so is golf seen as a goofing off activity or what?

[golfdad]

http://www.politico.com/click/storie..._on_golf.html#

i have no intention to bring politics to this forum but this article seems to hint that playing golf is not a wise use of time, or something like that. nobody will pick on you if you jog i suppose.

do you guys get stares when others realize your spend time golfing?

[wubskis]

Being 21, most of the people my age around me regard golf as a waste of time. Though, I consider most of their lives a waste of time, so I guess we're even.

[whetstone]

Presidents are held to a different standard than Joe Public. The article stated that Obama has played 24 rounds of golf since taking office. That's less than once per week, and I personally don't have a problem with it. His politics, on the other hand....

http://www.politico.com/click/storie..._on_golf.html#

[FHopper]

When people spend time together engaged in an event that acts as an equalizer it helps break barriers and move things forward. It would be impossible to document all of the "break-throughs" that have occurred on a golf course, and it is so much cleaner than deer hunting!

[NormH3]

Golf, for the majority, is a pastime. if you want to go through life hanging out in front of the boob tube that's your perogative. I'm sure if you told NASCAR fans that watching cars drive around an oval is goofing off..you would get a myriad of responses.

And what's wrong with goofing off once in a while?

[cougar978]

Golf is the reason I haven't paid out of pocket for groceries for the last four weeks. I work my ass off at it when I'm not doing my real job, and I look forward to Saturdays the way I looked forward to tournaments or football games in high school/college. In my opinion, golf can be tedious and boring if you're just out there to screw off, but if you bring a desire to maximize your potential every time you're out there (while knowing your competitive limits), it can be very fulfilling.

[deronsizemore]

I realize the President is held to a different standard that I or anyone else, but I don't see how this is a big deal. Is the guy not allowed any downtime? I don't see a 4 hour round of once a week as a big deal.

[SQ Bimmer]

I notice they are comparing him to W and his golfing. Didn't W take more vacations than any president had ever taken or something like that? I also care not to get into politics, but just pointing out that statistics never show the whole picture in regards to the POINT that they try to make sometimes, in this case, that the president is "goofing off" as much as or more than other presidents.

I realize the President is held to a different standard that I or anyone else, but I don't see how this is a big deal. Is the guy not allowed any downtime? I don't see a 4 hour round of once a week as a big deal.

Also don't forget that when the president plays, he probably has the whole course to himself due to security reasons, so it may not even take that long... Can anyone confirm this?

[deronsizemore]

Also don't forget that when the president plays, he probably has the whole course to himself due to security reasons, so it may not even take that long... Can anyone confirm this?

Yeah, that's true. I'm sure he has full private access to the course while he is there so it may not take but three hours or less.

[O.B. Right]

If you can't play a little golf when you want to - what is the point of being president?

[GaijinGolfer]

That article is merely one person's opinion. Theres lots of things that other people do which I consider to be a waste of time.
IMO, most people who think golf is lame havent even swung a golf club, much less spent enough time playing the game to realize how difficult it really is, so their opinion means nothing to me.

[microcrayfish]

Golf's always had a bad rap when it comes to politics. Hell, King James II of Scotland banned it in 1457 because apparently too many people were playing golf instead of practicing archery.

Australian Golf Digest just did a golf and politics special in their latest issue that goes into the stigmas associated with politicians playing golf. It seems people think politicians should be doing more productive things. However, things do seem like they're improving, although I did laugh when I was watching Sean Hannity the other day and he not-so-subtly blamed Obama's supposed failure to fix whatever's wrong in America on his penchant for spending time on the golf course.

[kafka01]

Also don't forget that when the president plays, he probably has the whole course to himself due to security reasons, so it may not even take that long... Can anyone confirm this?

During his summer holiday i read an article about him golfing. In that it stated, that they dont close down the course if the president decides to play a round - they just clear up tee times before and behind him.

I didnt found the original article anymore but this also confirms it: http://www.golf.com/golf/gallery/art...8817-5,00.html

[cody west]

i always think of golf as a goofing off activity, i take the game seriously buy you can never take it to seriously or you wont play well. you really cant take any game to seriously. i alway laugh at kids that in school that take their high school sport so serious and get nervous about a football game or something. you will always play better if you relax

[ryohazuki222]

Being 21, most of the people my age around me regard golf as a waste of time. Though, I consider most of their lives a waste of time, so I guess we're even.

I pretty much ditto this.....

Then again, I can't really blame people. Golf gets a bad rap for a reason. I mean... I take it more seriously than most -- it's just how I am at the things I like -- but most people I get paired up to hit with play to kill time. Drink, smoke, laugh... drive around in a cart. In that sense it's goofing off. In my case, I go out to try and test my limits. I walk the course, practice, focus on certain parts of my game (I have the luxury of practice rounds so I play rounds a lot and don't spend much on range time). Every now and then I play for score to see where I'm at. A lot of times I play to test things out. Usually when I go out with people I know though, I don't take things seriously.... but it's obviously from peoples tone and expressions when they realize how often I golf that they think I'm out there carting around with beers or something while skipping out on class/work.

[Shindig]

I notice they are comparing him to W and his golfing. Didn't W take more vacations than any president had ever taken or something like that? I also care not to get into politics, but just pointing out that statistics never show the whole picture in regards to the POINT that they try to make sometimes, in this case, that the president is "goofing off" as much as or more than other presidents.

Here's the fact of the matter: people who take politics way too seriously will seek any excuse to criticize a politician they don't like or to praise one they like. I would bet that if you were to poll

non-golfers about how they view golf, and compare it politically, you'd see an opinion rise among the left and drop among the right, both relative to, say, 3-4 years ago.

[Lefty-Golfer]

I think the only thing I agree with Obama on is golf is a great hobby....certainly don't have any issue with 24 rounds. Fact of the matter is if I had only 24 rounds I would be pretty damn cranky about it.

[Supermanwoot]

Some people dont play seriously, just to drink and "goof off" this is true. But isnt that true for any sport? And just because some people play seriously and try to better their game doesnt mean they aren't having a good time!