total range of 69 to 74% of all injury occurred during golf swing. The injury was most likely to occur during downswing specifically at ball impact (I:42%, II:37%, III:46%) followed by the follow-through (I:17%, II:19%, III:15%). Swing on the bad grass was 101.80 times more likely to result in injury (OR=101.80, CI 9.28–1116.43) and golfers are 58.7 times more likely to get injured during golf swing (OR=58.7, CI 9.23–373.76).

Conclusions Golfers are more prone to have injury when practicing golf swing during downswing on the bad grass condition in the morning. It was surprising result that environmental factors which can be quite easily modified results in various types of golf injuries. Before starting golf swing, golfers should check environmental factors to prevent golf injury.