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At a tournament, it can be. Spectators walk a long way following the action, get plenty of fresh air and spend the day with friends and family. Here’s what the studies found and how to make the most of your day at the golf.
11,589
Spectators at the 2016 Paul Lawrie Match Play in Scotland wore step counters from the moment they arrived until they left. This was the first study to measure how active golf spectators are.
Source: Murray et al., 2017
Key findings
01
83% of the 329 spectators who wore step counters reached the recommended daily step count just by watching. Source: Murray et al., 2017
02
Spectators rated fresh air as their most important reason for attending, followed by watching star players, exercise and time with friends and family. Source: Murray et al., 2017
03
Three months after the event, 65% of spectators who replied said information they got at the tournament made them think about being more active, and 40% said they had been. Source: Murray et al., 2019
04
At a professional tournament in Japan, spectators who were more active at the event reported better health, which in turn was linked to greater life satisfaction. Source: Watanabe et al., 2020
Watch and share
Dr Andrew Murray explains the research and why people who go to golf events could gain some of the same benefits as the players.
Our infographic sums up the findings in one picture, ready to share with your club, your members or your audience. Source: Murray et al., 2018
How sure can we be?
It’s early days. The step counts are solid, because they were measured with step counters rather than guessed. Source: Murray et al., 2017
The follow-up is less certain. Fewer than half of spectators replied, so the researchers say the results should be treated with caution. Source: Murray et al., 2019
What we can say: a day at a tournament gets most spectators past the recommended daily step count, and many of them value the exercise.
Make the most of your day
Walk the course with a group of players rather than staying in one spot.
You could easily cover more than 10,000 steps, so dress for a long walk.
You’ll be outdoors all day. Wear sun cream and a hat.
Time with other people is part of what makes the day good for you.
Common questions
Going to a tournament can be. Spectators at a Scottish event walked 11,589 steps on average, and 83% reached the recommended daily step count. Source: Murray et al., 2017.
In the first study to measure it, spectators averaged 11,589 steps over their time at the event. Source: Murray et al., 2017.
Fresh air came top, followed by watching star players, getting exercise and spending time with friends and family. Source: Murray et al., 2017.
It may help. Three months later, 40% of spectators who replied said they had become more active, though fewer than half replied. Source: Murray et al., 2019.
Not in the same way. The benefits found so far come from being at the event: walking the course, fresh air and company.
Keep exploring
Friendship, belonging and laughter: why golf’s social side matters.
Read about social wellbeing →
Heart health, blood sugar, cholesterol and balance.
Read about physical health →
Less distress, lower risk of depression and golf for people living with dementia.
Read about mental health →
Golfers have been found to live around five years longer.
Read about living longer →
The Golf & Health Project brings together published research on golf and health. Page last reviewed: November 2026.
