More should be done to encourage people to play golf and enjoy its many health benefits, an international panel of experts has concluded.

Researchers found that playing the sport regularly is linked to better physical and mental health and a longer lifespan.

The study engaged some of golf's leading figures, sporting bodies, policy experts and public health groups, who reviewed studies on the sport to build an evidence-based consensus on the links between golf and health and make recommendations for players and the industry.

They suggest that more could be done to inspire more girls and women to play and propose that the industry could develop clubs and courses that are attractive to all, building on current outreach initiatives.

Clubs should also consider adding features such as gyms and walking routes and could consider providing childcare on-site, the consensus statement said.

Using electronic questionnaires, researchers led by the University of Edinburgh engaged an international panel of experts, including the World Golf Foundation and The R&A.

They have proposed improvements to the game based on more than 300 existing studies on golf's associations with health

Lead researcher Dr Andrew Murray from the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Golfers stand to gain physical health, mental health and longevity benefits by playing the sport regularly.

"We advise golfers to play often, to walk the course and to warm up properly, which can help improve their score and decrease the chance of injury.

"We hope that the consensus will contribute to an improved understanding of golf's potential benefits and aid the golf industry in making decisions that improve health and wellbeing across society."

The study is published to coincide with this week's Ryder Cup and appears in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The research also recommends grassroots initiatives to support the development of golf in places where it is a relatively new sport and suggests that price structures should be developed with entry-level players - rather than club members - in mind.