The Grass Mark: A Study on the Lifestyle Impacts on the Parents of Indian Female Student-Golfers

The demands of amateur student-athletes in competitive sports extend well beyond the athletes and influence their families. The involvement of young female athletes in national-level sports significantly impacts their parents' work and lifestyle on a variety of levels. This study aims to investigate the numerous impacts on mainly their parents’ lives and the degree of its impacts. Different methods are employed in order to gain a holistic perspective on the data collected; a structured survey was conducted, categorising responses into themes such as education of the student-athlete, work and travel arrangements, shopping patterns, social life, stress patterns and their support system. Most parents assist with academics and believe their chosen curriculum supports their child’s lifestyle. Findings reveal that one parent typically works full-time, travel for events is frequent, and occupational patterns are influenced by these commitments. Parents report moderate stress, primarily due to balancing academics, athletics, and travel logistics. The study highlights the need for a structured support system but acknowledges limitations in sample size, suggesting future research on broader trends and longitudinal studies investigating the same.