Until very recently, the Olympic Club in San Francisco didn’t allow women to be members.
Now, the historic course is the site of the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open.
With some professional sports out of action during the coronavirus pandemic, some athletes might have had trouble staying in shape.
But golfers have some advantages.
"Golf’s been one of these great sports during the pandemic because a lot of people have been able to continue to play," said Dr. Sara Edwards, UCSF sports medicine specialist. "It’s one of the ones that has been probably the least regulated and people can be distanced. So, yeah, I think the golfers have stayed on track the whole time."
The sport is played outside and allows for social distancing, something another UCSF sports medicine specialist, Dr. Drew Landsdown, said is why a few more people have taken it up lately.
"We’re definitely seeing more of the overuse type injuries, especially as people start these newer activities to them," he added.
Both Dr. Edwards and Dr. Landsdown are part of a team providing medical coverage at the Olympic Club — which didn’t even allow female members until the 1990s and is now hosting the women’s major.
They spoke with KCBS Radio's "As Prescribed" on Thursday.
Dr. Edwards also runs the UCSF Women’s Sports Medicine Center and said women and girls are more prone to getting certain injuries — like in the ACL — one of the knee’s main stabilizing ligaments.
"They’re a bit smaller in cross-sectional diameter," Dr. Edwards explained. "We have estrogen in our bodies, which makes our ligaments more lax. And then our anatomy - the way we’re shaped - also makes us more prone to putting shear (force) on the ACL. So we’re more prone to getting those injuries."
Related
