Background Golf is a popular sport worldwide, and the complex and dynamic movement of the golf swing can predispose golfers to injury.

Objective To quantify the prevalence of musculoskeletal injury in amateur and professional golfers, and to identify common injury sites and factors associated with increased injury frequency.

Design Systematic review and meta-analysis.

A search of four databases was performed, and studies reporting the incidence or prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries in golfers at all anatomical sites were included.

Setting Professional and amateur golf worldwide, inclusive of all ages and genders.

Participants 7681 golfers were included (71.9% male, 18.1% female) from 17 studies, with mean age 46.3 years.

Assessment of Risk Factors Risk factors assessed included golf frequency, age, gender, golf handicap and professional or amateur status.

Main Outcome Measurements Career injury prevalence, stratified by anatomical site.

Results Career injury prevalence was significantly greater in professional golfers (73.5% [95% CI: 47.3 – 93.0]) than amateur golfers (54.2% [95% CI: 43.3 – 65.0]; RR = 1.49, p = 0.004). Professional golfers had a significantly greater career prevalence of hand and wrist (RR = 3.36, p < 0.001) and lower back injury (RR = 2.90, p < 0.001). Soft tissue injuries were most common, and diagnoses were typically non-specific. Injury frequency was not associated with age or gender. Two studies reported a greater injury risk in amateur golfers playing more than three and four rounds per week.

Conclusion Over half of golfers sustain a musculoskeletal injury during their career. Risks and patterns of injury differ between professional and amateur golfers, with professionals significantly more likely to develop lower back, and hand and wrist injuries. A recent international consensus statement on the reporting of injury and illness in golf should aid consistency in future golf injury epidemiology research, informing injury prevention strategies.