Social capital and successful aging among senior park golfers

Park golf, which evolved from golf, is one of South Korea’s fastest-growing sports. As park golf has become increasingly popular, specifically among older adults, its advantages and disadvantages must be identified. This study aims to explore the experiences of older adults engaged in park golf, specifically focusing on how playing park golf fosters social capital and contributes to successful aging among senior park golfers. Twenty senior park golfers participated in detailed interviews. The qualitative data analysis shows that this study’s participants constituted a formal group. Five main themes were identified from the data analysis: (a) reciprocity, (b) bonding networks, (c) bridging networks, (d) social participation, and (e) health. Moreover, our findings provide empirical evidence that playing park golf can create social capital related to successful aging among seniors.