POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPECTATING AT GOLF EVENTS

That this House welcomes the recent publication of scientific papers relating to the potential health benefits to the world's over-10 million spectators attending golf tournaments; notes a recent study by Professor Nanette Mutrie, Dr Andrew Murray and colleagues published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine which showed that spectators take an average of over 11,000 steps while walking the course and, as well as observing leading players in this fashion, are more likely to have an active interest in gaining physical activity and spending time with their families; further notes this builds on a review conducted by the University of Edinburgh and published 2016 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine which highlighted that golf can provide moderate intensity physical activity as advocated by the World Health Organisation and the UK's four chief medical officers; is pleased that these reports are being widely shared by player ambassadors such as Annika Sorenstam , Gary Player, Padraig Harrington as well as current world number one So Yeon Ryu; encourages others to read these reports and consider their implications; looks forward to future research in this area; further encourages others to make the most of the associated health benefits UK-held tournaments held by the R&A, the European Tour and the PGAs of Europe offer; and further welcomes the the collaborative approach of the World Golf Foundation, the R&A, PGAs of Europe, the European Tour, Paths for All and the Universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews have shown to date and ongoing.