The contribution of golf to daily physical activity recommendations: how many steps does it take to complete a round of golf?

Mayo Clin Proc. 2006 Aug;81(8):1041-3. doi: 10.4065/81.8.1041.

Abstract

To quantify the number of steps adults take during an 18-hole round of golf, we recruited 42 healthy volunteers (12 men and 30 women aged 30-80 years) with established United States Golf Association handicaps to complete an 18-hole round of golf on each of 3 municipal golf courses. Subjects walked each course while wearing a pedometer to record step data. Analysis revealed that each golfer took a mean +/- SD 11,948 +/- 1781 steps per 18-hole round of golf. Regardless of handicap level, sex, or course played, most subjects exceeded 10,000 steps during a typical round of golf. Consequently, in most cases, walking 18 holes of golf will meet the recommendation to accumulate 10,000 steps per day as part of a general physical activity plan.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Disabled Persons / rehabilitation
  • Female
  • Golf / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Minnesota
  • Obesity / prevention & control