A golfer playing 18 holes walks an average of 10,000 to 13,000 steps, according to research from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Colorado.
Compare that to the 7,640,4544 steps (about 3,618 miles) attendees of the 2016 Portland Classic women’s golf event walked during last year’s tournament, and it gives new meaning to the term spectator sport. Fans of the long-standing family event not only come out to watch the top women golfers in the world, but also to get their steps in and contribute to better health, thanks to the Portland Classic’s Charitable Walking Challenge.
Presented by Cambia Health Solutions, the Portland Classic will again be promoting the Charitable Walking Challenge as a way for attendees to give back to charitable organizations just by walking the course throughout the tournament, Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at Columbia Edgewater.
When attendees enter the tournament through the Cambia Fan Pavilion, they can pick up a free pedometer and wear it as they walk through the course. They can also track steps on their FitBit or Apple Watch. At the end of the day, walkers report the number of steps they’ve tracked in exchange for a golf tee, and place the golf tee in the charity’s bucket of their choice.
At the end of the tournament, the charity with the largest collection of golf tees will receive a $10,000 donation from Cambia Health Solutions. In 2016, Oregon Junior Golf received the most tees and the donation. The charities competing for steps in 2017 are:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland
- Trillium Family Services
- First Tee of Greater Portland
- Oregon Junior Golf
Participants can learn more about each of the charities by visiting their tables which are located throughout the course.
Walking isn’t the only way to give back during the Portland Classic. Cambia has named August its Month of Giving, and employees will be volunteering at the tournament throughout the weekend. Anyone who would like to volunteer at the Cambia Portland Classic should visit the website for volunteer information and registration.
As title sponsor of the Cambia Portland Classic for the past four years, we are proud to be part of the tournament that is celebrating 46 years here in Portland while helping promote health and support our community.
