CPG ANNUAL AWARDS SUPPORTED BY ROLEX

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The CPG President’s Award for Golf Development for 2024 has been awarded to the Golf & Health Project, acknowledging the visionary efforts of the Project’s leadership, in its ground-breaking role in highlighting the significance of the sport’s benefits, and sharing these benefits far and wide.

Since 2016 the Project has worked to provide an academic backing and voice to the benefits that golf can bring and has been significantly driven by current DP World Tour and Ryder Cup Europe Chief Medical Officer, Dr Andrew Murray, his predecessor, Dr Roger Hawkes.

The Project’s pioneering work to evaluate existing research, identify potential gaps and opportunities for future research activities, and foster collaboration between the wide variety of health-related research projects taking place around the world.

But a primary objective of the Project has been to not only seek academic support of these benefits, but also to help communicate these benefits both in, and out of, the sport.

The promotion of the many psychological and physical benefits – such as golfers live on average of five years longer than non-golfers, and those who play better tend to live longer too – has helped to improve the sport’s image, the reasoning for taking part, and acceptance as a health-enhancing activity.

“I was sat with Dr. Roger Hawkes at breakfast during the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles when Roger shared his thoughts and insights on the health benefits of golf and asked for my support of the project both personally and from CPG,” said CPG Chief Executive, Ian Randell. “I was immediately intrigued and delighted to offer our full support from day one and it is fantastic to see the impact that it continues to make in promoting our sport.”

The award was collected on behalf of the Project team at the CPG Festival of Golf at Saïdia Resorts in Morocco by Dr Omar Malik, Consultant Neurologist at Cromwell Hospital and Golf & Health Project co-founder and Board Member:

“We are absolutely delighted that the work gas been recognised, it’s amazing,” said Malik.

“Considering how important the work has been in terms of shifting the momentum for golf participation then it is so nice to have recognition. Much hard work was done particularly by Roger and Andrew, and we are so happy that it has been so well received, especially by golf’s national bodies around the world.”

The Project has also been a great example of collaboration across the global golf industry with the Project initially receiving significant support from the World Golf Foundation comprising of at the time The R&A, USGA, the world’s various male and female tours, the Masters Tournament and PGA of America, along with support from the Ryder Cup European Development Trust [RCEDT], EDGA and the CPG itself as well.

“We have a lot of people to thank around the world for their support of the Project over the past 8-10 years, both for their financial support that has made it possible, but also their philosophical support in getting behind the concept of Golf & Health and each playing their part in supporting and promoting the benefits identified,” added Murray.

“The ability for us to work together in this way has set an example for all sports and has also resulted in significant developments and activities as a direct result of our friends and colleagues’ efforts in this space.”

For example golf’s joint response to the COVID pandemic, and ultimately a key part of golf being able to get going again during lockdowns around the world, was due in part at least to the groundwork laid in proving the sport can be played in a safe, outdoor environment, combined with the connections already created with policymakers and stakeholders in governmental leadership positions.

More recently, projects are being developed where golf is being prescribed by health professionals as part of recovery and rehabilitation regimes. And in the professional world, much of this work has resulted in significantly enhanced provisions for players across the world’s tours that help to support their physical and mental wellbeing and performance.

To find out more about the Annual Awards and the Festival of Golf visit cp.golf/festival.