BACKGROUND CONTEXT Lumbar spinal fusion is one of the fastest growing surgical procedures, with the majority being in patients aged 60 years and older. Remaining active is an important consideration for elderly patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion. Golf, swimming, and biking are common forms of recreational exercise for an older population in whom lumbar fusion is often performed. There is a lack of data in the current literature regarding rates of return to recreational sporting activities following elective lumbar fusion. PURPOSE To obtain information on rates of return to sport following lumbar fusion as well as sport-specific effects to improve evidence-based preoperative patient counseling. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective questionnaire study conducted at a single academic medical center. PATIENT SAMPLE All patients undergoing lumbar fusion at a single institution from 2012 to 2016 were screened and included in this study. A minimum of 1 year postoperative follow-up was required. A total of 117 patients were identified undergoing single or multilevel lumbar fusion during this time period. The average age was 63 years old. Patients were screened to identify recreational athletes participating in one of three sports (golf, swimming and biking) preoperatively. OUTCOME MEASURES Outcomes collected included pre- and postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, return to sport rates, pre- and postoperative exercise amounts, and golf-specific data regarding driving distances and handicap. METHODS Following IRB approval, patients within the identified lumbar fusion cohort with at least 1 year of follow-up were identified. Phone interview and mailed questionnaires were obtained to screen and identify patients who participated in one of three recreational sports prior to surgery (golf, swimming, and biking). Pre- and postoperative collected outcome measures were then compared using a student's T-test. RESULTS A total of 117 identified lumbar fusion patients, 32 patients (27%) were identified to have participated in one of the three most common recreational sporting activities of golf, swimming, or biking. Within the golf cohort (n=13), 100% of patients returned to recreational golfing postoperatively. There was a statistically significant reduction in VAS pain scores postoperatively (6.3±3.7 to 1.8±2.4, p=.01). Driving distance was reduced postoperatively (223.3 yards±42.7 to 212.1±44.4, p=.042) and handicaps increased (12.8±8.4 to 17.0±11.4, p=.02). Within the swimming cohort (n=9), 100% of patients returned to recreational swimming following lumbar fusion. There was a statistically significant reduction in VAS pain scores postoperatively (9.1±1.7 to 2.2±2.3, p=.01). There was a trend to increased episodes of swimming per week postoperatively, however, this was not statistically significant (2.1±1.7 to 3.7±1.5 postoperatively, p=.10). Within the biking cohort (n=10), 100% of patients returned to recreational biking following lumbar fusion. There was a statistically significant reduction in VAS pain scores postoperatively (6.7±4.0 to 1.3±1.7, p=.03). There was a trend to increased episodes of biking per week postoperatively, however, this was not statistically significant (2.5±1.8 to 3.7±1.6 postoperatively, p=.20). CONCLUSIONS Patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion have relatively low rates of preoperative recreational sport participation. However, among those who do participate, there is a high rate of return to sport. Golfers can be counseled that lumbar fusion likely has an adverse effect on their golfing ability with an increase in handicap and an expected reduction in driving distance.