Scottish study shows watching golf is healthy for you

OTTAWA— So there’s good news and there’s bad news, golf fans.

The good news is that watching golf can significantly improve your health and reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke or diabetes.

The bad news is, watching it on TV doesn’t count.

Turns out attending a golf tournament in person can be almost as beneficial to one’s health as playing the game itself, says a new study from the University of Edinburgh.

The study, billed as the first to assess the physical activity of tournament spectators, found that nearly 83 per cent of participants exceeded the recommended daily step-count levels, taking on average some 11,589 steps over a day spent watching the on-course action in person.

“Walking is one of the best things you can do for your health, adding years to life and increasing health and happiness,” said Dr. Andrew Murray, the researcher from the school’s Physical Activity for Health Research Centre who authored the study.

“These pilot findings show golf spectators can experience physical activity to benefit their health while watching a top-quality sport at close quarters. This could have huge implications on event attendance and encouraging more people to attend a professional event or begin playing the sport.”

The Presidents Cup — complete with Adam Hadwin, Canada’s top golfer, on the International team — gets underway next week at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J.

Liberty National, in case you’re wondering — and by now you should be — is an eight-hour drive from Toronto, and six hours due south of Montreal. Single-day tickets are still available for $115 (U.S.) each for competition days, and $50 for practice days. A full week’s pass runs $500.

“Our study shows the vast majority of spectators did spend some time walking the course,” Murray said.