Solheim Cup will get fans moving

Golf fans will walk the equivalent of 20 times around the world at this month’s Solheim Cup, it has been revealed.

Organisers of the event, which takes place from September 9-15 at Gleneagles, want to promote the health and wellbeing benefits of attending the Solheim Cup, with almost 100,000 people expended to attend.

This comes after a study of golf spectators in Scotland found fans following one round of action at Gleneagles will talk up to six miles on average, taking more than 11,500 steps and burning 1000 calories.

Based on this research and the projected attendance figures, spectators are expected to walk 20 times round the 25,000-mile circumference of the earth.

Researchers say by promoting the benefits of walking at the Solheim Cup, they can help tackle the issue of physical inactivity, which causes more than three million deaths worldwide, with a lack of activity killing six Scots every day.

Dr Andrew Murray, lead researcher in the golf and health research, says he believes the 2019 Solheim Cup will re-emphasis the benefits of spectating a major golf event.

Dr Murray, who will be on hand at the event as medical director, said:“The 2019 Solheim Cup is another worldclass sporting event to celebrate in Scotland and while the spectators can’t win the trophy they can certainly celebrate their own health and fitness success.

“We know from the 2019 international consensus on golf and health that golfers live longer than non-golfers, but the benefits of golf spectating can be significant - following your favourite player or pairing around Gleneagles in September, even for one day, will exceed many of the government recommendations for physical activity, whether it’s number of steps, miles walked or calories burned.

“There are no comparable sports where the benefits of going along to watch can have such a positive impact - especially to those friends and families who will be attending for the duration and may walk up to five miles per day for every day of competition.

“The message for the spectators already planning to go, or those who have yet to confirm is simple - enjoying the best of women’s golf will make you healthier, not just physically but the benefits of walking outdoors, getting all that fresh air, is also known to improve people’s mental wellbeing.

“Try to maintain regular exercise after the event too - 30 minutes of walking five times per week decreases risk of early death by 30 per cent and can help prevent and treat over 40 diseases such as heart attacks, type two diabetes and depression.”

Tickets for the Solheim Cup start at £25 for the opening ceremony and children under the age of 16 go free when accompanied by a paying adult, and can be bought online via www. solheimcup2019.com/tickets