Survey reveals health benefits of spectating at golf tournaments
Friday 4 August 2017 21:25, UK
It's official - attending a golf tournament as a spectator is great for your health, according to a study conducted by the University of Edinburgh in conjunction with the Golf & Health Project.
The survey, published on the eve of this week's Ricoh Women's British Open, found that almost 83 per cent of spectators at last year's Paul Lawrie Match Play met and exceeded the recommended daily step count, with the 339 fans in the study averaging 11,589 steps.
The research is the first to assess spectator physical activity while watching golf, and the findings suggested that "golf spectating can provide health enhancing physical activity; while also allowing spectators to spend time in green space, socialise with friends and family, and watch their sporting heroes compete in real life".
A statement released by the Golf & Health Project, which is being supported by the R&A, added: "Surveyed spectators rated obtaining exercise/physical activity as an important reason for attending golf events, equal to their rating of seeing star players, being part of the 'atmosphere' around an event, and getting fresh air. 60 per cent also said they would like to be more physically active after the tournament.
"These benefits and reasons for attending events could have benefits for event promoters in terms of engagement with spectators, local communities and funding organisations, along with wider public health implications in encouraging people to be more active more often."
Dr Andrew Murray, a researcher with the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh, has urged golfing authorities to share the findings of the survey and promote the physical benefits of golf spectating.
He said: "Walking is one of the best things you can do for you health, adding years to life, and increasing health and happiness. These pilot findings show that golf spectators can gain physical activity that could benefit their health while watching top-quality sport at close quarters.
"This is something that could have huge implications in terms of event attendance and encouraging more people to get interested in the sport."
Spectators attending the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles collectively walked a distance equal to four times around the world, while fans at last year's Shenzhen International in China combined to walk the equivalent length of the Great Wall of China seven times.
For more information on the health benefits for spectators at tournaments, visit the Golf & Health Project website.
