title: Salivary cortisol, testosterone, and T/C ratio responses during a 36-hole golf competition.
abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of 36 continuous holes of competitive golf on salivary testosterone, cortisol, and testosterone-to-cortisol ratio and their relation to performance in eight elite male collegiate golfers (age 20.3 [+/- 1.5] years). Thirty-six holes of a 54-hole NCAA golf tournament were played on the first day of the competition. A saliva sample was taken 45 minutes prior to the round and immediately following each hole for a total of 37 samples per subject. Time matched baseline samples were collected on a different day to account for circadian variation. Six-hole areas under the curve (AUC) values were calculated for endocrine measures. Significant (p < 0.05) increases were noted for cortisol during competition, however, testosterone did not change during competition compared to baseline. Testosterone-to-cortisol (T/C) ratio was significantly lower throughout the competition compared to baseline measures. Thirty-six-hole AUC testosterone-to-cortisol ratio response was correlated (r = 0.82) to 36-hole score. There was a high correlation between pre-round testosterone (r = 0.71), T/C ratio response (r = 0.82), and 36-hole score. CSAI-2 somatic anxiety was correlated to pre-round cortisol (r = 0.81) and testosterone (r = - 0.80) response. These results indicate a significant hormonal response during 10 hours of competitive golf. Good golf performance (low golf scores) in this competition was related to low T/C ratio (r = .82). Additionally, results from this investigation validated CSAI-2 somatic anxiety with physiological measures of anxiety.
authors.affiliation: The U. S. Air Force Academy Human Performance Laboratory, 4212A East Muledeer Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840, USA. brandon.doan@usafa.af.mil
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Doan
authors.forename: R U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: Y-H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Scheet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006055:Golf; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone