- The all-new Step Fore It challenge invites fans to log their steps as they enjoy the tournament, showcasing how golf promotes physical activity for both spectators and players alike
- Exciting daily prizes will be awarded to the step leaders, celebrating the wide-reaching health benefits of the sport
- Golfers who walk the courses, which can be up to eight miles, can rack up to 17,000 steps and burn up to 1,200 calories over 18 holes.
- The 2025 tournament will see the return of the Mental Fitness & Recovery Zone, offering holistic support for players’ and their teams wellbeing
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2025 is celebrating the wide-reaching health and wellness benefits of golf for both spectators and players with the launch of Step Fore It, an exciting new initiative that will challenge tournament visitors to rack up as many steps as possible throughout the event – with prizes for those topping the leaderboard.
Step Fore It
Aims to highlight the powerful physical and mental health benefits of being both a golf spectator and player amongst visitors to the tournament, which will return to the city from Thursday, January 16 to Sunday, January 19 for its 36th edition.
Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director, stated: “Introducing the Step Fore It Challenge at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic marks a significant milestone in the tournament’s dedication to promoting health and wellness. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the holistic physical and mental benefits of both playing and spectating golf. We look forward to welcoming visitors to join in this exciting challenge and engage in some healthy competition as they strive to top the leaderboards.”
The healthy spectator stats that inspired Step Fore It
Research shows that golf spectators average over 11,500 steps per day at events, offering a unique combination of physical activity, outdoor enjoyment, and social interaction. In a world grappling with the health risks of inactivity, golf provides a fun, accessible way to get moving. Each year, over 10 million people attend golf tournaments, collectively walking millions of steps. At The 152nd Open over 168 million steps were taken by spectators across Royal Troon whilst at events like the Schengen Open, spectators walked the equivalent of the Great Wall of China, and Ryder Cup fans covered four times the globe’s circumference.
Swing into health – the physical benefits of playing golf
As well as being a healthy sport for spectators, golf is one of the healthiest sports to play, with regular golfers enjoying a longer-then-average life span. Research commissioned by The R&A has shown that playing a round of golf offers a unique combination of health benefits thanks to moderate, long-duration physical activity. Golfers who walk the courses, which can be up to eight miles, can rack up to 17,000 steps and burn up to 1,200 calories over 18 holes. Even those using a golf cart gain health benefits, covering up to 6,000 steps and four miles per round, burning an average of 600 calories.
Regular play contributes to improved overall health, reducing the risk of chronic conditions like hip fractures, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, strokes, and certain cancers. Additionally, the increased physical activity has a positive impact on mental well-being.
