Working together
Professor Sullivan continued, “It’s been a revelation to see how keen people are to take part. From the University, clearly there was an academic theoretical issue that the psychologists were keen to explore. We’ve been really pleased working with The R&A and several other golf organisations. Also the practices have been keen to facilitate to try and make it work.
“Golf is a lifetime sport, people can start off fairly early on in childhood and carry on for quite a long time, even with some disabilities, so we think the sport is a good exemplar to encourage people to be more active.”
The clubs running the programme are Cluny Clays, Dunfermline, Dunnikier Park and Elmwood in Fife. The region hosted The 150th Open in July and the pilot continues the hard work to promote the benefits of golf for health.
“As part of The 150th Open we were promoting physical activity, working with local schools and nursing homes and further afield through a range of activities,” said Murray. “Even Fiona Bull was here, the World Health Organization’s Director of Physical Activity in Sport, playing golf at entry participation level. She was very impressed with what happened at The 150th Open. Golf events are amazing spectacles but they can promote health and well-being as well and nowhere was that better done than The 150th Open.”