A longitudinal examination of performance decline in champion golfers

The maintenance of skilled performance is of increasing interest and importance in our aging society. Bortz and Bortz (1996) suggested that cognitive and physical abilities decline at a rate of 0.5% per year from peak performance. However, examinations of expert performance in cognitive‐motor activities suggest that performance in these areas can be maintained with age. This study examined the career performance of 17 professional golfers. Results showed that the age‐related decline in golf performance was on average 0.07% for the period 35–49 years of age and 0.26% for the period 51–60 years of age. While additional research is required to determine the generalizablity of these results, they indicate that the age‐related decline in skilled golf performance is considerably less than previously suggested.