Golf may not be quite the deterrent that many health experts suggest when it comes to preventing heart disease. The accepted maxim for years had been that a little gentle exercise five times a week dramatically reduces the odds of a fatal heart attack. Not quite so according to a recent survey conducted at Queen's University.

The survey, which studied 2,398 men aged between 49 and 64 in Caerphilly in Wales. During the nine years that followed the start of the Caerphilly survey, eight per cent of the men died. The team looked at the quantity and quality of the exercise that the man had done during their lives. Vigorous exercise, including hiking, jogging, running, swimming, tennis and badminton appeared to lower the risk of having a heart attack.

Golf, walking and gardening did not. Mind you the British Heart Foundation was quick to stress that the findings did not suggest that gentle exercise had no benefit.