A Study on Sports Ethics of Golf players

Objectives The purpose of this study is to assess the level of sports ethics awareness among golf players and to explore the causes of unethical behavior during competitions, with the ultimate goal of proposing measures to enhance ethical standards among golfers. Methods A total of 210 athletes affiliated with middle and high school leagues, as well as KPGA and KLPGA, participated in this study. T-tests and ANOVA were used to analyze differences in ethical awareness according to personal background variables, while frequency analysis was conducted to identify the types of unethical behavior and the demand for ethical education. Results The results indicate that there were no significant differences in ethical awareness by gender, but higher levels of ethical awareness were observed among older athletes with more experience and more frequent participation in competitions. Instances of personal unethical behavior during competitions were recorded at 148 cases, while observed unethical behavior by others reached 733 cases. The primary cause of unethical behavior was identified as pressure to achieve high scores. Furthermore, 80.3% of participants expressed the need for ethical education, with match-fixing being the most critical issue to be addressed (41.8%) Conclusions This study concludes that there is a need for systematic and practical ethical education programs that can be implemented early in an athlete's career, particularly within institutions like KPGA and KLPGA.